Moving to Germany from Thailand
What to Expect
Considering a move from Thailand to Germany? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Thailand to Germany, you would find that Germany is 2.4 times more expensive than Thailand overall. A THB2,497,395 salary in Thailand would need to be roughly €106,538 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 91°F in Bangkok, making it significantly cooler.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Thailand and Germany.
What does your salary buy?
THB2,497,395 → €106,538
To maintain the same standard of living in Germany
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 5.1 times more
Groceries
pay 67.7% more
Transportation
pay 86.4% more
Housing
pay 2.9 times more
Childcare
pay 43.6% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 92.7% 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 69% more than cities in Thailand.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Thailand to Germany.
people moved from Thailand to Germany · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Germany compared to Thailand.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Germany performs significantly better than Thailand across all safety metrics.
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
Thailand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Germany leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Thailand generally does better on environment, though Germany leads in air pollution deaths.
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 Thailand leads in water stress level.
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
Thailand generally does better on employment & economy, though Germany leads in gdp per capita.
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
Germany performs significantly better than Thailand across all family life metrics.
Data: The Revenue Department, Government of Thailand, 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 | Bangkok | Berlin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 91°/74°F (33°/23°C) | 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 93°/78°F (34°/26°C) | 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/77°F (32°/25°C) | 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 89°/73°F (32°/23°C) | 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Bangkok | Berlin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 90°/70°F (32.0°/21.0°C) | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) |
| Feb | 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.3°C) | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) |
| Mar | 93°/77°F (33.7°/24.9°C) | 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) |
| Apr | 95°/79°F (34.9°/26.1°C) | 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) |
| May | 93°/78°F (34.0°/25.6°C) | 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) |
| Jun | 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.4°C) | 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) |
| Jul | 91°/77°F (32.7°/25.0°C) | 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) |
| Aug | 90°/77°F (32.5°/24.9°C) | 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) |
| Sep | 90°/76°F (32.3°/24.6°C) | 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) |
| Oct | 90°/76°F (32.0°/24.3°C) | 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) |
| Nov | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.1°C) | 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) |
| Dec | 88°/69°F (31.3°/20.8°C) | 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) |
Data:
Thai Meteorological Department,
Deutscher Wetterdienst
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Thailand 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.
Thailand passport holder visiting Germany
Visa Required
Germany passport holder visiting Thailand
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 Thailand?
On average Germany is around 62% pricier than Thailand, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Germany?
Budget about €26,634 for 3 months in Germany (based on a THB2,497,395 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: 45.0 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?
Germany performs significantly better than Thailand across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Germany is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.8 in Thailand. About 72% of people in Germany feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Germany compared to Thailand?
Thailand 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 9.3 in Thailand. Germany scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Thailand: 82).
What's the weather like in Germany compared to Thailand?
The average high temperature in Berlin is 56°F, compared to 91°F in Bangkok. Berlin receives around 22.5 in of rainfall per year, while Bangkok gets 59.0 in.
What language do they speak in Germany?
The official language in Germany is German. In Thailand, the official language is Thai.
