As the capital of Germany and the largest city in the country, Berlin has literally everything: hundreds of start-ups, subdivisions of international giants and offices of seasoned IT companies. The sectors include a vast range of industries from software and data analysis to FinTech and game industry.
IT salaries
The average IT salary in Berlin is €3,830 per month (€45,960 per year). This is more than the minimum base salary required for relocation with the Blue Card (€43,056 per year or €3,588 per month).
Average IT salaries in Berlin (EUR, before taxes):
- Software developer: 3,278 – 4,577
- Back-end developer: 3,182 – 4,579
- Front-end developer: 2,940 – 4,167
- Full-stack developer: 3,317 – 4,655
- DevOps engineer: 3,322 – 4,697
- Database administrator: 3,003 – 4,724
- Web designer: 2,290 – 3,147
- System administrator: 2,836 – 4,219
- Project manager: 3,109 – 5,037
- QA engineer: 3,052 – 4,663
- Technical writer: 2,897 – 4,919
- Security expert: 3,740 – 5,577
Economy
The unemployment rate in Berlin is 8.2% — higher than the national average (5.3%). However, IT specialists have great job opportunities here and are sought-after in all sectors of economy.
Important economic sectors in Berlin include:
- Advertising
- Biotechnology
- Construction
- Design
- E-Commerce
- Environmental services
- Hotel business
- Information and communication technologies
- Sciences
- Media and music
- Retail
- Tourism
- Transportation
The largest technology companies present in Berlin include:
- Allianz
- Google
- IBM
- Rocket Internet
- Siemens
Cost of living
Despite being the capital city, Berlin is far from being the most expensive city in Germany. For decades, it was divided between Western and Eastern Germany, and even nowadays it is more affordable than Munich and Hamburg.
The average prices in Berlin (EUR):
- Meal at McDonald’s: 6–9
- Meal at another inexpensive restaurant: 6–12
- Average food basket (milk, bread, eggs, cheese, chicken, apples, potatoes, water, beer): 24
- Monthly fee at a fitness club: 20–50
- Monthly pass: 68–84
- Monthly rent (1 bedroom): 650 – 1,200
- Monthly rent (3 bedrooms): 850 – 2,300
- Property prices per square meter: 4,500 – 8,000
- Utilities: 120–300 per month
Travel
Berlin has two commercial international airports: Tegel Airport and Schönefeld Airport. The destinations include all major cities of Germany and Europe, as well as Antalya, Ankara, Baku, Beijing, Doha, Dubai, Istanbul, Moscow, New York, Singapore, and others.
Entertainment
Berlin is one of the most exciting cities in the world and the most vibrant place in Germany. You’ll never be bored in Berlin.
Art enthusiasts will enjoy Berlinale, Fashion Week, and Art Week. Those who prefer museums would love the Long Night of Museums that is held twice a year. The other Long Night events include a Long Night of the Sciences, Religions, Start-ups, and more. There are also lots of music events, festivals, and concerts.