Moving to Germany from Singapore

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Singapore to Germany, you would find that Germany is 37.0% cheaper than Singapore overall. A SGD96,000 salary in Singapore would need to be roughly €42,000 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. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Berlin averages 56°F vs 89°F in Singapore, 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 Singapore?

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 52.4% more

Groceries

pay 25.6% less

Transportation

pay 40.8% less

Housing

pay 56.9% less

Childcare

pay 53.6% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 33.1% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 SGD = 0.6946 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?

SGD96,000 → €42,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Germany

Calculate with your salary →

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.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Singapore to Germany.

Moved in 2023
568 ↑ 10% vs 2022

people moved from Singapore 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 Singapore.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

SG
0.1
DE
0.9
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SG
1.9
DE
3.3

Singapore performs better than Germany across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

SG
$6,551
DE
$8,826
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SG
28.3
DE
45.3

Singapore 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

SG
23.0
DE
15.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SG
9.8t
DE
6.9t

Germany performs significantly better than Singapore across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SG
27.8
DE
45.6
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SG
33.3%
DE
35.4%

Singapore generally does better on infrastructure, though Germany leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

SG
2.8%
DE
3.7%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

SG
$98,814
DE
$60,496

Singapore performs better than Germany across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

SG
83.3 yrs
DE
80.8 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SG
2.2
DE
3.1

Singapore generally does better on family life, though Germany leads in education spending.

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (2016), Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt) (2016). How we calculate this

Weather in Germany vs Singapore

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Singapore Rain: 83.2 in/yr (2113 mm)
89° / 77°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Singapore Berlin
Jan–Mar 89°/76°F (31°/25°C) 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 90°/78°F (32°/26°C) 64°/47°F (18°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 89°/78°F (31°/25°C) 72°/55°F (22°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 88°/76°F (31°/25°C) 47°/37°F (8°/3°C)
View all months
Month Singapore Berlin
Jan 87°/76°F (30.6°/24.3°C) 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C)
Feb 89°/76°F (31.5°/24.6°C) 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C)
Mar 90°/77°F (32.2°/24.9°C) 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C)
Apr 90°/78°F (32.4°/25.3°C) 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C)
May 90°/78°F (32.3°/25.7°C) 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C)
Jun 89°/78°F (31.9°/25.7°C) 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C)
Jul 89°/78°F (31.4°/25.4°C) 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C)
Aug 89°/78°F (31.4°/25.3°C) 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C)
Sep 89°/77°F (31.6°/25.2°C) 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C)
Oct 89°/77°F (31.8°/25.0°C) 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C)
Nov 88°/76°F (31.2°/24.6°C) 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C)
Dec 87°/76°F (30.5°/24.3°C) 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C)

Data: Meteorological Service Singapore Meteorological Service Singapore, Deutscher Wetterdienst Deutscher Wetterdienst

Can you move from Singapore to Germany?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Singapore 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.

Singapore passport

Singapore passport holder visiting Germany

Visa Free
Singapore passport holders can enter Germany without a visa.
Germany passport

Germany passport holder visiting Singapore

Visa Free
Germany passport holders can enter Singapore without a visa.

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 Singapore?

On average Germany is about 37% less expensive than Singapore, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Germany?

Budget about €10,500 for 3 months in Germany (based on a SGD96,000 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: 45.6 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?

Singapore performs better than Germany across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Germany is 0.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.1 in Singapore.

How is healthcare in Germany compared to Singapore?

Singapore generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Germany leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 45.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Germany, compared to 28.3 in Singapore. Germany scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Singapore: 89).

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

The average high temperature in Berlin is 56°F, compared to 89°F in Singapore. Berlin receives around 22.5 in of rainfall per year, while Singapore gets 83.2 in.

What language do they speak in Germany?

The official language in Germany is German. In Singapore, the official languages are Chinese, English, Malay and Tamil.

Share this

At a Glance

SG DE
Population 6,111,175 83,491,249
Currency Singapore Dollar (SGD) Euro (€)
Languages Chinese, English, Malay, Tamil German
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +65 +49
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999 112