Moving to Germany from Australia
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Australia to Germany — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Australia to Germany, you would find that Germany is 3.9% more expensive than Australia overall. A A$107,021 salary in Australia would need to be roughly €64,413 in Germany to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in German. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Berlin averages 56°F vs 67°F in Canberra, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Australia to Germany.
What does your salary buy?
A$107,021 → €64,413
To maintain the same standard of living in Germany
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 19.9% more
Groceries
pay 0.4% more
Transportation
pay 27.7% more
Housing
pay 6.9% more
Childcare
pay 23.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 17.8% less
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 3% more than cities in Australia.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Australia to Germany, based on official data.
people moved from Australia to Germany · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Australia to Germany.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Australia generally does better on safety, though Germany leads in road traffic deaths.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Germany generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Australia leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Australia generally does better on environment, though Germany leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Australia generally does better on infrastructure, though Germany leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Australia generally does better on employment & economy, though Germany leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Australia performs better than Germany across all family life metrics.
Data: Australian Taxation Office, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Canberra | Berlin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 80°/54°F (26°/12°C) | 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 61°/39°F (16°/4°C) | 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/35°F (13°/1°C) | 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 73°/47°F (23°/9°C) | 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Canberra | Berlin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 82°/55°F (27.7°/13.0°C) | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) |
| Feb | 81°/55°F (27.0°/12.9°C) | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) |
| Mar | 76°/51°F (24.4°/10.7°C) | 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) |
| Apr | 68°/44°F (19.8°/6.6°C) | 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) |
| May | 60°/38°F (15.4°/3.1°C) | 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) |
| Jun | 54°/34°F (12.1°/0.9°C) | 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) |
| Jul | 52°/32°F (11.2°/-0.2°C) | 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) |
| Aug | 55°/34°F (12.9°/1.0°C) | 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) |
| Sep | 61°/38°F (16.0°/3.1°C) | 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) |
| Oct | 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C) | 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) |
| Nov | 72°/47°F (22.4°/8.5°C) | 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) |
| Dec | 79°/52°F (26.0°/11.2°C) | 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) |
Bureau of Meteorology
Deutscher WetterdienstVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Australia 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.
Australia passport holder visiting Germany
Visa Free
Germany passport holder visiting Australia
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: 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 Australia?
Costs in Germany and Australia are broadly similar overall, though categories like rent and dining differ between cities.
How much money do I need to move to Germany?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €16,103 in Germany on a A$107,021 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Germany?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Germany has 45.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Germany safe for expats?
Australia generally does better on safety, though Germany leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Germany is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Australia.
How is healthcare in Germany compared to Australia?
Germany generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Australia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Germany, compared to 39.8 in Australia. Germany scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Australia: 87).
What's the weather like in Germany compared to Australia?
The average high temperature in Berlin is 56°F, compared to 67°F in Canberra. Berlin receives around 22.5 in of rainfall per year, while Canberra gets 24.8 in.
What language do they speak in Germany?
The official language in Germany is German. In Australia, the official language is English.
