Moving to Germany from Spain
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Spain to Germany — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Spain to Germany, you would find that Germany is 35.2% more expensive than Spain overall. A €64,750 salary in Spain would need to be roughly €71,014 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 68°F in Madrid, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Spain to Germany.
What does your salary buy?
€64,750 → €71,014
To maintain the same standard of living in Germany
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 30.0% more
Groceries
pay 22.0% more
Transportation
pay 35.6% more
Housing
pay 44.2% more
Childcare
pay 52.0% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 42.6% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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 13% more than cities in Spain.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Spain to Germany, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Spain to Germany.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Spain generally does better on safety, though Germany leads in road traffic deaths.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Germany generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Spain leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Spain performs better than Germany across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Germany generally does better on infrastructure, though Spain leads in internet access.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Germany generally does better on employment & economy, though Spain leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Spain generally does better on family life, though Germany leads in education spending.
Data: Agencia Tributaria, Spain, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Madrid | Berlin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 55°/40°F (13°/4°C) | 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/53°F (23°/12°C) | 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 86°/64°F (30°/18°C) | 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 58°/44°F (14°/7°C) | 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Madrid | Berlin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°/37°F (9.8°/2.7°C) | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) |
| Feb | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.7°C) | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) |
| Mar | 61°/43°F (16.3°/6.2°C) | 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) |
| Apr | 65°/46°F (18.2°/7.7°C) | 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.2°/11.3°C) | 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) |
| Jun | 83°/61°F (28.2°/16.1°C) | 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) |
| Jul | 90°/66°F (32.1°/19.0°C) | 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) |
| Aug | 88°/66°F (31.3°/18.8°C) | 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) |
| Sep | 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.4°C) | 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) |
| Oct | 67°/51°F (19.4°/10.7°C) | 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) |
| Nov | 56°/43°F (13.5°/6.2°C) | 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) |
| Dec | 50°/38°F (10.0°/3.6°C) | 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) |
Data:
Agencia Estatal de Meteorología,
Deutscher Wetterdienst
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Spain 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.
Spain passport holder visiting Germany
Visa Free
Germany passport holder visiting Spain
Visa FreeData: 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 Spain?
No — Germany is on average about 10% more expensive than Spain. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Germany?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €17,754 in Germany on a €64,750 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Germany?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Germany has 45.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Germany safe for expats?
Spain generally does better on safety, though Germany leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Germany is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.7 in Spain. About 72% of people in Germany feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Germany compared to Spain?
Germany generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Spain leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Germany, compared to 44.8 in Spain. Germany scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Spain: 85).
What's the weather like in Germany compared to Spain?
The average high temperature in Berlin is 56°F, compared to 68°F in Madrid. Berlin receives around 22.5 in of rainfall per year, while Madrid gets 16.6 in.
What language do they speak in Germany?
The official language in Germany is German. In Spain, the official languages are Basque, Catalan, Galician and Spanish.
