Moving to Oregon from Germany

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Germany to Oregon, you would find that Oregon is 10.9% more expensive than Germany overall. A €65,374 salary in Germany would need to be roughly $72,441 in Oregon 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 Oregon.

What does your salary buy?

€65,374 $72,441

To maintain the same standard of living in Oregon

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 12.3% less

Groceries

pay 20.2% more

Transportation

pay 23.1% less

Housing

pay 37.8% more

Childcare

pay 70.6% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 9.8% 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 Oregon cost about 10% more than cities in Germany.

Germany

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

Oregon

Portland 68%
Beaverton 66%
Bend 66%

Compare cities head-to-head

Get free moving quotes to Oregon

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

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 Oregon compared to Germany.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate The World Factbook, 2022

share of adults with obesity

DE
22.3%
OR
31.9%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access The World Factbook, 2023

share of households with internet

DE
91.0%
OR
91.8%

Oregon performs significantly better than Germany 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%
OR
5.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

DE
$61,900
OR
$61,622

Germany generally does better on employment & economy, though Oregon 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
OR
78.8 yrs

Germany performs better than Oregon 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

Salem Rain: 39.7 in/yr (1008 mm)
64° / 42°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Berlin Salem
Jan–Mar 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) 52°/36°F (11°/2°C)
Apr–Jun 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) 68°/45°F (20°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) 80°/51°F (27°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) 54°/38°F (12°/3°C)
View all months
Month Berlin Salem
Jan 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) 48°/35°F (8.7°/1.5°C)
Feb 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) 52°/35°F (10.9°/1.4°C)
Mar 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) 56°/37°F (13.6°/2.9°C)
Apr 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) 61°/40°F (16.2°/4.2°C)
May 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.1°C)
Jun 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) 74°/49°F (23.3°/9.6°C)
Jul 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) 82°/53°F (27.8°/11.7°C)
Aug 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) 82°/53°F (28.0°/11.6°C)
Sep 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) 77°/48°F (24.9°/9.1°C)
Oct 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) 64°/42°F (17.8°/5.7°C)
Nov 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) 53°/38°F (11.4°/3.6°C)
Dec 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) 46°/34°F (7.9°/1.1°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 Oregon than Germany?

On average Oregon is about 3% less expensive than Germany, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Oregon?

Budget about $18,110 for 3 months in Oregon (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 Oregon?

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

How is healthcare in Oregon compared to Germany?

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

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

The average high temperature in Salem is 64°F, compared to 56°F in Berlin. Salem receives around 39.7 in of rainfall per year, while Berlin gets 22.5 in.

What language do they speak in Oregon?

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

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At a Glance

DE
Population 84,316,622 3,831,074
Currency Euro (€) United States Dollar ($)
Languages German English
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +49 +1
Time zones 1 11
Emergency number 112 911