Moving to Germany from New Jersey

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from New Jersey to Germany — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from New Jersey to Germany, you would find that Germany is 31.7% cheaper than New Jersey. A $75,000 salary in New Jersey would need to be roughly €45,700 in Germany to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in German. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Berlin averages 56°F vs 67°F in Newark, making it significantly cooler.

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

Is Germany cheaper than New Jersey?

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 0.3% less

Groceries

pay 34.5% less

Transportation

pay 14.8% more

Housing

pay 52.7% less

Childcare

pay 56.5% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 25.4% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 0.8929 EUR (November 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 → €45,700

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 25% less than cities in New Jersey.

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from New Jersey to Germany, based on official data.

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

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from New Jersey to Germany.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2024

share of adults with obesity

NJ
30.0%
DE
20.6%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

NJ
91.9%
DE
93.5%

Germany performs significantly better than New Jersey across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

NJ
4.5%
DE
3.7%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

NJ
$70,788
DE
$60,496

New Jersey 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

NJ
77.5 yrs
DE
80.8 yrs

Germany performs significantly better than New Jersey across all family life metrics.

Weather in Germany vs New Jersey

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Newark Rain: 46.2 in/yr (1174 mm)
67° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Newark Berlin
Jan–Mar 48°/27°F (9°/-2°C) 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 76°/51°F (24°/11°C) 64°/47°F (18°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/63°F (29°/17°C) 72°/55°F (22°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 58°/36°F (14°/2°C) 47°/37°F (8°/3°C)
View all months
Month Newark Berlin
Jan 42°/24°F (5.6°/-4.4°C) 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C)
Feb 46°/26°F (7.7°/-3.2°C) 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C)
Mar 55°/32°F (12.7°/0.2°C) 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C)
Apr 67°/42°F (19.4°/5.3°C) 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C)
May 76°/51°F (24.6°/10.7°C) 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C)
Jun 85°/61°F (29.5°/16.3°C) 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C)
Jul 88°/66°F (31.2°/18.8°C) 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C)
Aug 87°/65°F (30.4°/18.1°C) 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C)
Sep 80°/57°F (26.5°/14.0°C) 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C)
Oct 69°/45°F (20.4°/7.3°C) 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C)
Nov 58°/36°F (14.2°/2.4°C) 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C)
Dec 46°/28°F (7.8°/-2.2°C) 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C)

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

Can you move from New Jersey 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 New Jersey?

Yes — Germany is on average about 32% cheaper than New Jersey. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Germany?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €11,425 in Germany on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Germany?

Usually fine from major cities in Germany. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in Germany compared to New Jersey?

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

What's the weather like in Germany compared to New Jersey?

The average high temperature in Berlin is 56°F, compared to 67°F in Newark. Berlin receives around 22.5 in of rainfall per year, while Newark gets 46.2 in.

What language do they speak in Germany?

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

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At a Glance

DE
Population 9,548,215 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