Moving to Pennsylvania from Germany
What to Expect
Considering a move from Germany to Pennsylvania? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Germany to Pennsylvania, you would find that Pennsylvania is 19.3% more expensive than Germany overall. A €65,374 salary in Germany would need to be roughly $75,341 in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania.
What does your salary buy?
€65,374 → $75,341
To maintain the same standard of living in Pennsylvania
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 15.6% less
Groceries
pay 39.2% more
Transportation
pay 21.4% less
Housing
pay 32.2% more
Childcare
pay 2.2 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 6.5% more
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 Pennsylvania.
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 Pennsylvania compared to Germany.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Germany performs better than Pennsylvania across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Germany performs better than Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania leads in poverty rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Germany performs better than Pennsylvania 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 | Harrisburg |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) | 42°/25°F (5°/-4°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) | 71°/50°F (22°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) | 81°/61°F (27°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) | 52°/34°F (11°/1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Berlin | Harrisburg |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) | 36°/21°F (2.5°/-5.9°C) |
| Feb | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) | 40°/23°F (4.4°/-5.1°C) |
| Mar | 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) | 49°/30°F (9.3°/-0.9°C) |
| Apr | 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) | 61°/40°F (16.1°/4.6°C) |
| May | 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) | 72°/50°F (22.2°/10.1°C) |
| Jun | 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) | 81°/60°F (27.2°/15.5°C) |
| Jul | 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) | 85°/64°F (29.2°/17.8°C) |
| Aug | 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) | 83°/63°F (28.2°/17.0°C) |
| Sep | 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) | 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.8°C) |
| Oct | 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) | 63°/42°F (17.4°/5.6°C) |
| Nov | 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) | 52°/35°F (11.1°/1.6°C) |
| Dec | 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) | 40°/26°F (4.4°/-3.2°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 Pennsylvania than Germany?
Pennsylvania and Germany are within a few percent on overall cost, though specific items in specific cities can swing either way.
How much money do I need to move to Pennsylvania?
Budget about $18,835 for 3 months in Pennsylvania (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 Pennsylvania?
From major Pennsylvania cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Germany and Pennsylvania are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Pennsylvania compared to Germany?
Germany performs better than Pennsylvania across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Pennsylvania compared to Germany?
The average high temperature in Harrisburg is 61°F, compared to 56°F in Berlin. Harrisburg receives around 43.6 in of rainfall per year, while Berlin gets 22.5 in.
What language do they speak in Pennsylvania?
The official language in Pennsylvania is English. In Germany, the official language is German.
