Moving to Minnesota from Germany

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Germany to Minnesota? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Germany to Minnesota, you would find that Minnesota is 10.9% more expensive than Germany overall. A €67,000 salary in Germany would need to be roughly $83,200 in Minnesota to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English.

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

Is Minnesota cheaper than Germany?

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 2.6% less

Groceries

pay 24.8% more

Transportation

pay 24.4% less

Housing

pay 27.1% more

Childcare

pay 65.3% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 18.6% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (November 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 Minnesota?

What does your salary buy?

€67,000 → $83,200

To maintain the same standard of living in Minnesota

Calculate with your salary →

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 Minnesota cost about 6% more than cities in Germany.

Minnesota

Mankato 62%
Rochester 60%
Duluth 50%

Compare cities head-to-head

Get free moving quotes to Minnesota

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Germany to Minnesota.

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

The numbers behind daily life in Minnesota compared to Germany.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate World Health Organization, 2024

share of adults with obesity

DE
20.6%
MN
33.9%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access World Bank, 2024

share of households with internet

DE
93.5%
MN
91.0%

Germany performs better than Minnesota across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

DE
3.7%
MN
4.3%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

DE
$60,496
MN
$68,478

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

DE
80.8 yrs
MN
79.1 yrs

Germany performs better than Minnesota across all family life metrics.

Weather in Minnesota vs Germany

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Minneapolis Rain: 30.6 in/yr (778 mm)
55° / 37°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Berlin Minneapolis
Jan–Mar 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) 31°/15°F (0°/-10°C)
Apr–Jun 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) 69°/48°F (20°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) 78°/59°F (26°/15°C)
Oct–Dec 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) 42°/26°F (6°/-3°C)
View all months
Month Berlin Minneapolis
Jan 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) 24°/8°F (-4.6°/-13.6°C)
Feb 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) 29°/13°F (-1.7°/-10.7°C)
Mar 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) 41°/24°F (5.2°/-4.3°C)
Apr 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) 58°/37°F (14.3°/2.9°C)
May 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) 69°/49°F (20.8°/9.4°C)
Jun 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) 79°/59°F (26.0°/14.9°C)
Jul 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) 83°/64°F (28.6°/17.8°C)
Aug 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) 80°/62°F (26.9°/16.6°C)
Sep 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) 72°/52°F (22.1°/11.3°C)
Oct 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) 58°/40°F (14.4°/4.3°C)
Nov 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) 41°/26°F (5.1°/-3.2°C)
Dec 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) 27°/12°F (-2.7°/-10.9°C)

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

Can you move from Germany to Minnesota?

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 Minnesota than Germany?

On average Minnesota is around 11% pricier than Germany, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Minnesota?

Budget about $20,800 for 3 months in Minnesota (based on a €67,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Minnesota?

From major Minnesota cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Germany and Minnesota are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Minnesota compared to Germany?

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

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

The average high temperature in Minneapolis is 55°F, compared to 56°F in Berlin. Minneapolis receives around 30.6 in of rainfall per year, while Berlin gets 22.5 in.

What language do they speak in Minnesota?

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

Share this

At a Glance

DE
Population 83,491,249 5,830,405
Currency Euro (€) United States Dollar ($)
Languages German English
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +49 +1
Time zones 1 11
Emergency number 112 911