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 16.1% more expensive than Germany overall. A €65,374 salary in Germany would need to be roughly $72,413 in Minnesota 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 Minnesota.

What does your salary buy?

€65,374 $72,413

To maintain the same standard of living in Minnesota

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 12.2% less

Groceries

pay 36.6% more

Transportation

pay 21.5% less

Housing

pay 22.0% more

Childcare

pay 95.0% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 17.0% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 1.15 USD (June 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.

Get free moving quotes to Minnesota

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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 The World Factbook, 2022

share of adults with obesity

DE
22.3%
MN
33.9%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access The World Factbook, 2023

share of households with internet

DE
91.0%
MN
91.0%

Germany performs better than Minnesota across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

DE
3.0%
MN
4.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

DE
$61,900
MN
$68,478

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

DE
81.5 yrs
MN
79.1 yrs

Germany performs better than Minnesota across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Saint Paul Rain: 28.5 in/yr (724 mm)
56° / 38°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Berlin Saint Paul
Jan–Mar 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) 32°/16°F (0°/-9°C)
Apr–Jun 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) 69°/50°F (21°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) 79°/60°F (26°/16°C)
Oct–Dec 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) 43°/27°F (6°/-3°C)
View all months
Month Berlin Saint Paul
Jan 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) 25°/9°F (-4.1°/-12.6°C)
Feb 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) 30°/14°F (-1.3°/-9.9°C)
Mar 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) 42°/26°F (5.5°/-3.6°C)
Apr 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) 58°/39°F (14.7°/3.9°C)
May 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) 70°/50°F (21.2°/10.0°C)
Jun 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C)
Jul 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) 83°/65°F (28.5°/18.1°C)
Aug 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) 81°/62°F (27.1°/16.8°C)
Sep 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) 72°/53°F (22.2°/11.7°C)
Oct 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) 59°/40°F (14.8°/4.7°C)
Nov 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) 42°/28°F (5.6°/-2.4°C)
Dec 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) 28°/14°F (-2.5°/-10.1°C)

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

Visitor 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

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 about 3% less expensive than Germany, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Minnesota?

Budget about $18,103 for 3 months in Minnesota (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 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 Saint Paul is 56°F, compared to 56°F in Berlin. Saint Paul receives around 28.5 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.

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At a Glance

DE
Population 84,316,622 5,303,925
Currency Euro (€) United States Dollar ($)
Languages German English
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +49 +1
Time zones 1 11
Emergency number 112 911