Moving to Michigan from Germany
What to Expect
Considering a move from Germany to Michigan? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Germany to Michigan, you would find that Michigan is 3.8% more expensive than Germany overall. A €65,374 salary in Germany would need to be roughly $68,150 in Michigan to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Germany and Michigan.
What does your salary buy?
€65,374 → $68,150
To maintain the same standard of living in Michigan
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 18.7% less
Groceries
pay 19.7% more
Transportation
pay 29.4% less
Housing
pay 18.8% more
Childcare
pay 69.6% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.7% 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.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Germany to Michigan.
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.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
- · · ·
-
18.534,203
Germany
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Michigan compared to Germany.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Germany performs better than Michigan across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Germany performs better than Michigan 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
Germany generally does better on employment & economy, though Michigan leads in poverty rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Germany performs better than Michigan across all family life metrics.
Data: The World Factbook
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Berlin | Lansing |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) | 36°/21°F (2°/-6°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) | 68°/48°F (20°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) | 79°/57°F (26°/14°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) | 47°/32°F (9°/0°C) |
View all months
| Month | Berlin | Lansing |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) | 31°/17°F (-0.8°/-8.3°C) |
| Feb | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) | 34°/19°F (0.9°/-7.4°C) |
| Mar | 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) | 44°/27°F (6.7°/-2.8°C) |
| Apr | 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) | 58°/38°F (14.2°/3.3°C) |
| May | 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) | 69°/48°F (20.5°/8.9°C) |
| Jun | 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) | 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C) |
| Jul | 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) | 82°/61°F (27.9°/16.2°C) |
| Aug | 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) | 81°/60°F (27.0°/15.5°C) |
| Sep | 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) | 74°/51°F (23.1°/10.8°C) |
| Oct | 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) | 60°/41°F (15.8°/5.1°C) |
| Nov | 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) | 47°/33°F (8.6°/0.5°C) |
| Dec | 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) | 35°/22°F (1.6°/-5.3°C) |
Deutscher Wetterdienst
National Weather ServiceVisitor Visa Requirements
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 holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel Authorisation
United States 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 Michigan than Germany?
On average Michigan is about 9% less expensive than Germany, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Michigan?
Budget about $17,038 for 3 months in Michigan (based on a €65,374 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Michigan?
From major Michigan cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Germany and Michigan are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Michigan compared to Germany?
Germany performs better than Michigan across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Michigan compared to Germany?
The average high temperature in Lansing is 58°F, compared to 56°F in Berlin. Lansing receives around 32.2 in of rainfall per year, while Berlin gets 22.5 in.
What language do they speak in Michigan?
The official language in Michigan is English. In Germany, the official language is German.
