Moving to Germany from Nigeria

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Nigeria to Germany — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Nigeria to Germany, you would find that Germany is 4.1 times more expensive than Nigeria overall. A NGN103,376,008 salary in Nigeria would need to be roughly €118,162 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 91°F in Abuja, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

How your spending power changes when you relocate from Nigeria to Germany.

What does your salary buy?

NGN103,376,008 €118,162

To maintain the same standard of living in Germany

Calculate with your salary →

The biggest cost differences at a glance

Restaurants

pay 6.3 times more

Groceries

pay 66.1% more

Transportation

pay 2.2 times more

Housing

pay 3.6 times more

Childcare

pay 8.7 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 3.5 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 NGN = 0.0006 EUR (July 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?

Real numbers on people moving from Nigeria to Germany, and how the trend has changed.

Moved in 2023
6,368 ↓ 29% vs 2022

people moved from Nigeria 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

How Nigeria and Germany stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

NG
21.7
DE
0.8
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

NG
79%
DE
72%

Germany generally does better on safety, though Nigeria leads in feel safe walking at night.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

NG
$260
DE
$8,826
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

NG
3.9
DE
45.2

Nigeria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Germany leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

NG
77.0
DE
15.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NG
0.6t
DE
6.9t

Nigeria generally does better on environment, though Germany leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

NG
0.0
DE
45.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NG
9.7%
DE
35.4%

Germany generally does better on infrastructure, though Nigeria leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

NG
3.1%
DE
3.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

NG
$5,700
DE
$61,900

Germany generally does better on employment & economy, though Nigeria leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

NG
61.3 yrs
DE
81.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NG
56.7
DE
3.2

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

Data: Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Abuja Rain: 48.1 in/yr (1221 mm)
91° / 68°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Abuja Berlin
Jan–Mar 97°/74°F (36°/23°C) 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 91°/69°F (33°/21°C) 64°/47°F (18°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/66°F (29°/19°C) 72°/55°F (22°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 93°/64°F (34°/18°C) 47°/37°F (8°/3°C)
View all months
Month Abuja Berlin
Jan 94°/69°F (34.7°/20.4°C) 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C)
Feb 98°/78°F (36.8°/25.5°C) 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C)
Mar 98°/76°F (36.9°/24.3°C) 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C)
Apr 96°/76°F (35.6°/24.7°C) 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C)
May 91°/67°F (32.7°/19.5°C) 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C)
Jun 87°/65°F (30.6°/18.3°C) 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C)
Jul 84°/71°F (29.1°/21.9°C) 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C)
Aug 84°/64°F (28.9°/17.7°C) 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C)
Sep 86°/64°F (30.0°/17.5°C) 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C)
Oct 90°/71°F (32.0°/21.4°C) 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C)
Nov 94°/60°F (34.4°/15.7°C) 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C)
Dec 94°/60°F (34.6°/15.5°C) 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C)

Data: Nigerian Meteorological Agency Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Deutscher Wetterdienst Deutscher Wetterdienst

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Nigeria 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.

Nigeria passport

Nigeria passport holder visiting Germany

Visa Required
Nigeria passport holders need a visa to enter Germany.
Germany passport

Germany passport holder visiting Nigeria

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Germany passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Nigeria.

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 Nigeria?

Day-to-day costs in Germany run about 80% higher than Nigeria on average; specific cities can swing further.

How much money do I need to move to Germany?

A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a NGN103,376,008 comparable salary, that's around €29,540 in Germany for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Germany?

With 45.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Germany can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Nigeria and Germany.

Is Germany safe for expats?

Germany generally does better on safety, though Nigeria leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in Germany is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 21.7 in Nigeria. About 72% of people in Germany feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Germany compared to Nigeria?

Nigeria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Germany leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Germany, compared to 3.9 in Nigeria. Germany scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Nigeria: 38).

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

The average high temperature in Berlin is 56°F, compared to 91°F in Abuja. Berlin receives around 22.5 in of rainfall per year, while Abuja gets 48.1 in.

What language do they speak in Germany?

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

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At a Glance

NG DE
Population 225,082,083 84,316,622
Currency Nigerian Naira (NGN) Euro (€)
Languages English German
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +234 +49
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112