Germany

Living in Berlin with a pet

Cost of living and pet-import essentials for nomads relocating to Berlin, Germany.

Photo: 2197494 · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Yes — you can relocate to Berlin with a dog or cat under Germany's national pet-import rules (ISO microchip, rabies vaccination and an official health certificate). A one-bedroom flat in the centre runs about $1,000 per month; the national single-person monthly estimate is $2,500.

Cost of living

Rent is a city-level figure; the monthly estimate and broadband speed are national medians.

Rent — 1-bedroom, city centre
City-level figure (WhereNext).
$1,000
Monthly cost estimate (single person)
National estimate — not city-specific.
$2,500
Broadband speed
National median (Speedtest Global Index by Ookla).
103 Mbps

Cost-of-living data © WhereNext (getwherenext.com), CC BY 4.0. Broadband: Speedtest Global Index by Ookla.

Bringing your pet to Germany

The essentials, drawn from Germany's official rules. See the full Germany import guide →

Microchip your pet (ISO 11784/11785)Must be implanted before the rabies vaccination, or the vaccine is not recognised.
Rabies vaccinationPet must be at least 12 weeks old. Valid 21 days after the primary dose.
Rabies antibody (titer) test — required from some origin countriesFAVN/RNATT rabies antibody test; the result must be ≥ 0.5 IU/ml. Blood must be drawn at least 30 days after vaccination; the sample must be taken not less than 90 days before the date of issue of the health certificate (the certificate is issued before entry, so counting to entry is the stricter reading). Testing is limited to EU-approved laboratories.
Official health certificate (EU Animal Health Certificate (new Reg 2026/705 format from 2026-10-01))Endorsed by Competent authority of the country of departure (USDA APHIS for the United States). Enter within 10 days of endorsement.
Check breed restrictionsSome breeds are banned or restricted — see the breed rules section.

Pet-friendliness in Berlin

Curation in progress

City-level pet-friendliness scores — vets, dog parks, pet-friendly rentals and transport — are being curated from primary sources and will appear here. We don't publish scores we can't back with a source.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring my dog or cat to Berlin?

Yes — Berlin follows Germany's national pet import rules. See the checklist above and the full Germany guide for microchip, rabies, certificate and entry requirements.

Does Germany require a rabies antibody (titer) blood test?

Yes — for pets arriving from unlisted / higher-risk origin countries. FAVN/RNATT rabies antibody test; the result must be ≥ 0.5 IU/ml. Blood must be drawn at least 30 days after vaccination; the sample must be taken not less than 90 days before the date of issue of the health certificate (the certificate is issued before entry, so counting to entry is the stricter reading). Testing is limited to EU-approved laboratories.

Is there a quarantine for pets entering Germany?

No routine quarantine when your pet meets every requirement. Non-compliant animals can be detained.

How much does it cost to live in Berlin as a nomad?

A one-bedroom flat in the centre runs about $1,000. The national single-person monthly estimate is $2,500 — a country-level figure, not city-specific.

Sources & last verified

Last verified: 2026-07-17Next review due: 2026-10-01

Tier 1 · Official (primary)Bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country — European Commission — Food Safety
Tier 1 · Official (primary)Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131 — EUR-Lex (EU Official Journal)
Tier 1 · Official (primary)Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636 of 20 March 2026 — country/territory list — EUR-Lex (EU Official Journal)
Tier 1 · Official (primary)Customs online — Dangerous dogs (import) — Zoll — German Federal Customs (official)
Tier 1 · Official (primary)Hundeverbringungs- und -einfuhrbeschränkungsgesetz (HundVerbrEinfG) — gesetze-im-internet.de (German Federal Ministry of Justice / official legislation)
Tier 1 · Official (primary)Travelling with pets — entry regulation — BMEL/BMLEH — German Federal Ministry of Agriculture (official)

Pet import rules verified for Germany. Cost data: wherenext_city_prices@2026.1, fetched 2026-07-17.