Elizabeth was the elder of two daughters of Margrave John of Brandenburg-Küstrin (1513–1571) from his marriage to Catherine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1518–1574), daughter of the Duke Henry V of Brunswick-Lüneburg.

On 26 December 1558 Elisabeth married Margrave George Frederick I of Brandenburg-Ansbach-Kulmbach (1539–1603) in Küstrin.

Elisabeth died during her stay at the Warsaw court, where her husband was to be awarded the ducal title by the Polish king Stefan Batory.

Her husband ordered the Dutch sculptor Willem van Bloche to create a grave monument for her.

It was completed in 1582 and was erected as a "governor monument" in the Cathedral.