Moving to Kentucky from Germany

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Germany to Kentucky — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Germany to Kentucky, you would find that Kentucky is 3.4% more expensive than Germany overall. A €67,000 salary in Germany would need to be roughly $77,600 in Kentucky to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Louisville averages 68°F vs 56°F in Berlin, making it significantly warmer.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Is Kentucky cheaper than Germany?

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 20.1% less

Groceries

pay 20.2% more

Transportation

pay 36.0% less

Housing

pay 22.2% more

Childcare

pay 94.6% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.0% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (October 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.

What salary do you need in Kentucky?

What does your salary buy?

€67,000 → $77,600

To maintain the same standard of living in Kentucky

Calculate with your salary →

Get free moving quotes to Kentucky

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Germany to Kentucky, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
4,430 ↑ 6% vs 2022

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

Who's moving to United States?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Germany to Kentucky.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate World Health Organization, 2024

share of adults with obesity

DE
20.6%
KY
38.2%

Germany performs better than Kentucky across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access World Bank, 2024

share of households with internet

DE
93.5%
KY
87.4%

Germany performs better than Kentucky across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

DE
3.7%
KY
3.5%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

DE
$60,496
KY
$50,135

Germany generally does better on employment & economy, though Kentucky leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

DE
80.8 yrs
KY
73.5 yrs

Germany performs better than Kentucky across all family life metrics.

Weather in Kentucky vs Germany

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Louisville Rain: 44.9 in/yr (1141 mm)
68° / 49°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Berlin Louisville
Jan–Mar 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) 50°/32°F (10°/0°C)
Apr–Jun 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) 77°/57°F (25°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) 86°/66°F (30°/19°C)
Oct–Dec 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) 58°/40°F (14°/4°C)
View all months
Month Berlin Louisville
Jan 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) 43°/27°F (6.1°/-2.9°C)
Feb 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) 48°/30°F (8.8°/-1.2°C)
Mar 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) 58°/38°F (14.4°/3.2°C)
Apr 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) 69°/47°F (20.4°/8.5°C)
May 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) 77°/57°F (25.1°/13.9°C)
Jun 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) 85°/66°F (29.6°/18.9°C)
Jul 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) 89°/70°F (31.5°/21.1°C)
Aug 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) 88°/69°F (31.3°/20.3°C)
Sep 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.8°C)
Oct 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) 70°/49°F (21.2°/9.4°C)
Nov 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) 58°/40°F (14.4°/4.2°C)
Dec 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) 46°/30°F (7.7°/-1.1°C)

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

Can you move from Germany to Kentucky?

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

Germany passport

Germany passport holder visiting United States

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

United States passport holder visiting Germany

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

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 Kentucky than Germany?

No — Kentucky is on average about 3% more expensive than Germany. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Kentucky?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly $19,400 in Kentucky on a €67,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Kentucky?

Usually fine from major cities in Kentucky. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in Kentucky compared to Germany?

Germany performs better than Kentucky across all health & wellbeing metrics.

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

The average high temperature in Louisville is 68°F, compared to 56°F in Berlin. Louisville receives around 44.9 in of rainfall per year, while Berlin gets 22.5 in.

What language do they speak in Kentucky?

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

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At a Glance

DE
Population 83,491,249 4,606,864
Currency Euro (€) United States Dollar ($)
Languages German English
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +49 +1
Time zones 1 11
Emergency number 112 911