Moving to Germany from Minnesota

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Minnesota to Germany? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Minnesota to Germany, you would find that Germany is 5.5% more expensive than Minnesota. A $75,000 salary in Minnesota would need to be roughly €67,709 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 Minnesota and Germany.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 €67,709

To maintain the same standard of living in Germany

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 18.1% more

Groceries

pay 11.5% less

Transportation

pay 50.9% more

Housing

pay 0.5% less

Childcare

pay 43.7% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 12.0% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 0.8717 EUR (June 2026)

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 Minnesota to Germany.

Moved in 2023
14,858 ↓ 4% vs 2022

people moved from United States to Germany · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Germany?

Top countries of origin for Germany's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Germany compared to Minnesota.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

MN
33.9%
DE
22.3%

Germany performs significantly better than Minnesota across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

MN
91.0%
DE
91.0%

Minnesota performs better than Germany across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

MN
4.3%
DE
3.0%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

MN
$68,478
DE
$61,900

Minnesota generally does better on employment & economy, though Germany leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

MN
79.1 yrs
DE
81.5 yrs

Germany performs significantly better than Minnesota 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.

Saint Paul Rain: 28.5 in/yr (724 mm)
56° / 38°F

Avg. annual high / low

Berlin Rain: 22.5 in/yr (571 mm)
56° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Saint Paul Berlin
Jan–Mar 32°/16°F (0°/-9°C) 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 69°/50°F (21°/10°C) 64°/47°F (18°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/60°F (26°/16°C) 72°/55°F (22°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 43°/27°F (6°/-3°C) 47°/37°F (8°/3°C)
View all months
Month Saint Paul Berlin
Jan 25°/9°F (-4.1°/-12.6°C) 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C)
Feb 30°/14°F (-1.3°/-9.9°C) 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C)
Mar 42°/26°F (5.5°/-3.6°C) 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C)
Apr 58°/39°F (14.7°/3.9°C) 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C)
May 70°/50°F (21.2°/10.0°C) 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C)
Jun 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C)
Jul 83°/65°F (28.5°/18.1°C) 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C)
Aug 81°/62°F (27.1°/16.8°C) 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C)
Sep 72°/53°F (22.2°/11.7°C) 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C)
Oct 59°/40°F (14.8°/4.7°C) 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C)
Nov 42°/28°F (5.6°/-2.4°C) 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C)
Dec 28°/14°F (-2.5°/-10.1°C) 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Deutscher Wetterdienst Deutscher Wetterdienst

Visitor 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

United States passport holder visiting Germany

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Germany without a visa.
Germany passport

Germany passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Germany passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United States.

Data: 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 Minnesota?

On average Germany is around 4% pricier than Minnesota, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Germany?

Budget about €16,927 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 Minnesota and Germany are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Germany compared to Minnesota?

Germany performs significantly better than Minnesota across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Germany compared to Minnesota?

The average high temperature in Berlin is 56°F, compared to 56°F in Saint Paul. Berlin receives around 22.5 in of rainfall per year, while Saint Paul gets 28.5 in.

What language do they speak in Germany?

The official language in Germany is German. In Minnesota, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

DE
Population 5,303,925 84,316,622
Currency United States Dollar ($) Euro (€)
Languages English German
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +49
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 112