What to know about renting studio apartments in Berlin
It’s no secret that Berlin is fast becoming one of the most sought-after destinations to live in Europe, if not the world. With a heady mixture of history, culture, and art, along with a booming nightlife, unbeatable foodie scene, and plenty of green spaces, Berlin offers up a little something for everyone. You’d think that all of these perks come with an eye-watering price tag, but the reality couldn’t be any different. In fact, despite the city’s rising popularity Berlin continues to be one of Germany’s cheapest cities and even one of the cheapest cities to live in Western Europe as a whole. Studio apartments in Berlin range between 20 and 50 m² in size and generally include everything you could need from a comfortable flat: a bedroom space, living space, kitchen, and bathroom. It’s quite often the case that Germans don’t differentiate between a studio or one-bedroom apartment, and you might find studios called “micro-apartments” instead. While rents remain affordable, actually securing a studio apartment in Berlin is where things start to get a bit difficult. The property market in Berlin is competitive, and organizing a flat the traditional way can get frustrating. Luckily, using Homelike you can search for your perfect studio apartment, compare monthly prices and secure a property before you even set foot in the country.
Who should rent a studio apartment in Berlin?
As the hipster capital of the world, Berlin is often mistaken as a “young person’s” city. However, anyone with an interest in history and culture or a love for European cities will find their place in Berlin quite easily. Most studio apartments in Berlin can be found within the S-Bahn circle and range from modern studio apartments in new high-rise blocks and converted industrial warehouses to home and backyard extensions. This variety of choices allows almost anyone to find a studio apartment to live in Berlin.Due to the compact nature of studio apartments, they are normally reserved for one person, or, as is the case with some larger apartments, a couple. Studio apartments in Berlin perfectly lend themselves to students arriving to study in one of the city’s renowned universities or young professionals hoping to build a career within the city’s walls. In fact, Berlin’s industry spans across industries such as science, transportation, technology, media, marketing, and construction, which means there are professional opportunities here for everyone! If you’re simply traveling through Berlin or setting up shop in the city for a few months as a digital nomad, a serviced studio apartment can be a great investment. Incorporating all of the essential utilities you need into one easy-to-pay monthly rental fee, there’s nothing to do except sit back and enjoy the city around you!
Best neighborhoods to look for studio apartments in Berlin
The best neighborhoods to rent in Berlin depend on many factors including your budget and lifestyle. Areas we recommend include the following- Kreuzberg, Neukölln, Wilmersdorf, Wedding, Marzahn-Hellersdorf, Prenzlauer Berg, Tempelhof, Schöneberg, Mitte and Friedrichshain. See our detailed guide on Berlin's best neighborhoods to know more.
Average rent for studio apartments in Berlin
As you might know from previous experience, rent prices tend to fluctuate across cities and it’s no different in Berlin. Studio apartments in Berlin cost anywhere from 400 € to 2,800 €, and where your exact rental price falls on the scale will all depend on where the studio apartment is, how big it is and what utilities it covers. This difference may seem huge, but there are a few key factors that we can take into consideration here. In theory, the further away you are from the city center the lower the rent will be. So, in neighborhoods like Lichtenberg or Marzahn-Hellersdorf, you’ll pay a lot less than if you’re renting an apartment in a central neighborhood like Berlin Mitte or Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf. The quality of studio apartments in Berlin also differs hugely. While some feature as add-ons to some of Berlin’s townhouses, others are super modern studio apartments situated in purpose-built condos. Generally speaking, you’ll find that the latter outprices the former considerably. Another cost to consider is utilities. When you rent a serviced studio apartment, all of the utilities are included in the monthly price, so you only need to worry about paying a lump sum each month. Normally serviced apartments include the cost of electric, gas, water, and Wi-Fi unless stated otherwise. You can, of course, rent a studio apartment in Berlin and organize your utility bills separately: it all depends on the experience you want to have in the city and the ease of which you’d like to organize a studio apartment.
Tips on moving to Berlin
Moving to any new city around the world can be a daunting experience, especially when you're moving from a different country. If you're a citizen of another EU country, the move will be relatively simple for you as you're not bound by the lengthy visa processes that third country nationals are required to do. As a major European capital, everything you could wish for can be found in Berlin, but a few moving tips will help you settle in easily. First of all, set up a German bank account as soon as possible. There are many online ways to sign up to a bank, from visiting a branch to signing up online, all of which can be done without speaking a word of German. In addition to a German bank account, it is also advisable to get onto a German cell phone network, ensuring you have clear communications from the get-go. Familiarising yourself with Berlin’s public transport system is also a great thing to do as soon as possible. Berlin’s U-Bahn is one of the most efficient ways of getting across the city. Similar to any other major underground train system around the world, the U-Bahn can be one of the cheapest travel options. Last but not the least, try to learn a little German! Yes, being a multicultural European capital, many Berliners are quite adept at the English language, but learning German can go a long way to easing your move. Plus it’s polite to try and start conversations in German, even if you have to revert to English later down the line! For more moving tips, read our Berlin relocation guide.