Hacker News Reader

Comment by mixmax | Hacker News Reader

Actually it is. During the cold war it was split between East and West, and when it got reunited there was a lot of cheap condos, stores, etc. in the East, and lots of entrepreneurial Germans in the West.

The combination is a cheap city full of life. If you have the chance you should definitely go check it out.

View on HN

Not sure where you are getting your information from. Travel isn't cheap, food isn't cheap, and rent isn't cheap, if you want to live anywhere near town.

Yes, great place to live or visit, full of life, great people, but not cheap.

Maybe you want to look further east.

I'm from Copenhagen, a rather expensive city, so maybe I'm biased.

I have found Germany to be one of the most expensive places in Europe, certainly much more expensive than the US. It seems the further south you head, and the further east you head, Europe gets cheaper, with a few exceptions.

Curious to know what is cheaper in Berlin compared with Copenhagen, I am surprised there is much difference. Did not find much difference in Denmark when I passed through, and spent quite a bit of time in Stockholm, avoided light beers. Did not find much that was more expensive.

The Nordic countries are quite a bit more expensive than Germany (and have worse bread). Which stems from the slightly lower VAT in Germany, less regulations and taxes on the sale of alcoholic beverages and the fact that Germany has Aldi, Lidl, Penny, Plus, Netto, etc. (all of them competing discount stores).

Median income also tend to be less in Germany than in Nordic states, and welfare safety net less extensive. All adds up to cost of living.

Cool, thanks for the tip. I definitely want to do a German beer tour at some point.

Just out of curiosity, how cheap would you say it is? Any crime issues?

Reply on news.ycombinator.com