Berlin and Leipzig in a major city comparison
In the search for a city where people feel comfortable and which meets their expectations of a high quality of life, Berlin and Leipzig come up again and again. Germany’s capital enjoys a reputation as a cosmopolitan, multicultural metropolis, while Leipzig, as a major city in Saxony, scores highly for its excellent living and study conditions and therefore attracts young people in particular. The question of which of the two cities is the right choice depends on your individual requirements and living conditions.
Is Leipzig the better Berlin?
When comparing the two cities, the saying “Leipzig is the new Berlin” is becoming increasingly common these days. In fact, the Saxon city offers many advantages, especially for young people, that are also attributed to Germany’s capital. It has a young, lively scene culture and an attractive, green cityscape with numerous leisure opportunities and excellent educational opportunities. On the other hand, housing prices in Leipzig are comparatively low, whereas in Berlin they are growing steadily, especially in the popular districts and neighborhoods. These are all factors that actually suggest that Leipzig is the better Berlin. However, the capital still has its charms too. The international flair it exudes is particularly unique. If you are also familiar with the real estate market here, you can still find affordable housing in Berlin, provided you are flexible in your choice of district. Especially in the outlying districts, Berlin’s housing prices are more affordable than is often assumed.
Quality of life in Berlin and Leipzig
The quality of living and variety of leisure options are great, regardless of whether you choose to live in Leipzig or Berlin. As the German capital, Berlin offers the right environment for almost every taste, regardless of whether you like it quiet, cozy and close to nature or prefer trendy districts with a lively, urban flair. Life in Berlin is characterized by its diversity, the size of the city and its multicultural character. In contrast to Berlin, which is visited by many tourists, the Saxon city of Leipzig has a more iconic character. Nevertheless, Leipzig does not have to hide behind Berlin in a city comparison, as it offers just as high a quality of life as the capital, which it owes to the many green spaces and the extensive range of sport, art and culture on offer, as well as the diverse natural surroundings. Leipzig is considered large enough to be able to experience something, but at the same time is sufficiently manageable to avoid falling into anonymity.
Population growth and housing construction
Leipzig has seen an enormous increase in population over the last ten years, partly due to the many students who have settled here. The city is considered ideal for young people who are looking for a trendy environment but do not want or are unable to pay high housing prices. Whereas a few years ago there was still a high vacancy rate here, the housing market in Leipzig is becoming increasingly tight. Word of the city’s popularity has long since spread. Property buyers are increasingly switching from Berlin to Leipzig to invest their money in real estate there. Berlin’s population is also still growing, but not to the same extent as a decade ago. In conjunction with many residential construction projects completed in 2019, this has ensured that the real estate situation there has eased somewhat, even if there is still a shortage of housing and this is unlikely to change in the near future.
Jobs and economic performance
One of the biggest differences between the two cities is the economic structure. Berlin is regarded as an ideal location for start-ups and sees several hundred new start-ups every year. The capital’s economy is characterized by its high degree of globalization and digitalization. Leipzig is also home to a number of major employers, including BMW, DHL, Amazon and Lufthansa. However, there is still potential here when it comes to start-ups. Nevertheless, Leipzig has a locational advantage thanks to its location in the Central German metropolitan region, which is why it can be assumed that a number of companies will settle here in the future in order to benefit from this advantage.
Facts about Berlin and Leipzig
The main difference between Berlin and Leipzig lies in the population figures. While the capital city has 3,700,000 inhabitants and a population density of 4,100 inhabitants per square kilometer, Leipzig has a total of only 600,000 inhabitants. There are 1,950 inhabitants per square kilometer. The unemployment rate is 7.7 percent in Berlin and 6.3 percent in Leipzig. In Berlin, which was long regarded as the “capital of crime”, crime has also fallen by ten percent in recent years. Leipzig has also seen a reduction in crime statistics. It also has a very good infrastructure for a city of its size, including several freeways, an international airport, an excellent S-Bahn network and several bus and streetcar lines. Berlin’s infrastructure is also excellent. Two airports and an extensive public transport network enable a high level of mobility throughout the city.
The alternative to the Spree metropolis
Berlin is one of the most popular cities in Germany, and that will not change in the future. It has a unique character that attracts people from all over the world. Nevertheless, Leipzig has been developing into a real alternative to the metropolis on the Spree for a number of years, at least for some groups of people. Young people appreciate the creative freedom they have here, as well as the lower housing prices offered by the Saxon city. It can therefore be assumed that the population will continue to grow in the near future. The high quality of life that Leipzig offers contributes to this. In addition, many of the city’s new residents appreciate its manageability, because despite its urban flair and growth, Leipzig has so far managed to retain its special charm and iconic character.
Although property prices in Leipzig are now rising due to its growing popularity, Leipzig is still significantly cheaper than the capital. According to the rent index, the average price for a 60 m² apartment in Berlin is €10.10 per m², compared to just €6.38 in Leipzig. Property purchase prices are also higher in the German capital than in Leipzig, which is also due to the fact that more students live in the Saxon city, who prefer affordable housing.
The reason why the two cities of Berlin and Leipzig are often compared is the similarity of the atmosphere that both exude. Leipzig has the qualities that many people used to appreciate about Berlin. The capital was long regarded as a metropolis of creativity and innovation. Young people with vision settled here, shaped the city and created a lively, urban scene culture. Due to its popularity, however, Berlin is now increasingly characterized by the mainstream. Wealthy business people and countless tourists visit the German capital every year. This has also changed the character of the city and, above all, caused housing prices in Berlin to rise. Leipzig has the characteristics that used to make Berlin so popular, but has lower real estate prices and creates space for young people with creative ideas.
At 6.3%, the unemployment rate in Leipzig is lower than in Berlin. There it is 7.7%.
Depending on the residential area, both Leipzig and Berlin offer a high quality of life, as both cities place great value on an attractive cityscape with plenty of green spaces. Currently, the proportion of green areas is slightly higher in Berlin. On the other hand, you will find fewer noisy urban areas in Leipzig. The population density in the capital is also almost twice as high as in Leipzig.
Both cities are characterized by growth. However, Leipzig has recorded significantly higher population growth in recent years and is growing almost twice as fast as Berlin. Thanks in particular to the many students coming here, not only is the population increasing rapidly, but the average age of Leipzig’s residents is also falling. Berlin is also continuing to record growth, but as there was less immigration here in 2019 and, above all, many apartments were completed, this is not quite as high as in the past.
