According to a recent study, startup employees in Munich earn an average of 28 percent more than those in Berlin. This finding is based on a comparison of the salaries of startup employees from eleven different professional groups.
On average, higher salaries than in the capital
Before comparing cities, it's worth taking a look at the average salaries of startup employees. While IT employees earn the highest salaries (over €50,000), graphic designers are the lowest paid for their work, with an annual income of around €24,000. The survey is based on compensation data from 599 startups with up to 20 employees.
The study also shows that startup employees in Munich earn up to 28 percent more than in the startup capital of Berlin. For example, a graphic designer in a Munich startup can expect an annual salary of around €36,700, almost €10,000 more than their colleague in the capital. This income difference, however, is not unique to the startup industry: The average income of a Berliner is €10,000 less than that of a Munich resident, as the Tagesspiegel reports here.
More earnings vs. cost of living
This income gap, however, closes quite quickly: While people may earn more on average in Munich, the cost of living is also significantly higher than in Berlin. According to the Consumer Price Index, Munich has been around 27 percent above the national average in recent years, while Berlin's average has been only between 2.5 and 3 percent higher.
The deciding factor in a startup employee's choice of location should therefore be their own motivation and interest in the job. Even if Munich appears more lucrative for employees at first glance, life here is generally more expensive.
