We moved to Berlin from the US - but because the city is so stressful, we now prefer to live in Dresden

Business Insider Germany We moved to Berlin from the US - but because the city is so stressful, we now prefer to live in Dresden Ashley Packard • 3 days • 3 minutes reading time We feel very comfortable in Dresden. Two years ago, my husband and I (along with our two cats) made the big move from Massachusetts to Berlin to find a new job. We were excited to live in a capital city for the first time. Before that, we had only ever lived in the suburbs around Boston. Although the German capital was beautiful, we found living there difficult. In February, we left Berlin and moved about two hours south to Dresden. It was one of the best decisions we've made since we've been in Germany. Here are a few things that drove us away from Berlin and a few reasons why Dresden really won us over. Difficult apartment search and high rents Berlin is known for being relatively affordable, especially compared to other European capitals like Paris or Amsterdam. However, the city has become one of the most expensive cities for renters in Germany in recent years because housing costs have risen. Many projects to build new apartments have been put on hold. Berlin had a vacancy rate of less than one percent until 2023. We had much better luck finding apartments in Dresden, probably because it is not a big city. The rent prices were also much more affordable for us. Dresden is less crowded with tourists Dresden's Christmas markets can get a bit crowded, but the city is usually not too confusing. Berlin is one of the most visited cities in Europe, attracting several million visitors each year. When we lived there, popular places like Alexanderplatz, Brandenburg Gate and Museum Island seemed to be constantly overrun with tourists. During peak travel times, this led to overcrowded trains, buses and trams and delays for regular commuters like us. In comparison, Dresden only attracts a few million visitors each year. We still get some tourists (mostly because of the famous Christmas markets), but on a smaller scale. And since we can now afford to live in the city center, we can walk to most places and avoid crowded public transportation and traffic congestion. Our move offers better access to nature and beautiful architecture As nature lovers, we appreciate the green spaces and large parks in Berlin. However, they are nothing compared to what we have in Dresden. More than half of our city is covered in green spaces and forests. We love the beautiful Elbe River, which flows right through Dresden. We are also only about an hour away from the beautiful Saxon Switzerland National Park - a drive there would take about three hours from Berlin. We also have access to paved bike paths along the river and many beautiful hiking trails. The city also has a lot to offer in terms of architectural ambience. While Berlin has many impressive landmarks, Dresden is also known for its architecture and cultural monuments such as the Zwinger and the Saxon State Opera. We especially enjoy walking around the old town and admiring the elaborate and opulent buildings with their lavish sculptures and terraced gardens. Dresden's nightlife is enough for us Dresden suits us perfectly. Berlin's nightlife is unique and varied, especially compared to what you'll find in Dresden. The techno clubs like Berghain and Sisyphos attract an international crowd with their parties and long opening hours - some stay open for a whole weekend. We're not big clubbers, so we prefer the relaxed bars and slightly quieter nightlife in Dresden. In our smaller city, there are fewer clubs, and most of them feel more cozy. All in all, our move was the right decision Dresden is cheaper than Berlin, and the access to nature and stunning architecture blew us away. We feel at home now, and are happy to live in such a beautiful city.