The New Year is just around the corner and with it the time for good resolutions and planning. Your vacation can be almost two months long if you make clever use of the bridging days! But 2026 also has some changes in store for Berlin residents in other areas. The coming year will bring nationwide and local innovations that are best known now. An overview of the upcoming changes in the new year in Berlin:
Social affairs, wages and finances
First of all, some good news: as planned nationwide, the minimum wage is expected to rise to 13.90 euros per hour and the mini-job limit to 603 euros per month from January 2026. These changes will be particularly noticeable in Berlin, where many people work in the service, catering and retail sectors.
Child benefit will also increase slightly to 259 euros. The tax burden for employees will be reduced because the basic tax-free allowance will be raised to 12,348 euros.
Changes to energy prices
There is light and shade in the energy sector. On the one hand, the price of CO2 will rise to between 55 and 65 euros per ton. This will increase the cost of fossil fuels, i.e. heating oil, gas and petrol. On the other hand, Berlin in particular is benefiting to an above-average extent from a nationwide reduction in grid fees for electricity: the federal government is subsidizing the fees for electricity transport, which are particularly high in Berlin.
In concrete terms, this means that Berlin households can expect a higher reduction in electricity costs than in other regions. In addition, the gas storage levy is likely to be abolished, which could stabilize the price of gas.
Transport and the Berlin budget
The Berlin Senate is planning a significant increase in total expenditure for the 2026/2027 double budget. Over 43 billion euros are planned ! The reason: rising personnel costs and higher social spending. All planned local projects and investments are to be financed in this way.
The transport sector faces the greatest challenges in the changes in the new year: From 2026, we can expect rail closures and replacement services again . This is likely to affect the S46, S8, RE2 and RE7 lines in the area of the important Königs Wusterhausen and Schöneweide railroad junctions.
But finally, some good news for all those who are affected by the rail closures in their everyday lives. From the new year, there will be a commuter allowance (38 cents/km). This should bring noticeable financial relief from the very first kilometer.