With a population of about 3.5 million people, Berlin is the seventh most populous city in the EU. According to our data on Teleport Cities, Berlin is also among the top leading cities with a free business environment and has great ratings in housing, startup scene and travel connectivity. Sounds good, right?

Berlin is generally known as a place with a lot of rich culture and has established itself as a popular entertainment centre in Europe. In the past decade, the up and coming Berlin startup community has begun to settle and establish itself in the area. While Berlin definitely isn’t on Silicon Valley level yet when it comes to an active startup scene, it’s still very much rapidly thriving and living up to the words of the city’s ex-mayor Klaus Wowereit: “Berlin is poor, but sexy”. Want to learn more about this sexy city? Keep reading.

Finding work in Berlin can be difficult, since it has one of the highest unemployment rates of the bigger cities in the entire country. However, the volume of creating new jobs is high and rising, so if you’ve got a good skill set, you shouldn’t worry too much. The IT- and startup scene in Berlin is also growing, so if you’re in a profession related to software or infotechnology in general, you’re in a pretty good place to start off with.

If you prefer to do your own searching, here’s a list of job boards to have a look at:

If you’re looking for even more resources, this site has a huge list of job sites for finding a position in Germany. Also, check out resources for finding a job in Germany by Migreat.

There are some things you should keep in mind when applying for jobs in Germany. Firstly, many companies in Berlin tend to prefer candidates to already have a German address and contact information. Having such permanent connections to the city shows that working in Germany is a serious decision for you - employers simply feel safer if they know that you’re willing to permanently relocate (or have already done it).

Also, Germany is quite a paperwork-heavy country. In a lot of cases you may be required to provide more than just a CV and cover letter when applying for a job.

You might be asked to also include the following:

- copies of your school and university certificates
- proof of any professional training or courses
- references from your previous employers

Some positions might also require extra information specific to the position that you’re applying for - publications, samples from your work portfolio etc.

Language skills are always a huge plus, but if you don’t speak German yet, don’t worry too much about your CV, cover letter or any other information being in English - many companies in Germany (especially startups) use English as their working language anyway, so it shouldn’t be an issue.

If you really want to work for a specific company but they’re not currently hiring, you can submit an “Initiativbewerbung” (which is basically an unsolicited application) to a company, even if they’re not currently advertising any jobs.

These are the main types of job permits that are available in Germany:

- General employment permit – you will need a job offer for a position where the company can not find a German citizen to fill the role. Expats who apply for general employment are required to have a vocational qualification, which allows them to carry out skilled work.

- Specialist professional residence permit for Germany - the majority of applicants tend to be graduates with specialist skills. University professors, managers with several years of experience, and those with very specific skills can also apply for this type of permit. Applicants must also prove that they have sufficient funds to support themselves while in Germany and have a firm offer of employment.

- University graduate permit – if you are a degree holder from a reputable foreign university, you may come to Germany for 6 months to look for work. You are not allowed to work while looking, and you need to have health insurance and be able to survive financially.

- EU Blue card – if you have a guaranteed well-paying job in Germany, plus a university degree from a German or equivalent foreign university. This has a lot of benefits and offer a fast track for permanent residence.

- Student permit – if you are undertaking education in Germany. You can also work up to 10 hours per week with this permit, as long as it is deemed okay by your school.

- Freelance/self-employment/artist visa – applicable for certain professions. To obtain a self-employed residence permit applicants will need to demonstrate how their specific skills are required in the particular area of Germany where they plan on settling down. Those wishing to set up a business will need to show that their business will make a positive contribution to the local economy, for instance by employing local staff. Applicants must also be able to prove that they can fund the start up of their own business as there are limited business funding opportunities for non-German nationals.

- Researcher permit – if you are coming to Germany to perform research and have a contract with an approved German research institution.

For more information, check out the official site with information about Entry Visas and Residence Permits, the rights and duties of EU/EEA/Swiss nationals moving to Germany, or info about the freelancer visa process (from within Germany).

While there is a lot of available property in Berlin, finding a place that fits your requirements and budget can still be a bit of a pain. In addition to looking at online rental and property sites, check some more uncommon channels as well - like asking your friends - you never know what opportunities are out there that aren’t being publicly advertised!

Flatshares are quite popular in Berlin, especially with students and young professionals with a tight budget. If you don’t mind sharing, look for those as well as single apartments - it’ll probably save you some money.

Rents in Berlin are on the increase, and you should probably expect to pay a little more for a new lease (and don’t mind it too much if you hear about low rents from friends who have been staying at their place for 5+ years).

For finding a place for long term stays, check out these sites:

WG-Gesucht - mainly short-medium term housing (but can also find longer term)
Immobilenscout24 - longer term housing (typically 1+ years)
Also, check out this Facebook group
Woloho newsletter for finding housing
Zoomsquare
Exflat by the expat magazine Exberliner

For short term stays:

Airbnb
9flats
Berlinovo
Wimdu
Couchsurfing

Berliners call their neighborhoods “Kiez” and they are usually named after the main street of the area, where the more important places (restaurants, bars, shops etc) are. A “Kiez” is a subsection of an official city district. Life can be very different in “Kieze” even though they are located quite close to each other, so it’s important to know the differences and pick the neighborhood that suits you best. In the following bit we give you an overview of the most popular and liveable districts and their “Kieze”.

Mobile phones
There are four main network operators in Germany:
- Deutsche Telekom (formerly known as T-Mobile)
- Vodafone
- O2 (owned by Telefónica)
- E-plus (acquired by Telefónica)

E-plus and O2 have recently been joining forces to become one provider, and plan to be merged by 2016 or 2017. T-Mobile and Vodafone have the best mobile coverage in Germany. Cheaper alternatives to the overpriced big carriers are Congstar (T-Mobile Brand), Blau and Symio. In Germany, in most cases, you need an “Anmeldung Bestätigung”, an address to get a SIM card, even for prepaid cards. For contract SIM cards you also need a bank account.

Internet providers
The market and price offers for internet providers change fast. Also, be aware that it could take you several weeks in Germany to get your internet connection in your apartment running. These are the fastest ISPs in Berlin:

Public WiFi:
Most coffee shops in Berlin have access to free wifi, so if you enjoy working from coffee shops, you’re in luck! What’s even more convenient is that the city also has its own W-LAN that is free for 30 minutes per day and available in about 100 hotspots in almost all areas of the city. The hotspots are called “KD WLAN Hotspot+”, “Vodafone Hotspot Free” or “30 Min Free WIFI”. An overview of the WLAN hotspots of the project “Public WiFi” and the WLAN access points of the public institutions of the State of Berlin can be found here.

The quality of education in Germany is generally considered to be quite good. If you’re an expat and looking for education options for your kids, there are a number of international schools in Berlin - that’s where most expats prefer to send their kids to. They do tend to be quite pricey, though, so for those who can’t afford it, the option of a bilingual school is also worth exploring.

As with most places around the world, attitudes and behaviors of the German people can vary depending on where and which area you’re in - generally, it is said that southerners tend to be more conservative than northerners, although this might obviously not always be true at all.

The big cities in Germany, such as Berlin and Hamburg, are famous for their tolerance, which comes partly from the cities’ appeal for unconventional Germans who relocate there from elsewhere in the country, and also from their large immigrant populations and therefore - diversity.

Even in those diverse and tolerant places, however, it doesn’t hurt to keep some things in mind. One of the most important things concerning communication is the use of du and Sie (“you”) to strangers, which is quite important. Du is used for friends, or among young people, and the formal Sie is expected from pretty much everyone else you speak to.

Most German people speak English on a good level and most important information is available in English as well, so it’s generally completely possible to live in Berlin without speaking the language. However, if you’re planning to stay for a while, then why not learn it anyway?

If you want to learn German on your own, check out these apps to make it easier:
Duolingo
Tandem

However, if you’re looking for a more human teacher, universities are a good way to go. The cheapest German courses with good teachers are at the city community colleges (or Volkshochschule, as they’re called in German).

For options, you can check out the Goethe Institute in Mitte, which is the most famous language school, in Berlin (but also a bit on the pricier side). For a cheaper option, have a look at the Hartnackschule in Schöneberg or the Volkshochschule with locations throughout the city.

You can find al you need to know about the cost of living in Berlin on the Teleport Cities Berlin city profile (and if you sign up, you can compare the cost of living in Berlin to where you currently are, as well!)

German taxes are relatively high, and at the same time quite complex. How much you will pay in tax depends on a long list of factors, including where you live and your personal situation.

Due to Germany being a federal republic you pay taxes on multiple levels: the federal, state and municipality level. Most taxes are decided on the federal and state level, leaving the municipalities in control over only relatively minor taxes.

As a German tax resident you have to pay taxes on your worldwide income, which is common in most western countries. You are considered a tax resident if you have a residence available to you in Germany, or if you have “habitual abode” in the country. If you spend a total of 6 months in Germany within a given calendar year, or any consecutive 6 month period, you are considered to have habitual abode in Germany.

Income tax rates are progressive from 0% to 45% marginal tax. As of 2015 there is no income tax if you make less than €8,354. Capital gains and dividend income is taxed at a flat 25% rate. There are also other surcharges on top of that, including church tax of 8-9% of your income tax contribution (only if you are a member of a recognized church), as well as a “solidarity surcharge” of 5.5% of your income, dividend and capital gains tax contributions. These surcharges are tax deductible.

In addition to the above, there are also social security contributions totalling around 40%, but about half is paid by the employer. These include pension, unemployment and health insurance, and a couple other things. They are also capped for salaries above certain levels, depending on where in Germany you live.

To learn more about taxes in Germany, visit PwC’s Worldwide Tax Summaries.

PS: none of the above is official legal advice - please speak to a professional if you’re not sure about anything!

The Berlin expat scene is huge. Here are some links to expat communities, forums etc:

Toytown Germany - online forum for expats in Germany

Ex-Berliner - an expat magazine in English

InterNations community for Berlin expats

Coworking spaces are great for meeting new people as well as getting your work done in peace while still getting out of the house. Here are a few sources where you can find listings of the coworking spaces in Berlin:

- StartUs ecosystem presents a database of coworking spaces in Berlin and is constantly growing.
- Überlin has created an interactive map with links to different coworking spaces.
- ProjektZukunft also presents a map of about 50 coworking spaces in Berlin.

As for individual coworking spaces, here are some that we have learned have a good community and large following:

Betahaus
St. Oberholz
Mobilesuite Berlin
co.up
creative|media|lab
Cafe Nest
Rainmaking Loft Berlin
Raumstation
Supermarkt

Want more? Have a look here for a full list of over 50 co-working spaces in Berlin.

Some movies and books about and playing in the city:

Movies:
Goodbye Lenin (2003)
The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
The Lives of Others (2005)
Berlin Calling (2008)
Berlin Alexander Platz (1980)
Wings of Desire (1987)

Books:
Goodbye to Berlin, by Christopher Isherwood
Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada
Berlin Alexanderplatz by Alfred Döblin
The Gift by Vladimir Nabokov
The Wall Jumper: A Berlin Story by Peter Schneider

Berlin’s general creativity, hip image, dynamic environment and open attitude means that it’s attractive for any kind of creative businesses - hence, the startup scene has really blown up in the recent years. So, if you’re in the startup business yourself, Berlin is definitely the place for you. If you want to find out how the startup scene in Berlin compares to other cities around the world, check out Berlin on Teleport Cities.

Building a network is important, and frequenting some cool and relevant events can help with creating new personal as well as professional relationships. There’s quite a large amount of startup events in Berlin every single day - here are some of the best sources for finding out about upcoming events:

- Berlin StartupDigest - a calendar that has links to regular meet-ups and events
- Gründermetropole-Berlin - a list of events
- Berlin Startups - a Facebook group with around 20.000 members
- Berlin Startup Events - a Facebook group where you find updates related to events, conferences, festivals and other meet-ups.
- Berlin Startup Grind organises regular events in Berlin.
- Startup-Berlin is an event and workshop database that aggregates Berlin based events from different sources.