Moving to United Kingdom from Germany
What to Expect
Considering a move from Germany to United Kingdom? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Germany to United Kingdom, you would find that United Kingdom is 19.8% more expensive than Germany overall. A €65,700 salary in Germany would need to be roughly £60,989 in United Kingdom to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Germany and United Kingdom.
What does your salary buy?
€65,700 → £60,989
To maintain the same standard of living in United Kingdom
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 16.0% less
Groceries
pay 9.7% less
Transportation
pay 11.8% more
Housing
pay 19.1% more
Childcare
pay 2.1 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 31.4% 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.
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 United Kingdom cost about 2% more than cities in Germany.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to United Kingdom
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 United Kingdom.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in United Kingdom compared to Germany.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Germany generally does better on safety, though United Kingdom leads in road traffic deaths.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Germany generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
United Kingdom performs significantly better than Germany across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Germany generally does better on infrastructure, though United Kingdom leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Germany generally does better on employment & economy, though United Kingdom leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
United Kingdom generally does better on family life, though Germany leads in infant mortality.
Data: Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt), The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Berlin | London |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) | 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) | 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) | 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) | 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) |
View all months
| Month | Berlin | London |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) | 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) |
| Feb | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) | 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) |
| Mar | 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) | 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) |
| Apr | 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) | 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) |
| May | 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) | 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) |
| Jun | 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) |
| Jul | 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) | 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) |
| Aug | 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) | 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) |
| Sep | 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) |
| Oct | 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) | 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) |
| Nov | 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) | 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) |
| Dec | 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) | 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) |
Data:
Deutscher Wetterdienst,
Met Office
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Germany and United Kingdom. To live, work, or study long-term in United Kingdom, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United Kingdom's immigration authority.
Germany passport holder visiting United Kingdom
Electronic Travel Authorisation
United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom than Germany?
On average United Kingdom is around 9% pricier than Germany, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to United Kingdom?
Budget about £15,247 for 3 months in United Kingdom (based on a €65,700 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from United Kingdom?
Connectivity is usually fine (United Kingdom: 41.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does United Kingdom offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is United Kingdom safe for expats?
Germany generally does better on safety, though United Kingdom leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in United Kingdom is 1.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Germany.
How is healthcare in United Kingdom compared to Germany?
Germany generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 31.7 doctors per 10,000 people in United Kingdom, compared to 45.2 in Germany. United Kingdom scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Germany: 88).
What's the weather like in United Kingdom compared to Germany?
The average high temperature in London is 60°F, compared to 56°F in Berlin. London receives around 22.0 in of rainfall per year, while Berlin gets 22.5 in.
What language do they speak in United Kingdom?
The official language in United Kingdom is English. In Germany, the official language is German.
