Moving to Germany from United Kingdom
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from United Kingdom to Germany — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from United Kingdom to Germany, you would find that Germany is 2.2% cheaper than United Kingdom overall. A £55,958 salary in United Kingdom would need to be roughly €60,279 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.
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What to expect for your wallet after moving from United Kingdom to Germany.
What does your salary buy?
£55,958 → €60,279
To maintain the same standard of living in Germany
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 29.7% more
Groceries
pay 17.8% more
Transportation
pay 4.9% less
Housing
pay 10.0% less
Childcare
pay 41.0% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 19.5% less
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 2% less than cities in United Kingdom.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from United Kingdom to Germany, based on official data.
people moved from United Kingdom to Germany · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United Kingdom to Germany.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United Kingdom generally does better on safety, though Germany leads in homicide rate.
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
United Kingdom 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
United Kingdom 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
United Kingdom generally does better on infrastructure, though Germany leads in broadband per 100 people.
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 United Kingdom 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
United Kingdom generally does better on family life, though Germany leads in infant mortality.
Data: HM Revenue & Customs, 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 | London | Berlin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) | 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) | 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) | 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) | 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) |
View all months
| Month | London | Berlin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) |
| Feb | 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) |
| Mar | 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) | 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) |
| Apr | 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) | 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) |
| May | 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) | 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) |
| Jun | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) | 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) |
| Jul | 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) | 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) |
| Aug | 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) | 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) |
| Sep | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) | 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) |
| Oct | 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) | 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) |
| Nov | 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) | 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) |
| Dec | 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) | 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) |
Data:
Met Office,
Deutscher Wetterdienst
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Kingdom 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.
United Kingdom passport holder visiting Germany
Visa Free
Germany passport holder visiting United Kingdom
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: 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 United Kingdom?
Yes — Germany is on average about 8% cheaper than United Kingdom. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Germany?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €15,070 in Germany on a £55,958 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?
United Kingdom generally does better on safety, though Germany leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Germany is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.0 in United Kingdom.
How is healthcare in Germany compared to United Kingdom?
United Kingdom 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 31.7 in United Kingdom. Germany scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Kingdom: 88).
What's the weather like in Germany compared to United Kingdom?
The average high temperature in Berlin is 56°F, compared to 60°F in London. Berlin receives around 22.5 in of rainfall per year, while London gets 22.0 in.
What language do they speak in Germany?
The official language in Germany is German. In United Kingdom, the official language is English.
