Moving to Germany from Ireland
What to Expect
Considering a move from Ireland to Germany? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Ireland to Germany, you would find that Germany is 4.5% more expensive than Ireland overall. A €65,700 salary in Ireland would need to be roughly €55,132 in Germany to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in German. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Ireland and Germany.
What does your salary buy?
€65,700 → €55,132
To maintain the same standard of living in Germany
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 19.7% more
Groceries
pay 3.1% more
Transportation
pay 12.5% less
Housing
pay 12.8% less
Childcare
pay 41.2% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 22.1% 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 12% less than cities in Ireland.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Ireland to Germany.
people moved from Ireland to Germany · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Germany compared to Ireland.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Ireland generally does better on safety, though Germany leads in homicide rate.
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 Ireland 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
Ireland performs 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
Ireland generally does better on infrastructure, though Germany leads in broadband per 100 people.
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
Ireland generally does better on employment & economy, though Germany leads in unemployment 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
Germany generally does better on family life, though Ireland leads in life expectancy.
Data: The Office of the Revenue Commissioners, 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 | Dublin | Berlin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 49°/37°F (10°/3°C) | 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/44°F (15°/7°C) | 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 66°/52°F (19°/11°C) | 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 51°/41°F (11°/5°C) | 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Dublin | Berlin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C) | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) |
| Feb | 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C) | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) |
| Mar | 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C) | 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) |
| Apr | 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C) | 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) |
| May | 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C) | 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) |
| Jun | 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C) | 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) |
| Jul | 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C) | 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) |
| Aug | 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C) | 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) |
| Sep | 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C) | 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) |
| Oct | 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C) | 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) |
| Nov | 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C) | 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) |
| Dec | 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C) | 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) |
Data:
Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service,
Deutscher Wetterdienst
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Ireland 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.
Ireland passport holder visiting Germany
Visa Free
Germany passport holder visiting Ireland
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 Germany than Ireland?
On average Germany is about 16% less expensive than Ireland, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Germany?
Budget about €13,783 for 3 months in Germany (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 Germany?
Connectivity is usually fine (Germany: 45.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Germany offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Germany safe for expats?
Ireland generally does better on safety, though Germany leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Germany is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.9 in Ireland. About 72% of people in Germany feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Germany compared to Ireland?
Germany generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ireland leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Germany, compared to 40.6 in Ireland. Germany scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ireland: 83).
What's the weather like in Germany compared to Ireland?
The average high temperature in Berlin is 56°F, compared to 56°F in Dublin. Berlin receives around 22.5 in of rainfall per year, while Dublin gets 29.8 in.
What language do they speak in Germany?
The official language in Germany is German. In Ireland, the official languages are English and Irish.
