It is affordable compare to London where the same thing it is probably 3 times more expensive.
There are other cities with more affordable prices (Athens) but obviously the startup environment is not the same there. But Berlin it is catching up with London, so it is worth to consider.
I've actually just moved offices in London, so I can say that it actually isn't much different. There's plenty of offices that are very comparable to that price.
Ah, my mistake. Though her estimate of £1300 is still a lot more than she'd actually have to pay. My room is in a central location and costs around £670pcm with bills. It's a pretty reasonable place, it's just not 5 minutes from a tube station, which is where they'll get you on the price.
From what I've heard Lisbon is about the same cost as Berlin. But the economy is worse, the tax system seems more complex and it's less accessible to foreigners. I guess the weather is nicer, but the location is worse. To legitimately compete with Berlin I think one really has to offer something special, otherwise Berlin wins by default in the low-medium cost category. Lisbon would still be on my shortlist for European bootstrap cities, but there are also at least half a dozen other cities that could be equivalent.
For people to choose something it first have to be a realistic option. Berlin is much more established as an international and "tech" city. You hear about people moving there all the time. For whatever problem you'll face there's bound to be someone else who has done it. When it comes to moving you don't want to be a pioneer and spend thousands of euros finding out if it's doable and ending up not liking it. Being in the same boat as other people helps with that uncertainty.
From what I could quickly find [1] there is nothing more expensive than London in Europe. And there is not a lot that is significantly cheaper than Berlin. At least in case of office space rent in major cities.
It's also very overpriced. I just moved into a new apartment and I am paying 9€/sqm cold in a very central location. This is very cheap. 11-14€ is more realistic, but even with utilities included you would never have to pay 24€/sqm.
That's extremely expensive for Berlin. 24 per Meter. 8 to 12 is considered expensive. 6 was the old standard. I pay 15 but I have top floor with balcony and skylights
Prices are obviously catching up. My 6-year old lease is about as much for 60m^2 (turn-of-the-century building in the center). But I fear the day when I need more space for children...