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Cost of Living: Berlin vs Graz (2026)

Germany vs Austria — relocation comparison

TL;DRGraz is 50% cheaper on rent ($772/mo vs $1550/mo). Both cities require a personal relationship with your winter coat.
75
Livability Score
🇩🇪 Berlin
Germany
Full profile
77
Livability Score
🇦🇹 Graz
Austria
Full profile
Berlin and Graz are almost suspiciously well-matched. Flip a coin.
Berlin
Graz
$1550/mo
Rent
$772/mo
8.7/10
Democracy
8.3/10
1.2/100k
Safety
0.9/100k
73/100
English
74/100
5 yr
Time to PR
💰
Cost of Living
Graz
$778/mo cheaper on rent alone
🔒
Safety
Graz
0.9 homicides per 100k
🗳️
Democracy
Berlin
8.7/10 EIU index
Berlin
Metric
Graz
$1550/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$772/mo
$902/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$909/mo
$8,219
🧳
Cost to land
1.2 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
0.9 / 100k
45 / 100
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
25°C
☀️
Summer high
25°C
0°C
❄️
Winter low
-3°C
128 Mbps
Internet speed
9.7 μg/m³
🌬️
Air quality (PM2.5)
15.1 μg/m³
8.7 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
8.3 / 10
73/100
🗣️
Street English
74/100
$74k
💼
GDP per capita
$74k
2.3% · Boringly steady
📈
Inflation
2.9% · Boringly steady
75 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
77 / 100
97/100 — Reliable
Grid reliability
95/100
🗽
Freedom House
5 years
📋
Time to PR

Settler Essentials

stable
Democracy trend
fintechai-deeptechcleantechhealthtech
Industries
hub
Startup ecosystem
97/100
Grid reliability
5 yrs
Time to PR
Easy
EU visa
Complex
RU visa
Moderate
UA visa

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

The Short Version

  • Rent is 50% cheaper in Graz ($772/mo vs $1550/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are slightly warmer in Graz (25°C vs 25°C).

Berlin vs Graz — Common Questions

Is Berlin cheaper than Graz?

Graz is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $772/month in Graz vs $1550/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Berlin or Graz?

Graz is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Berlin has a rate of 1.24 per 100,000 and Graz has 0.88 per 100,000.

Should I move to Berlin or Graz?

Berlin and Graz are almost suspiciously well-matched. Flip a coin. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in Berlin or Graz?

Berlin: Germany Freelancer Visa (complex process, 1–3 years). Graz: no specific remote work visa. See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Don't agree? Take the quiz and see what fits you.

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