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 9.8% cheaper than Minnesota. A $75,000 salary in Minnesota would need to be roughly €60,400 in Germany to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in German.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Is Germany cheaper than Minnesota?

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 2.6% more

Groceries

pay 19.9% less

Transportation

pay 32.3% more

Housing

pay 21.3% less

Childcare

pay 39.5% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 15.7% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 0.8925 EUR (October 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.

What salary do you need in Germany?

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 → €60,400

To maintain the same standard of living in Germany

Calculate with your salary →

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 6% less than cities in Minnesota.

Minnesota

Mankato 62%
Rochester 60%
Duluth 50%

Compare cities head-to-head

Get free moving quotes to Germany

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.

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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), 2024

share of adults with obesity

MN
33.9%
DE
20.6%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2024

share of households with internet

MN
91.0%
DE
93.5%

Germany performs significantly better than Minnesota 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
3.7%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

MN
$68,478
DE
$60,496

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2024

average years of life at birth

MN
79.1 yrs
DE
80.8 yrs

Germany performs significantly better than Minnesota across all family life metrics.

Weather in Germany vs Minnesota

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Minneapolis Rain: 30.6 in/yr (778 mm)
55° / 37°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Minneapolis Berlin
Jan–Mar 31°/15°F (0°/-10°C) 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 69°/48°F (20°/9°C) 64°/47°F (18°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 78°/59°F (26°/15°C) 72°/55°F (22°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 42°/26°F (6°/-3°C) 47°/37°F (8°/3°C)
View all months
Month Minneapolis Berlin
Jan 24°/8°F (-4.6°/-13.6°C) 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C)
Feb 29°/13°F (-1.7°/-10.7°C) 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C)
Mar 41°/24°F (5.2°/-4.3°C) 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C)
Apr 58°/37°F (14.3°/2.9°C) 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C)
May 69°/49°F (20.8°/9.4°C) 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C)
Jun 79°/59°F (26.0°/14.9°C) 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C)
Jul 83°/64°F (28.6°/17.8°C) 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C)
Aug 80°/62°F (26.9°/16.6°C) 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C)
Sep 72°/52°F (22.1°/11.3°C) 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C)
Oct 58°/40°F (14.4°/4.3°C) 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C)
Nov 41°/26°F (5.1°/-3.2°C) 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C)
Dec 27°/12°F (-2.7°/-10.9°C) 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C)

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

Can you move from Minnesota to Germany?

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 about 10% less expensive than Minnesota, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Germany?

Budget about €15,100 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 55°F in Minneapolis. Berlin receives around 22.5 in of rainfall per year, while Minneapolis gets 30.6 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 5,830,405 83,491,249
Currency United States Dollar ($) Euro (€)
Languages English German
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +49
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 112