Moving to Canada from Germany
What to Expect
Considering a move from Germany to Canada? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Germany to Canada, you would find that Canada is 3.6% cheaper than Germany overall. A €65,700 salary in Germany would need to be roughly CA$105,037 in Canada to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and French.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Germany and Canada.
What does your salary buy?
€65,700 → CA$105,037
To maintain the same standard of living in Canada
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 23.3% less
Groceries
pay 16.6% more
Transportation
pay 25.6% less
Housing
pay 17.1% more
Childcare
pay 8.9% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 3.8% more
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 Canada cost about 6% less than cities in Germany.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Germany to Canada.
people moved from Germany to Canada · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to Canada?
Top countries of origin for Canada's foreign-born residents.
- 720,083
- 699,190
- 633,547
- 537,504
- 273,226
- 254,831
- · · ·
-
12.157,059
Germany
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Canada compared to Germany.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Germany generally does better on safety, though Canada leads in feel safe walking at night.
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
Canada generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Germany leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Germany generally does better on environment, though Canada leads in air pollution deaths.
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
Canada 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
Germany generally does better on employment & economy, though Canada leads in top income tax 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
Canada generally does better on family life, though Germany leads in infant mortality.
Data: Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt), 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 | Berlin | Ottawa |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) | 27°/10°F (-3°/-12°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) | 64°/45°F (18°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) | 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) | 41°/25°F (5°/-4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Berlin | Ottawa |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) | 21°/4°F (-6.1°/-15.3°C) |
| Feb | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) | 25°/8°F (-4.1°/-13.3°C) |
| Mar | 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) | 36°/19°F (2.2°/-7.1°C) |
| Apr | 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) | 51°/33°F (10.8°/0.6°C) |
| May | 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) | 66°/46°F (19.1°/7.7°C) |
| Jun | 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) | 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.7°C) |
| Jul | 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) | 80°/60°F (26.5°/15.4°C) |
| Aug | 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) | 77°/57°F (24.9°/14.1°C) |
| Sep | 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) | 67°/48°F (19.5°/9.1°C) |
| Oct | 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) | 54°/37°F (12.5°/3.0°C) |
| Nov | 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) | 41°/27°F (4.8°/-2.8°C) |
| Dec | 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) | 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.1°C) |
Data:
Deutscher Wetterdienst,
Meteorological Service of Canada
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Germany and Canada. To live, work, or study long-term in Canada, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Canada's immigration authority.
Germany passport holder visiting Canada
Electronic Travel Authorisation
Canada passport holder visiting Germany
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Canada than Germany?
Canada and Germany 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 Canada?
Budget about CA$26,259 for 3 months in Canada (based on a €65,700 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Canada?
Connectivity is usually fine (Canada: 42.6 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Canada offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Canada safe for expats?
Germany generally does better on safety, though Canada leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in Canada is 2.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Germany. About 88% of people in Canada feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Canada compared to Germany?
Canada generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Germany leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 25.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Canada, compared to 45.2 in Germany. Canada scores 91 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Germany: 88).
What's the weather like in Canada compared to Germany?
The average high temperature in Ottawa is 52°F, compared to 56°F in Berlin. Ottawa receives around 37.1 in of rainfall per year, while Berlin gets 22.5 in.
What language do they speak in Canada?
The official languages in Canada are English and French. In Germany, the official language is German.
