Moving to West Virginia from Germany
What to Expect
Considering a move from Germany to West Virginia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Germany to West Virginia, you would find that West Virginia is 7.8% cheaper than Germany overall. A €65,850 salary in Germany would need to be roughly $60,401 in West Virginia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Charleston averages 73°F vs 56°F in Berlin, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Germany and West Virginia.
What does your salary buy?
€65,850 → $60,401
To maintain the same standard of living in West Virginia
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 20.4% less
Groceries
pay 7.7% more
Transportation
pay 35.0% less
Housing
pay 8.3% more
Childcare
pay 21.9% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 9.2% less
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 West Virginia.
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 West Virginia compared to Germany.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Germany performs better than West Virginia across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Germany performs better than West Virginia 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 performs better than West Virginia across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Germany performs better than West Virginia 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 | Charleston |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) | 61°/47°F (16°/8°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) | 79°/67°F (26°/19°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) | 85°/75°F (30°/24°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) | 67°/54°F (20°/12°C) |
View all months
| Month | Berlin | Charleston |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) | 57°/43°F (13.7°/6.0°C) |
| Feb | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) | 60°/46°F (15.3°/7.5°C) |
| Mar | 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) | 65°/52°F (18.3°/10.9°C) |
| Apr | 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) | 72°/59°F (22.2°/14.9°C) |
| May | 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) | 79°/67°F (25.9°/19.5°C) |
| Jun | 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) | 85°/74°F (29.2°/23.3°C) |
| Jul | 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) | 88°/77°F (30.9°/24.9°C) |
| Aug | 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) | 86°/76°F (30.2°/24.5°C) |
| Sep | 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) | 82°/72°F (27.8°/22.1°C) |
| Oct | 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) | 75°/62°F (23.7°/16.9°C) |
| Nov | 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) | 67°/54°F (19.6°/12.0°C) |
| Dec | 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) | 60°/46°F (15.3°/7.6°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 West Virginia than Germany?
On average West Virginia is about 19% less expensive than Germany, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to West Virginia?
Budget about $15,100 for 3 months in West Virginia (based on a €65,850 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from West Virginia?
From major West Virginia cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Germany and West Virginia are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in West Virginia compared to Germany?
Germany performs better than West Virginia across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in West Virginia compared to Germany?
The average high temperature in Charleston is 73°F, compared to 56°F in Berlin. Charleston receives around 44.4 in of rainfall per year, while Berlin gets 22.5 in.
What language do they speak in West Virginia?
The official language in West Virginia is English. In Germany, the official language is German.
