Moving to Germany from Arizona

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Arizona to Germany? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Arizona to Germany, you would find that Germany is 6.8% more expensive than Arizona. A $75,000 salary in Arizona would need to be roughly €65,130 in Germany to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in German. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Berlin averages 56°F vs 87°F in Phoenix, making it significantly cooler.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Arizona and Germany.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 €65,130

To maintain the same standard of living in Germany

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 12.2% more

Groceries

pay 5.9% less

Transportation

pay 54.2% more

Housing

pay 23.4% less

Childcare

pay 22.0% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 4.9% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 0.8717 EUR (June 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in Germany cost about 9% less than cities in Arizona.

Arizona

Tempe 68%
Mesa 66%

Germany

Munich 66%
Frankfurt 63%
Hamburg 63%
Oldenburg 55%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Arizona to Germany.

Moved in 2023
14,858 ↓ 4% vs 2022

people moved from United States to Germany · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Germany?

Top countries of origin for Germany's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Germany compared to Arizona.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

AZ
33.6%
DE
22.3%

Germany performs significantly better than Arizona across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

AZ
90.5%
DE
91.0%

Germany performs significantly better than Arizona across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

AZ
4.0%
DE
3.0%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

AZ
$58,628
DE
$61,900

Germany generally does better on employment & economy, though Arizona leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

AZ
76.3 yrs
DE
81.5 yrs

Germany performs significantly better than Arizona across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Phoenix Rain: 8.2 in/yr (208 mm)
87° / 63°F

Avg. annual high / low

Berlin Rain: 22.5 in/yr (571 mm)
56° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Phoenix Berlin
Jan–Mar 73°/49°F (23°/10°C) 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 95°/69°F (35°/20°C) 64°/47°F (18°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 103°/80°F (40°/27°C) 72°/55°F (22°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 77°/54°F (25°/12°C) 47°/37°F (8°/3°C)
View all months
Month Phoenix Berlin
Jan 69°/46°F (20.3°/7.6°C) 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C)
Feb 72°/49°F (22.1°/9.3°C) 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C)
Mar 78°/53°F (25.7°/11.9°C) 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C)
Apr 86°/60°F (29.9°/15.7°C) 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C)
May 95°/69°F (34.8°/20.6°C) 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C)
Jun 104°/77°F (39.9°/25.1°C) 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C)
Jul 106°/83°F (41.0°/28.1°C) 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C)
Aug 104°/82°F (40.1°/27.8°C) 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C)
Sep 100°/75°F (37.8°/24.1°C) 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C)
Oct 89°/64°F (31.8°/18.0°C) 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C)
Nov 76°/52°F (24.7°/11.1°C) 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C)
Dec 67°/45°F (19.6°/7.1°C) 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Deutscher Wetterdienst Deutscher Wetterdienst

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Germany. To live, work, or study long-term in Germany, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Germany's immigration authority.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Germany

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Germany without a visa.
Germany passport

Germany passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Germany passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United States.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Germany than Arizona?

Germany and Arizona are within a few percent on overall cost, though specific items in specific cities can swing either way.

How much money do I need to move to Germany?

Budget about €16,282 for 3 months in Germany (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Germany?

From major Germany cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Arizona and Germany are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Germany compared to Arizona?

Germany performs significantly better than Arizona across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Germany compared to Arizona?

The average high temperature in Berlin is 56°F, compared to 87°F in Phoenix. Berlin receives around 22.5 in of rainfall per year, while Phoenix gets 8.2 in.

What language do they speak in Germany?

The official language in Germany is German. In Arizona, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

DE
Population 6,392,017 84,316,622
Currency United States Dollar ($) Euro (€)
Languages English German
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +49
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 112