London vs Berlin: which student visa funds proof is higher?

UK (London): £1,483/month for up to 9 months (living costs) + tuition prepayment rules. Germany: Sperrkonto with annual living minimum (updated yearly). Verified 2026-05-19 — confirm on Official student visa portals (https://www.gov.uk/student-visa). (UK / Germany official, verified 2026-05-19)

Which city has lower living costs for students?

Berlin typically has lower SetTern living estimates (~$2,600/mo vs ~$3,800/mo). (Numbeo Cost of Living Index 2025, verified 2026-05-19)

Post-study work: UK Graduate route vs Germany job-seeker permit?

UK: Graduate visa: typically 2 years (3 years for PhD) — separate application. Germany: 18-month job-seeker residence permit for qualified graduates. Verified 2026-05-19 — confirm on Official portals (https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/study-training/study/student-visa). (UK Home Office / Make it in Germany, verified 2026-05-19)

City vs city

London vs Berlin: Berlin is cheaper on average ($2,600/mo vs $3,800/mo) in 2026.

Student visa routes, financial proof, post-study work, and living costs — verified open government sources.

Confirm before you apply

Verify immigration pathway information at official sources

Rules change. SetTern summarizes public data for planning — confirm eligibility, fees, and timelines on government portals before you apply.

Last reviewed: 2026-05-19 · How we source facts

Who · How · Why

How this page was built

Who

SetTern relocation research team

How

Facts are synced from government and university sources into verified_facts; optional pipeline summaries cite only those facts.

Why

Help people compare cities, visas, and relocation costs with traceable sources — not to manipulate rankings.

Last substantive review: 2026-05-19

Editorial policy · Methodology

Side-by-side

Metric	London	Berlin
Relocation score	6.3/10	7.1/10
Avg monthly budget	$3,800	$2,600
1BR rent	$1,900	$1,200
Visa route	Skilled Worker Visa	Opportunity Card / Skilled Immigration
Visa timeline	45–90 days	2–6 months
Visa friction	6.5/10	6.5/10
English-friendly	99%	70%
Safety score	70/100	80/100
Housing score	30/100	50/100

Recommendation

Overall index: Berlin. Budget: Berlin. Visa friction: Similar visa friction. Your personal visa and family situation may override these defaults.

Immigration FAQs

London vs Berlin: which student visa funds proof is higher?: UK (London): £1,483/month for up to 9 months (living costs) + tuition prepayment rules. Germany: Sperrkonto with annual living minimum (updated yearly). Verified 2026-05-19 — confirm on Official student visa portals (https://www.gov.uk/student-visa).
Which city has lower living costs for students?: Berlin typically has lower SetTern living estimates (~$2,600/mo vs ~$3,800/mo).
Post-study work: UK Graduate route vs Germany job-seeker permit?: UK: Graduate visa: typically 2 years (3 years for PhD) — separate application. Germany: 18-month job-seeker residence permit for qualified graduates. Verified 2026-05-19 — confirm on Official portals (https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/study-training/study/student-visa).

Related calculators

View all calculators →

Compare with your profile in the live matcher →