Moving to North Carolina from Germany

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Germany to North Carolina, you would find that North Carolina is 17.6% more expensive than Germany overall. A €65,374 salary in Germany would need to be roughly $75,979 in North Carolina to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Asheville averages 67°F vs 56°F in Berlin, making it significantly warmer.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Germany to North Carolina.

What does your salary buy?

€65,374 $75,979

To maintain the same standard of living in North Carolina

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 18.8% less

Groceries

pay 44.7% more

Transportation

pay 21.4% less

Housing

pay 38.1% more

Childcare

pay 2.0 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.8% 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.

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 North Carolina cost about 11% more than cities in Germany.

Germany

Munich 66%
Frankfurt 63%
Hamburg 63%
Oldenburg 55%

North Carolina

Durham 74%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Germany to North Carolina, 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 North Carolina.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate The World Factbook, 2022

share of adults with obesity

DE
22.3%
NC
33.6%

Germany performs better than North Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access The World Factbook, 2023

share of households with internet

DE
91.0%
NC
88.7%

Germany performs better than North Carolina 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%
NC
3.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

DE
$61,900
NC
$59,308

Germany generally does better on employment & economy, though North Carolina leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

DE
81.5 yrs
NC
76.1 yrs

Germany performs better than North Carolina 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

Asheville Rain: 37.0 in/yr (940 mm)
67° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Berlin Asheville
Jan–Mar 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) 52°/32°F (11°/0°C)
Apr–Jun 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) 75°/53°F (24°/12°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) 82°/62°F (28°/17°C)
Oct–Dec 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) 58°/38°F (15°/3°C)
View all months
Month Berlin Asheville
Jan 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) 47°/28°F (8.1°/-2.4°C)
Feb 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) 50°/31°F (10.2°/-0.6°C)
Mar 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) 58°/37°F (14.4°/2.9°C)
Apr 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) 67°/45°F (19.7°/7.3°C)
May 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) 75°/53°F (23.9°/11.7°C)
Jun 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) 82°/61°F (27.6°/16.1°C)
Jul 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) 85°/65°F (29.3°/18.1°C)
Aug 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) 84°/64°F (28.7°/17.7°C)
Sep 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) 77°/57°F (25.1°/13.8°C)
Oct 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) 68°/46°F (19.9°/7.9°C)
Nov 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) 58°/38°F (14.7°/3.1°C)
Dec 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) 49°/30°F (9.4°/-0.9°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 North Carolina than Germany?

Costs in North Carolina and Germany are broadly similar overall, though categories like rent and dining differ between cities.

How much money do I need to move to North Carolina?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly $18,995 in North Carolina on a €65,374 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from North Carolina?

Usually fine from major cities in North Carolina. 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 North Carolina compared to Germany?

Germany performs better than North Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in North Carolina compared to Germany?

The average high temperature in Asheville is 67°F, compared to 56°F in Berlin. Asheville receives around 37.0 in of rainfall per year, while Berlin gets 22.5 in.

What language do they speak in North Carolina?

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

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At a Glance

DE
Population 84,316,622 9,535,483
Currency Euro (€) United States Dollar ($)
Languages German English
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +49 +1
Time zones 1 11
Emergency number 112 911