I’m originally from Los Angeles, but I’ve lived in many places: I’ve gone to school in London, where I got my master’s degree, was an emergency aid worker in Turkey, and taught English in China, where I met my German husband, Marcus.
For the last five years, we’ve lived in Berlin, Germany. No other place has felt more like home. I love my community, neighborhood, and my remote 9-to-5 job as a product manager at a travel tech company.
I earn six figures a year, and since the cost of living is so affordable, I feel like my money goes further.
When I’m done with work for the day, I don’t feel drained. I still have enough time and energy to work on my side hustle — a combination of a travel blog and a relocation consultancy — and enjoy the city.
DON’T MISS: How to Build a Standout Personal Brand: Online, In Person, and At Work
How much it costs to live in Berlin
Marcus and I share food, utilities and housing costs. I cover expenses like my cell phone, gym membership, trips to the nail salon, transportation, and insurance.
Every month, I spend $1,037 on rent, $275 on groceries, $362 on utilities including Wi-Fi, heat and parking, and $445 on private health insurance. I walk pretty much everywhere, but between public transportation and the occasional Uber, I spend $142 monthly.
I also try to invest about $1,000 into my retirement and brokerage accounts each month. Thanks to this approach, I was able to pay off over $100,000 of student debt a couple of years ago.
Being in Germany has allowed me to slow down and enjoy life more. I have more experiences, I get to try more new things, and feel happier and less stressed as a result.
One of my favorite activities in Berlin is simply wandering around a local open air market.
Jan Rödger for CNBC Make It
I’m able to prioritize my health and wellbeing
Making friends as an adult in a foreign country can be tough, especially with a language barrier.
I love going to the gym, in part because I have made a lot of friends there. So much camaraderie is developed when everyone is there for an hour and suffering through a workout.
I work from home for my 9-to-5. When I’m done for the day, I turn my attention to my side hustle, a travel blog and relocation consultancy business.
Jan Rödger for CNBC Make It
I also love getting massages and beauty treatments. In the U.S., these can add up pretty quickly. Luckily, my health insurance covers therapeutic massages and treatments.
It also offers a few unexpected benefits, like a mountain retreat for a couple of weeks to treat burnout, with a doctor’s referral.
Everything is organic
We have access to delicious local produce right on our doorstep. Most budget retailers are walking distance from my apartment and offer affordable organic groceries.
Here I am in Arminius Market Hall. They have an excellent selection here, especially their delicious cheese counter.
Jan Rödger for CNBC Make It
Cooking at home is a special activity for us, so we rarely eat out. We love to make Chinese dishes because it reminds Marcus and I of our time in Beijing.
Marcus and I love to cook together.
Jan Rödger for CNBC Make It
There’s an open-air market named Arminius Market Hall in our neighborhood that we enjoy. Everything is organic there because Germany has really strong food laws about quality, packaging, and additives.
We also have a really strong farmers’ union and farming culture, so you can get to know the farmer that you get your strawberries from, despite living in the heart of Berlin.
There is high-quality housing stock
The quality of the building we live in is pretty incredible. A lot of times in bigger U.S. cities, you might spend half your income on something that is falling apart.
With our two cats, “Xiao Huang” (Little Yellow) and “Xiao Long Bao” (Soup Dumpling), we live in a 1,100-square-foot, 2-bedroom, 1.5 bath, apartment with a balcony, heated floors, and floor-to-ceiling windows — for a fraction of my paycheck. Our rent would be over half my monthly salary in the U.S.
My husband having a meal out on our balcony, it feels so peaceful here.
Jan Rödger for CNBC Make It
Germans are big homebodies, so much so that when they move, they often take everything with them, from their floors to entire kitchens.
Since this is a modular design, whenever we decide to move, we can take this all with us.
Jan Rödger for CNBC Make It
When we moved in, there were no light fixtures or lightbulbs included. But that meant we could furnish space the way we wanted.
One of our favorite things to do is just hang out in the living room with our cats. When I sink into my couch, I think “Wow, for this moment I can relax and feel completely safe.”
Jan Rödger for CNBC Make It
There are secondhand thrift markets every weekend called “Flohmarkts.” People love to barter and exchange things, and I really respect the sustainability of it all.
One of my cats, “Xiao Huang” or Little Yellow. My cats have Chinese names and European passports, which feels somewhat emblematic of my international journey over the last few years.
Jan Rödger for CNBC Make It
I have a great community here
I can meet people from all over the world who are in a similar situation to me. I’m part of an all-female startup network called Amela, started by a fellow Latina who moved here many years ago.
I feel like I get to see something new every day in Berlin, even when I’m just running errands around the neighborhood.
Jan Rödger for CNBC Make It
It’s helped me meet so many other international women. Sometimes it can feel isolating when you’re not fully fluent in the language yet, but when I spend time with these women, I truly feel seen and understood.
After years of bureaucracy and studying, I’m now a German dual-citizen.
My husband and I also really enjoy just driving around the city.
Jan Rödger for CNBC Make It
Feeling safe and secure in a city where I have the time, money, and mental capacity to enjoy myself is such a relief. After living in so many places, it feels good to have found somewhere that truly feels like home.
Vanessa Wachtmeister is a proud Chicana from Los Angeles, California. She is a thought leader and digital content creator who has amassed over 700,000 followers across multiple social media sites, with her platform Wander Onwards. Today, Vanessa lives in Germany, and her goal is to continue to build digital products that enhance the lives of North Americans abroad, and help others pursue financial and location independence.
Want to stand out, grow your network, and get more job opportunities? Sign up for Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course, How to Build a Standout Personal Brand: Online, In Person, and At Work. Learn from three expert instructors how to showcase your skills, build a stellar reputation, and create a digital presence that AI can’t replicate.
