Christmas party Berlin vs Munich: catering price comparison

1. Why the city shifts the price of the Christmas party

A Christmas party is made of the same parts everywhere: venue, food, drinks and technology. The structure does not change between Berlin and Munich. The price per head does.

The first reason is the rent for the venue. It follows the rent level of the city. Where space is costly, the hall for one evening costs more too. What is let is space by the hour, as in any lease. This item is passed straight on to the guest.

The second reason is the number of suppliers. Many caterers and many halls push the price down, because each request draws several offers. If the choice is small, that pressure is missing. How strongly this works shows in our cost comparison for event venues in Berlin and Munich.

The third reason is the calendar. The ideal window runs from 28 November to 18 December. In those three weeks almost every company wants to celebrate. Scarce dates lift the price in both cities, in Munich more so.

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2. What is different in Berlin

Berlin has plenty of space. Old halls, yards, lofts and workshops stand ready for parties. These rooms are large and cheap in the base rent. Many of them sit in Neukölln, in Kreuzberg or in the east of the city. Yet they often come without a kitchen.

That makes the entry level cheap. A basic party starts at about 40 € per person. For that you get the room, a buffet and drinks for the evening. Which houses fit that shows in our guide to Christmas party venues in Berlin.

The range upwards is just as wide. Between the plain hall and the house on the water there are about 100 € per head. Berlin offers both in the same city. So the budget shapes the evening more strongly here than in Munich. The same date can be set up in very different ways.

The price for the empty hall is only half the sum. Without a kitchen, technology is added: cooling, heating and power. Plan about 8 to 15 € per head for that. Anyone planning in Berlin should ask for this item early. Otherwise it shows up only in the final invoice.

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3. What is different in Munich

Munich has less free space. Large industrial rooms are rare, many houses are classic restaurants. So the very cheap level drops away. An empty hall is easier to find outside the city than inside it. The entry level sits at about 50 € per person.

In return the houses bring more with them. Kitchen, staff and technology are mostly on site. The price per head is higher, the list of extra items shorter. Which houses those are shows in our guide to Christmas party venues in Munich.

The second point is the tie to the caterer of the house. Many Munich venues make it binding. A comparison of three offers falls away with it. The price is set before the request goes out.

The third point is the calendar. Good houses in Munich are booked out about six months ahead, in Berlin four to five. Anyone who starts looking in October pays the Munich price for what is left. Why early access is cheaper shows in our post on booking the Christmas party early.

Both pictures together give the comparison per head.

Figure 1: Christmas party, gross per person, by city and level. Berlin basic 40 to 60 €, Munich basic 50 to 70 €. Berlin standard 60 to 95 €, Munich standard 75 to 110 €. Berlin premium 120 to 170 €, Munich premium 140 to 200 €.

4. The price per head compared

The figure shows three levels per city. They sit inside the overall frame for Christmas parties: basic 40 to 70 €, standard 60 to 110 €, premium 120 to 200 € gross per person. Berlin sits in the lower part of every level, Munich in the upper part. The comparison therefore runs on the same basis.

At the basic level the two cities are close. 40 to 60 € in Berlin, 50 to 70 € in Munich. The gap is about 10 € per head. For 60 guests that is 600 €.

At standard level the gap widens. Berlin sits at 60 to 95 €, Munich at 75 to 110 €. For 80 guests that means about 6,400 € in Berlin and about 7,600 € in Munich. The difference of about 1,200 € covers technology and decor in Berlin.

At premium level the upper end counts. Berlin stops at about 170 €, Munich at 200 € per head. How these levels are built up shows in our overview of the costs of a Christmas party.

One point holds in both cities. A company event stays free up to 110 € gross per person, for up to two events per year. A standard party in Munich touches that limit at 110 €. In Berlin there is room left at 95 €.

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5. Where the difference really comes from

The uplift is not spread evenly. Four blocks carry it, and one carries the largest share.

Figure 2: uplift in Munich against Berlin by cost block. Venue about 30 percent, catering about 15 percent, drinks about 12 percent, technology about 8 percent. Weighted across all blocks that gives about 17 to 20 percent.

The venue is the driver. About 30 percent uplift arises from the rent for the evening alone. At a standard party the venue makes up about a third of the bill. So about 9 percentage points of the total uplift land here. The effect hits every level alike, because the rent falls due first.

Catering sits below that at about 15 percent. Wages and rent for the kitchen are higher in Munich, while the goods cost a similar amount. So the gap on food is smaller than on the room.

Drinks sit at about 12 percent. The uplift is in the flat rate per hour, not in the purchase price. How to set up drinks cleanly shows in our post on drinks catering for the Christmas party.

Technology is the smallest block at about 8 percent. Light, sound and cooling cost almost the same in both cities. In Berlin the item comes up more often, because more rooms are let without a kitchen.

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6. Decision and enquiry

The city is rarely a free choice. Mostly the team sits where the party takes place. The comparison still helps, because it sets the budget per city correctly. Site and team set the frame, and the price follows from it.

For Berlin that means: plan with 60 to 95 € per head and have the technology listed separately. For Munich: count on 75 to 110 € and check the caterer of the house early. A team with sites in both cities saves about 1,200 € for 80 guests if the party runs in Berlin.

Five details make every request comparable: city, date, number of guests, budget per head and format. With those you can ask for Christmas party catering in Berlin in one go. The same set of details applies to Munich.

Conclusion

Munich sits about 17 to 20 percent above Berlin for the Christmas party. At the basic level that is 50 to 70 € against 40 to 60 € gross per person, at standard level 75 to 110 € against 60 to 95 €, at premium level 140 to 200 € against 120 to 170 €. The ranges overlap, yet the middle moves clearly upwards.

The uplift sits mostly in the venue at about 30 percent, less in catering at 15 percent, in drinks at 12 percent and in technology at 8 percent. In Munich the date should be fixed six months ahead, in Berlin four to five. For 80 guests at standard level about 1,200 € separates the two cities.

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FAQ

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Is a Christmas party in Munich more costly than in Berlin?

Yes, on average about 17 to 20 percent per head. At standard level that is 75 to 110 € in Munich against 60 to 95 € in Berlin, in each case gross per person.

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What does a Christmas party cost per person in Berlin?

Basic about 40 to 60 €, standard about 60 to 95 €, premium about 120 to 170 € gross. Without a kitchen on site, add about 8 to 15 € per head for technology.

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What does a Christmas party cost per person in Munich?

Basic about 50 to 70 €, standard about 75 to 110 €, premium about 140 to 200 € gross. Kitchen, staff and technology are mostly included in that price.

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Where exactly does the price gap come from?

From four blocks. The venue carries about 30 percent uplift, catering about 15 percent, drinks about 12 percent and technology about 8 percent. Weighted, that gives about 17 to 20 percent. The rent for the hall tips the balance.

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How early does the date have to be fixed?

Good houses are booked out four to six months ahead. In Berlin four to five months are enough, in Munich it is six. The ideal window runs from 28 November to 18 December.

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Does a party in Munich still stay within the tax frame?

A company event stays free up to 110 € gross per person, for up to two events per year. A standard party in Munich sits right on that limit at 110 €. Payroll checks the single case.