What to know if you're moving to Berlin, Germany
Moving to Berlin, Germany? Or considering a move to Berlin?
Itβs a popular choice, with 800,00 expats already living life – and loving life – in the city.Β
Bohemian, bustling and endlessly exciting, itβs one of the coolest cities on the planet. With a hugely unique counterculture, incredible places to eat and drink and one of the most diverse populations of any city in Europe, thereβs plenty here to love.Β
Berlin is one of the most fun cities on the planet, itβs incredibly friendly, and it welcomes newcomers from across the globe every single day. In short, if youβre looking to relocate anywhere, Berlin is an incredible option. It’s one of the best places to live in Germany.
But although moving to Berlin is popular and pretty simple, there are a small number of things you need to know before you take the leap.
And weβve assembled a list of them all. Want to know how to find an apartment in Berlin? Or how to get a SIM card in Berlin? Or how to open a bank account in Berlin? Weβve covered it all!
Things to consider while moving to Berlin
- Where to live in Berlin:Β Berlin’s best neigbourhoods for students, expats and familiesΒ
- Finding an apartment in Berlin: How to find a furnished, serviced or unfurnished apartment in Berlin
- Anmeldung:Β How to register your address in Germany
- Bank account:Β How to open a bank account in Germany
- Visa requirements to live in Berlin
- Using public transportation in Berlin.Β
- Health insurance in Berlin: How to get health insurance
- Sim card in Berlin:Β How to get a Sim card
- Learning German: . Do I need to learn German to live in Berlin?
- Cost of living in Berlin. Is Berlin an expensive place to live
1. Where to live in Berlin
Before you move to Berlin, decide on where you want to be living in Berlin. You should absolutely do some research before you arrive, even if you don’t reach an ultimate decision.
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All big cities have vastly varying neighborhoods – but thatβs especially the case in Berlin. While some parts of Berlin offer huge swathes of family-friendly green spaces, others are hipster havens with a party on every corner.
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While the city is officially made up of 12 districts, even these districts themselves have smaller pockets of unique subcultures, making for a city with countless different atmospheres and areas. Before you move to Berlin, you should decide what type of life you want, and choose an area accordingly.Β
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While, for example, Kreuzberg and NeukΓΆlln are packed with alternative parties and an assorted cast of barmy bohemians, Marzahn-Hellersdorf and Prenzlauer Berg are leafy suburb-style areas perfect for families. Other Berlin districts are perfect for entrepreneurs, while some are affluent and opulent. In short, Berlin offers endless different types of existences.
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Whatever type of life you want in Berlin, the city can give you it – but itβs best to familiarize yourself with Berlinβs areas before you secure a long-term place to live. Do some research, get a feel for the city, and move to a short-term apartment for a little while before you sign a long-term contract.Β
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For more information on Berlinβs neighborhoods, check out our extensive guide to Berlinβs neighborhoods.
2. How to find an apartment in Berlin
Finding an apartment in Berlin has a reputation for being an impossible and insurmountable task. But itβs not quite that hard.
Yes, finding a goodΒ apartment in BerlinΒ can be pretty difficult. Moving to Berlin has become an increasingly popular choice over the last few years, and so too has finding a good apartment, but itβs absolutely possible when you know how.
Hereβs what we recommend as your first port of all: considering furnished apartments and serviced apartments in Berlin. And hereβs why:

Furnished Apartments in Berlin and Serviced Apartments in Berlin
If youβre only moving to Berlin for a short amount of time (for anywhere from 1 to 6 months), you should simply move into one of the many good quality serviced apartments available in Berlin.Β
If you do that, you wonβt have to deal with landlords, you wonβt have to endure countless house-hunting trips and you wonβt be in the perilous position of moving into somewhere which isnβt quite what you wanted it to be. Yes, itβs slightly more expensive, but itβs completely fuss-free.
If youβre moving to Berlin long-term, you should move into a serviced apartment for a month or two while you find somewhere more appropriate for a long-term stay. If you donβt, youβll likely end up signing a long-term contract for a place which isnβt perfect for you.
In short, whether youβre moving to Berlin short-term or long-term, we highly recommend booking yourself into a serviced apartment for a little while.
Whatβs the best website to find an apartment in Berlin?
In our opinion, the best website for finding an apartment in Berlin isβ¦ our website!Β
We offer top-quality serviced apartments in Berlin and furnished apartments in Berlin.Β
Theyβre all an excellent option for anyone seeking short-term accommodation in the city. If youβre sticking around for only a short few months, our apartments are ideal for your entire stay. But if youβre staying for longer, theyβre a great place to live while you find a long-term solution.Β
It will likely take you somewhere between 4 weeks and 8 weeks to find a long-term place to live which youβll love. So itβs a good idea to have a nice place to live while you find your next place to live.
Should I live in a hostel in Berlin while I find an apartment?
Many would-be long-term Berlin residents book themselves into a hostel for a week or so, using this hostel as a place to stay while they find a long-term apartment.
We don’t recommend this approach.Β
Finding anΒ apartment in BerlinΒ can often take longer than youβd expect, as waiting lists are lengthy and house viewings are attended by many prospective residents at one time. Finding an apartment will likely take way longer than a week, and you donβt want to be living in a hostel for several weeks while youβre finding a place to live long-term.
Other people secure a long-term apartment before they arrive in Berlin, but we donβt recommend this either. Not only is it almost impossible, but you may end up living somewhere which is nowhere near what it promised to be. Unless youβve viewed an apartment in-person, donβt move there long-term.
In short, youβre best off finding a serviced apartment for a month or two, then planning your next steps from the comfort of its confines.
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3. How to register your address in Berlin (the infamous anmeldung!)
Itβs essential you register your address when you move to Berlin.Β
And hereβs where we introduce you to the word which strikes fear into the hearts of so many would-be Berliners: anmeldung.Β
But donβt fret – this anmeldung absolutely isnβt the intimidating prospect that people like to imagine it is.Β
Itβs a legal requirement, but itβs actually a pretty simple thing – the anmeldung process is simply the process of registering your address in Germany. And though itβs an essential step for foreigners moving to Germany, all native Germans need to do it too, so itβs nothing difficult or arduous.Β
You begin the anmeldung process by booking an appointment at a BΓΌrgeramt (citizensβ office), where you need to take your required documents. Though you should try to do this within 14 days of entering Berlin, donβt worry if you canβt get an appointment right away. In Berlin, delays and queues are expected.
This anmeldung is an essential part of Berlin life, and youβll need it for most bureaucratic things you plan to do. Want to open a bank account in Berlin? Or get a job in Berlin? Or get health insurance in Berlin? Youβll need your anmeldung, making it an essential step towards all other bureaucratic processes youβll go through while youβre in the city.Β
All of that said, getting an anmeldung may not be a necessary step if youβre going to be living in Berlin for less than three months. If thatβs the case, registering your address in Berlin isnβt mandatory.
If you stay in Berlin for three months or less, youβll be considered a long-term tourist rather than a resident, so you wonβt need to register your address. But, of course, since you havenβt registered, you wonβt be able to take out contracts for internet, electricity, bank accounts or anything else.
For more extensive information about your anmeldung – along with a list of handy FAQs – hereβs an excellent resource.

4. How to open a bank account in Berlin
First of all, youβll need that anmeldung!Β
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As weβve said, you wonβt be able to do most bureaucratic things – and that includes getting a bank account – without first having the all-important anmeldung. Though this poses a slightly irritating dilemma for short-term Berlin residents, it makes things way easier for anyone settling down in Berlin for any lengthy period of time.
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Once you have an anmeldung, itβs pretty easy to open a bank account in Berlin. But make sure you open an account at a bank which offers English-speaking staff and English language support.
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We recommend opening an account with N26, which is absolutely the best option for expats who donβt speak German. They have excellent English-speaking customer support, theyβre exclusively online (so you never need to visit a branch, even for opening your account), their fees are very low and their app is fantastic.Β
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Whoever you open a bank account with in Berlin, itβs pretty simple – all you usually need is an anmeldung, your passport and a resident permit. But check with your chosen bank to see if they require any further documents or information.
5. Do I need a visa to live in Berlin?
That depends who you are – but you should always assume that you might. If you need a visa, you wonβt get very far into your Berlin adventure without one.
But there are exceptions.
If, for example, youβre an EU citizen, you can live, work and study in Germany without a visa. According to Studying-in-germany.org, proof of financial funds is one of the important requirements for a German student visa, for residents of non-EU countries who wish to study in Germany
Other countries have a 90-day rule, under which you can visit Germany for 90 days without a visa. During this 90-day period, you can apply for a visa while youβre in Germany. This currently applies to nationals from Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand and the USA.
Most other nationals other than those outlined above will need a visa, but different visas apply according to your nationality. Different visas are also available for different purposes – visas are available for working, studying, living, freelancing, job seeking and more.
Overall, itβs often pretty easy to get a visa for Germany, and therefore pretty easy for lots of different people to live and work in Berlin.
The most important thing to consider is this: the visa regulations which apply to you will be very specific to you, your situation, your intentions and your nationality. So while we canβt offer specific advice for every single person reading this guide, we absolutely can recommend this: check the details offered by your embassy and your government, and youβll then have a way better idea of the visa rules which apply to you.
But as a general rule, Berlin is very open and accessible for many people in many different situations – and thatβs one of the reasons that moving to Berlin is so popular.
6. How to use public transport in Berlin
Public transport in Berlin is brilliant. Itβs extensive, itβs affordable, and itβll shuttle you around the entirety of the cityβs sprawl.
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Typically, you can get a general public transport day ticket (or another type of time-limited ticket), and use that ticket to travel on any and all modes of public transport within that period. In a city which offers an endless abundance of undergrounds, trains, buses, trams and even ferries, itβs an incredible bargain.
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Berlin has over 170 underground stations, almost 170 train stations, more than 2,500 bus stops and almost 400 tram stops. In short, Berlinβs public transport system is huge!
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It can take a little while to learn how to use public transport in Berlin, but once youβve mastered it, youβll quickly learn that itβs one of the best public transport networks on the planet.
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Our number one transport recommendation for Berlin isβ¦ you’ve guessed it: buying a bicycle!Β
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One of the most bike-friendly cities in the world, Berlin is packed with millions of cyclists. And because itβs such a flat city with endless amounts of bicycle lanes, itβs easy to get around by bike quickly and conveniently.
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You really donβt need a car to live in Berlin. Public transport is incredible and the cityβs bike-friendly system is incredible. Together, these two factors make buying a car in Berlin pointless and unnecessary.

7. How to get health insurance in Berlin
Itβs always good to have health insurance wherever you are in the world. But if youβre staying long-term, itβs a legal requirement to get health insurance in Berlin.
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You have two choices: public health insurance and private health insurance.
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For working out which health insurance policy you should get while youβre in Berlin, you should talk to a broker. Though you can use an online comparison tool, itβs best to speak to a broker so you can get personalized advice – you donβt want to spend money on a policy which you later realize isnβt valid for you and your needs.
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If youβre an EU citizen, you donβt need health insurance in Berlin until you have a job. Until you do, your EHIC card will cover you. But once you get a job (even as an EU citizen), German health insurance becomes mandatory.
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Depending on how long youβre going to be living in Berlin, you could also consider long-term travel insurance as an alternative to health insurance. If youβre not going to be registering as a resident (due to a stay of 90 days or less), you could simply get a good long-term travel insurance policy instead, with a reputable company such as World Nomads.
For a more extensive introduction to getting health insurance in Berlin, this is a fantastic guide.
8. How to get a SIM card in Berlin
Getting a SIM card in Berlin is very simple. If you only want a SIM, youβll probably be able to get it with a passport. If you want a contract, youβll need that same passport along with the anmeldung that weβve talked so much about.
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Cell phone costs in Germany are pretty low, and you might be surprised by just how affordable a cell phone payment plan can be in Berlin. To compare the plans open to you, use Verivox.
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But remember, if youβre from the EU, you probably wonβt need a new SIM card, as most EU packages cover all calls, messages and data across the EU.
9. Do I need to learn German to live in Berlin?
If youβre planning on spending a lot of time in Berlin, you should learn German.
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Though there are a huge number of English speakers in Berlin, and though there are many jobs you can pick up in Berlin without speaking any German at all, learning the language can be a fantastic route to a better, more interesting life in the city.
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If youβre only going to be living in Berlin short-term, thereβs no need for you to learn the language in any detail (or at all), but if youβre moving to Berlin for 3-6 months or more, you should learn some German. If you do, youβll have a much better time, youβll make more friends, youβll have more fun, youβll feel more at home and youβll open up many more opportunities. Itβs also very useful for bureaucratic purposes.
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For learning the fundamentals, we recommend Duolingo. Itβs an excellent introduction to any language, and its German courses are fantastic.
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For further language learning, you should take German classes while youβre in Berlin. There are a huge number of them across the city, theyβre pretty affordable and theyβre packed with other expats just like you, making them a great way to make fellow foreign friends.Β
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You can get a private teacher, or you can go to classroom-style classes, but the latter is of course better for making friends. For classroom-style classes, The Goethe Institute is one of our top picks.
10. Is Berlin an expensive place to live?
Itβs nowhere near as expensive as people think.Β
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Rent can be a little more expensive than some other German cities, but everything else is surprisingly affordable. As far as western European capital cities go, Berlin is one of the most affordable, making it a great choice for relocation.
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Compared to Amsterdam, Paris and London, your money will go pretty far in Berlin. Groceries are affordable, thereβs plenty of street food, and alcohol (especially in stores) is jaw-droppingly cheap. Youβll also find lots of excellent free events throughout the year.
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Food in particular is very affordable in Berlin. Supermarkets and grocery stores have pretty low prices, restaurants are some of the most affordable in the whole of western Europe, and itβs possible to get an on-street kebab for around $4 (and thanks to Berlinβs huge Turkish population, itβll likely be the best kebab youβve ever had!).
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Because Berlin is so cyclable, and because you donβt need a car, youβll save a huge amount of money on transport costs – and buying a second hand bicycle in Berlin is a very inexpensive venture.
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One of the most affordable big cities in the whole of Europe, Berlin is a surprisingly brilliant place for saving money. Though marginally more expensive than it once was, itβs still a very affordable place to live.
And thatβs Berlin!
There you have it – everything you need to know about living in Berlin.
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One of the worldβs best cities for a relocation, almost one million expats live in the city. And itβs becoming a more popular choice every day, as people from around the world flock to start a new life in Germanyβs capital.
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Though Berlin is famous for being a hipster paradise packed with quirky hangouts and a unique counterculture (and though you can get hearty doses of exactly that), thatβs not all that Berlin has to offer. Whoever you are, the city has plenty of appeal, from great green spaces to kooky venues to some of the best food and drink on the planet.
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Itβs welcoming, friendly and surprisingly affordable, and itβs one of the best possible choices for a relocation.Β
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If youβre considering moving to Berlin, we absolutely recommend it. Youβll have a great new life and youβll have a great old time!
Moving to Berlin during COVID-19
Planning a move to Berlin soon? COVID cases in Germany have been on the rise since the beginning of Autumn 2021 and it would be wise to read up on the rules and regulations that apply to both international and domestic moves to Berlin to be prepared.
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Check outΒ Berlin city website Most of the content on the site is already in English. However, use Google Translate Plugin on the off chance that some things may be entirely in German.Β