19+ Pros And Cons of Living In Berlin (Explained)

Berlin is Germany’s capital. It is a famous and biggest cosmopolitan city. Berlin has a humid climate as it is located in the European plains. Berlin is the city in Germany where foreigners tend to feel most at home.

There are lots of young people here and a substantial student population that comes to study in Berlin from all over. Berlin’s main asset is its education system, its technology, and its environment’s excellence.

If you are giving a thought to shifting to Dublin due to any reason, then you must read this article. It will help you get an answer.

Benefits of Living in Berlin	The Drawbacks of Living In Berlin
Low cost of living	A lot of Paperwork
Diverse Cuisines	The high rate of Unemployment
Hub of developers and programmers	Finding accommodation is a challenge
No need for a car	Lower salaries

Table of Contents

Advantages of Living in Berlin:

Inexpensive Living:

Being the capital, the cost of living in Berlin is comparatively less than in other countries. If compared to different European countries, renting an apartment may seem cheaper.

Berlin’s excellent public transport is also much less expensive than London’s – and more reliable. Eating out in Berlin is too cheap, and you get a variety of food at affordable prices.

Great Nightlife:

Berlin does have excellent nightlife, and it’s also reasonably inexpensive. Bars and clubs in Berlin stay open as long as they want with no official closing times.

In fact, some don’t even open until after midnight. And it’s – almost – real that beer in Berlin is cheaper than water. At least in supermarkets where you get a discount, you can buy a can of beer for 30 cents or so, while a bottle of brand-name mineral water can cost a Euro or more.

Suitable Place to Study:

If you are really looking for an excellent place to do your higher studies, you can opt for Berlin without giving a second thought to education quality.

Berlin has three prominent universities, plus loads of other colleges. Fees charged by the universities are relatively lower than other universities, which applies to overseas students.

Germany has a tradition of providing free university-level education to anyone who has the entrance qualifications.

Relaxed and An Easy Going Life:

Even though Berlin has a large population of around 3.5 million, it’s very spread out. Berlin has plenty of lakes, forests, green spaces, and open spaces for cycling.

You don’t find the immense city stress in Berlin as you do in London, Paris, or New York. Things are much more laid back.

Known for Dynamic Web Start-Up :

Berlin has established itself as the world’s third-biggest Web and e-commerce startup location after California’s Silicon Valley and London. The IT sector is booming in the capital, and if you are aware of the know-how of the programming languages and are well versed in them, then there may be opportunities for you in Berlin.

The vital role played by the IT startup sector is now becoming recognized at last by the Berlin city government and the Federal government.

Public Transport Is Efficient:

Getting around Berlin is comfortable with its comprehensive public transportation system and road network. The German culture boasts of punctuality and efficiency, and when it comes to public transport, it proves that.

One of the easiest ways to go around the city is through U-Bahn ( a rapid transit railway ), while buses and the S-Bahn are also used to travel to various neighborhood areas.

A Cultural City:

If you are into cultural things, there is so much to see in Berlin, including various art galleries and museums. You can visit the Holocaust Memorial, and another site for more cultural importance is the East Side Gallery, which is adorned with works of art.

Traffic Jam:

Berlin is an automobile manufacturing town with the lowest number of vehicles per capita than other neighboring countries. Therefore, due to this reason, we see fewer vehicles on the road than other economically potential countries.

Disadvantages of Living in Berlin:

High Unemployment:

Berlin consistently proves to be a hard place when it comes to finding a job. Especially the ones who find a job but not with the fancy salary they deserve. Growth in career and time-to-time promotions remain a dream for the residents of Berlin.

Despite being the capital of Germany, Berlin is among the top unemployment rate in the whole country.

Taxes Are High:

German residents face high taxes, and as the tax rate progressively increases, high earners pay more than people who earn a lot less. While planning Berlin’s budget, you should keep in mind the money you are being offered from your job.

Plus, there are several other oddities such as “Church Tax,” which you have to pay unless you sign a declaration to opt-out and TV tax, and you can’t opt-out of it even if you do not have a TV.

Has to Learn to Speak in German:

Although Berlin is a globalized city and you’ll meet people from various parts of the world speaking multiple languages, students and employees staying here may face problems communicating with people. To have a good experience of the place, it is crucial to learn to speak in German.

Understanding and communicating well in German is beneficial in both ways, be it in studies or work areas. For the students, though most of the classes are held in English, understanding German is also prominent if you want to enroll in some basic programs.

Health Insurance Is Costly and Compulsory:

All residents in Germany, locals, or ex-pats must have health insurance, which is expensive.

And it should be German health insurance and not insurance from overseas. If staying here for less than 90 days and you do not intend to work or study here, then you are not required to have a German health insurance

People Are More Reserved:

If compared to Americans, Germans are more reserved, and they take a bit longer to open up. They would not indulge themselves in any easy talk one might look forward to. They don’t even like to smile until they have an apparent reason to do that. So they are a bit impolite.

Winter Is Bitterly Cold:

Winters in Berlin are brutal. Living in Berlin in winter might give you a new meaning to the season as it makes it difficult for the people who are not initially from Berlin to leave their warm apartments and go out for work.

Population:

Being the capital of Germany and the most populous city in Europe, Berlin has one of the most severe overcrowding issues in the European Union. However, Berlin’s government is looking for ways to expand the city and make space for residential purposes.