Moving to Germany from California
What to Expect
Considering a move from California to Germany? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from California to Germany, you would find that Germany is 10.8% cheaper than California. A $75,000 salary in California would need to be roughly €53,328 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 74°F in Sacramento, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between California and Germany.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → €53,328
To maintain the same standard of living in Germany
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 5.8% more
Groceries
pay 23.1% less
Transportation
pay 23.2% more
Housing
pay 26.9% less
Childcare
pay 57.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 23.2% 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 30% less than cities in California.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from California to Germany.
people moved from United States to Germany · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Germany compared to California.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Germany performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
California performs better than Germany across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
California generally does better on employment & economy, though Germany leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Germany performs significantly better than California 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Sacramento | Berlin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 60°/41°F (15°/5°C) | 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 79°/51°F (26°/11°C) | 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/57°F (32°/14°C) | 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 65°/44°F (18°/7°C) | 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Sacramento | Berlin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54°/39°F (12.1°/3.8°C) | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) |
| Feb | 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.2°C) | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) |
| Mar | 65°/44°F (18.4°/6.7°C) | 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) |
| Apr | 71°/46°F (21.7°/7.9°C) | 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) |
| May | 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.6°C) | 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) |
| Jun | 87°/56°F (30.6°/13.2°C) | 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) |
| Jul | 92°/58°F (33.4°/14.7°C) | 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) |
| Aug | 91°/58°F (32.9°/14.4°C) | 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) |
| Sep | 87°/56°F (30.7°/13.2°C) | 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) |
| Oct | 78°/50°F (25.3°/10.1°C) | 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) |
| Nov | 64°/43°F (17.7°/6.0°C) | 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) |
| Dec | 54°/38°F (12.2°/3.6°C) | 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) |
National Weather Service
Deutscher WetterdienstVisitor 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 holder visiting Germany
Visa Free
Germany passport holder visiting United States
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 California?
On average Germany is about 18% less expensive than California, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Germany?
Budget about €13,332 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 California and Germany are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Germany compared to California?
Germany performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Germany compared to California?
The average high temperature in Berlin is 56°F, compared to 74°F in Sacramento. Berlin receives around 22.5 in of rainfall per year, while Sacramento gets 18.5 in.
What language do they speak in Germany?
The official language in Germany is German. In California, the official language is English.
