Cost of living comparison
Berlin is 10.3% more expensive than Des Moines.
- Restaurants
-
pay 19.5% more in Berlin
- Groceries
-
pay 5.2% less in Berlin
- Transportation
-
pay 73.2% more in Berlin
- Housing
-
pay 30.3% more in Berlin
- Childcare
-
pay 47.9% less in Berlin
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 10.1% less in Berlin
- Clothing
-
pay 12.6% more in Berlin
The cost of transportation, housing, restaurants, and clothing in Berlin are more expensive than in Des Moines. Expenses including childcare, entertainment and sports, and groceries are lower in Berlin.
If you lived in Berlin instead of Des Moines, you would:
pay 19.5% more for restaurants
|
Des Moines
|
Berlin
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.00
|
$16.08
€14.67
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.00
|
$11.79
€10.76
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.36
|
$2.88
€2.63
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.06
|
$2.84
€2.59
|
|
pay 5.2% less for groceries
|
Des Moines
|
Berlin
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.86
|
$1.96
€1.78
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.99
|
$6.66
€6.08
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.92
|
$4.57
€4.17
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.09
|
$3.28
€2.99
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.38
|
$5.41
€4.93
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.10
|
$1.34
€1.23
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.73
|
$0.83
€0.76
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.59
|
$1.00
€0.91
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.74
|
$1.85
€1.68
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.75
|
$0.83
€0.75
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.36
|
$0.80
€0.73
|
|
pay 73.2% more for transportation
|
Des Moines
|
Berlin
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.07
|
$7.19
€6.56
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$58.00
|
$52.52
€47.92
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$26,000.00
|
$31,799.21
€29,014.75
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$11.94
|
$29.37
€26.79
|
|
pay 30.3% more for housing
|
Des Moines
|
Berlin
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$53.50
|
$44.99
€41.05
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,215.00
|
$1,278.77
€1,166.80
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$912.50
|
$938.86
€856.65
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$115.16
|
$263.55
€240.47
|
|
pay 47.9% less for childcare
|
Des Moines
|
Berlin
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,357.76
|
$306.98
€280.10
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$11,812.00
|
$9,639.17
€8,795.13
|
|
pay 10.1% less for entertainment and sports
|
Des Moines
|
Berlin
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.00
|
$4.29
€3.91
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.51
|
$3.98
€3.63
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$7.14
|
$9.11
€8.31
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$66.67
|
$37.89
€34.57
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$15.00
|
$13.66
€12.47
|
|
pay 12.6% more for clothing
|
Des Moines
|
Berlin
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$56.43
|
$85.49
€78.01
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$42.50
|
$40.99
€37.40
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$90.50
|
$95.49
€87.13
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$143.00
|
$138.30
€126.19
|
|
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