Berlin vs Paris
Which would you pick?
The short answer
They cost about the same day to day — Berlin $130–210, Paris $130–200 mid-range per person. Both are at their best in May–Jun, Sep, so one trip can take in both.
Side by side
Mid-range, per person, in US dollars. Both guides were costed the same way — see how we work these out.
| 🇩🇪 Berlin | 🇫🇷 Paris | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily budgetmid-range, per person | $130–210 | $130–200 |
| Cheap meallocal staple | $7–10 | $7–12 |
| Mid-range hotelper night | $125–205cheaper | $160–280 |
| Transit ridesingle trip | $4.60 | $2.70cheaper |
| Avg. monthly salarylocal, for context | ≈ $3,300 | ≈ $3,000 |
When to go
Filled months are the ones each guide recommends; hollow ones it warns off.
What you'd actually do
A few of each guide's picks, one per category before seconds — the full lists are on the guides themselves.
🇩🇪 Berlin
A city that kept its scars on purpose — the Wall, the bullet-pocked facades, the memorials in the middle of everything — and then built the most relaxed capital in Europe around them. Cheap by Western standards, open all night, and not at all interested in impressing you.
- Reichstag dome$History & memorials
- Museum Island$$Museums & views
- Markthalle Neun$Food & markets
- Berghain$$Nightlife & outdoors
- Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe$History & memorials
🇫🇷 Paris
Compact, walkable, and exactly as beautiful as advertised. The clichés are true; so are the pickpockets. Say bonjour first and the whole city softens.
- Harry's New York Bar$$Nightlife
- Bouillon Chartier$Restaurants
- Moulin Rouge$$$Theater & shows
- Little Red Door$$$Nightlife
- Le Comptoir du Relais$$Restaurants
Practicalities
| Berlin | Paris | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | German — but English gets you through almost everything in Berlin, and in parts of Kreuzberg and Mitte it's the default. | French. English works in tourist areas — but open every interaction with 'Bonjour'. |
| Currency | Euro (€). US$1 ≈ €0.88 | Euro (€). US$1 ≈ €0.92 |
| Power | Type C/F plugs, 230V — the standard continental two-pin | Type C/E plugs, 230V |
| Tap water | Safe and heavily tested. Restaurants usually charge for water, tap included, so ask for a 'Leitungswasser' and don't be surprised if it's refused | Safe — ask for 'une carafe d'eau' (free) in restaurants |
| Emergency | 112 fire & ambulance · 110 police · 116117 out-of-hours doctor | 112 general · 17 police · 15 medical |
The same in both:
- Time zone
- CET (UTC+1, UTC+2 in summer)