Moving to Germany from Ukraine

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Ukraine to Germany, you would find that Germany is 3.2 times more expensive than Ukraine overall. A UAH3,346,113 salary in Ukraine would need to be roughly €131,477 in Germany to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in German.

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 Ukraine to Germany.

What does your salary buy?

UAH3,346,113 €131,477

To maintain the same standard of living in Germany

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 4.3 times more

Groceries

pay 2.4 times more

Transportation

pay 3.5 times more

Housing

pay 4.6 times more

Childcare

pay 2.8 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 3.5 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 UAH = 0.0196 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.

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 117% more than cities in Ukraine.

Ukraine

Kiev 36%
Vinnytsya 30%

Germany

Munich 66%
Frankfurt 63%
Hamburg 63%
Oldenburg 55%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Moved in 2023
283,631 ↓ 74% vs 2022

people moved from Ukraine 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 Ukraine to Germany.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

UA
3.8
DE
0.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

UA
10.5
DE
3.3

Germany performs significantly better than Ukraine across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

UA
$1,382
DE
$8,826
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

UA
29.9
DE
45.2

Germany generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ukraine leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

UA
66.0
DE
15.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

UA
3.1t
DE
6.9t

Ukraine 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

UA
18.3
DE
45.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

UA
12.3%
DE
35.4%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

UA
9.8%
DE
3.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

UA
$16,200
DE
$61,900

Ukraine generally does better on employment & economy, though Germany leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

UA
73.5 yrs
DE
81.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

UA
7.3
DE
3.2

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

Data: Ministry of Revenue and Duties of Ukraine, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Kiev Rain: 23.8 in/yr (605 mm)
56° / 42°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kiev Berlin
Jan–Mar 36°/25°F (2°/-4°C) 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 68°/51°F (20°/10°C) 64°/47°F (18°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 76°/58°F (24°/14°C) 72°/55°F (22°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 43°/33°F (6°/1°C) 47°/37°F (8°/3°C)
View all months
Month Kiev Berlin
Jan 31°/22°F (-0.7°/-5.5°C) 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C)
Feb 33°/23°F (0.8°/-5.0°C) 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C)
Mar 44°/31°F (6.5°/-0.8°C) 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C)
Apr 59°/42°F (15.1°/5.7°C) 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C)
May 70°/52°F (21.1°/10.9°C) 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C)
Jun 76°/59°F (24.6°/14.8°C) 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C)
Jul 80°/62°F (26.6°/16.6°C) 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C)
Aug 79°/60°F (25.9°/15.7°C) 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C)
Sep 68°/51°F (20.0°/10.6°C) 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C)
Oct 55°/41°F (12.9°/5.1°C) 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C)
Nov 42°/33°F (5.3°/0.3°C) 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C)
Dec 33°/26°F (0.5°/-3.5°C) 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C)

Data: Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, Deutscher Wetterdienst Deutscher Wetterdienst

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Ukraine 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.

Ukraine passport

Ukraine passport holder visiting Germany

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

Germany passport holder visiting Ukraine

Visa Free
Germany passport holders can enter Ukraine 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 Ukraine?

No — Germany is on average about 100% more expensive than Ukraine. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Germany?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €32,869 in Germany on a UAH3,346,113 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?

Germany performs significantly better than Ukraine across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Germany is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.8 in Ukraine.

How is healthcare in Germany compared to Ukraine?

Germany generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ukraine leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Germany, compared to 29.9 in Ukraine. Germany scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ukraine: 76).

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

The average high temperature in Berlin is 56°F, compared to 56°F in Kiev. Berlin receives around 22.5 in of rainfall per year, while Kiev gets 23.8 in.

What language do they speak in Germany?

The official language in Germany is German. In Ukraine, the official language is Ukrainian.

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At a Glance

UA DE
Population 43,528,136 84,316,622
Currency Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH) Euro (€)
Languages Ukrainian German
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +380 +49
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112