Salary guide · DE
Software Engineer salary in Berlin: can you afford rent?
A Software Engineer in Berlin typically earns €50,000–€134,000/year, with a median around €80,000/year. Median 1-bedroom rent is €1,250/month.
Affordability verdict
At a typical Software Engineer salary of €80,000/year, spending on median Berlin rent (€1,250/mo) would take up 19% of gross income. That's within the recommended 30% threshold — a comfortable situation.
Software Engineer salary range in Berlin
€50,000
Entry level
lower quartile
€80,000
Typical
median estimate
€134,000
Experienced
upper quartile
Software engineers design, build, and maintain applications and systems software. Figures are gross annual salary estimates for Berlin.
How much rent can a Software Engineer afford?
Rent landscape in Berlin
€800
Budget
cheapest 10%
€1,250
Median
most common
€1,950
Premium
top 10%
1-bedroom equivalent. Destatis Einkommens- und Verbrauchsstichprobe + Berliner Mietspiegel 2024 (change: +0.7%; Mietspiegel 2026 due summer 2026) · 2024
Frequently asked questions
What does a Software Engineer earn in Berlin?
A Software Engineer in Berlin typically earns between €50,000 and €134,000/year, with a median around €80,000/year. Salaries vary by experience, employer, and sector.
Can a Software Engineer afford to live in Berlin?
At a typical Software Engineer salary of €80,000/year, median Berlin rent (€1,250/month) takes up 19% of gross income — within the recommended 30% threshold. Budget options in Berlin start around €800/month.
How much rent can a Software Engineer afford in Berlin?
On a median Software Engineer salary of €80,000/year, the recommended 30% rent budget is €2,000/month. Compared to Berlin's median rent of €1,250/month, this means median-priced accommodation is within reach.
Other professions in Berlin
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