Moving to Germany from Illinois
What to Expect
Considering a move from Illinois to Germany? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Illinois to Germany, you would find that Germany is 1.9% more expensive than Illinois. A $75,000 salary in Illinois would need to be roughly €67,706 in Germany to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in German.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Illinois and Germany.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → €67,706
To maintain the same standard of living in Germany
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 24.5% more
Groceries
pay 7.0% less
Transportation
pay 43.1% more
Housing
pay 8.6% less
Childcare
pay 50.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 10.6% 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.
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 Germany cost about 3% less than cities in Illinois.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Illinois to Germany.
people moved from United States to Germany · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Germany compared to Illinois.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Germany performs significantly better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Germany performs significantly better than Illinois 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
Illinois generally does better on employment & economy, though Germany leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Germany performs significantly better than Illinois across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Springfield | Berlin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 42°/25°F (6°/-4°C) | 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 74°/52°F (23°/11°C) | 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 83°/61°F (29°/16°C) | 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 52°/33°F (11°/1°C) | 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Springfield | Berlin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°/19°F (1.6°/-7.4°C) | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) |
| Feb | 40°/23°F (4.4°/-5.2°C) | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) |
| Mar | 52°/32°F (11.2°/0.1°C) | 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) |
| Apr | 65°/42°F (18.1°/5.8°C) | 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) |
| May | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.4°C) | 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) |
| Jun | 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.6°C) | 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) |
| Jul | 86°/65°F (30.1°/18.6°C) | 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) |
| Aug | 85°/64°F (29.4°/17.6°C) | 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) |
| Sep | 79°/55°F (26.1°/12.6°C) | 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) |
| Oct | 66°/44°F (19.1°/6.6°C) | 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) |
| Nov | 52°/34°F (11.3°/1.1°C) | 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) |
| Dec | 38°/22°F (3.5°/-5.3°C) | 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) |
National Weather Service
Deutscher WetterdienstVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Germany. To live, work, or study long-term in Germany, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Germany's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Germany
Visa Free
Germany passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Germany than Illinois?
On average Germany is around 4% pricier than Illinois, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Germany?
Budget about €16,926 for 3 months in Germany (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Germany?
From major Germany cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Illinois and Germany are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Germany compared to Illinois?
Germany performs significantly better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Germany compared to Illinois?
The average high temperature in Berlin is 56°F, compared to 63°F in Springfield. Berlin receives around 22.5 in of rainfall per year, while Springfield gets 37.4 in.
What language do they speak in Germany?
The official language in Germany is German. In Illinois, the official language is English.
