Moving to Germany from United States
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from United States to Germany — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from United States to Germany, you would find that Germany is 0.6% more expensive than United States overall. A $75,000 salary in United States would need to be roughly €53,087 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 66°F in Washington, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from United States to Germany.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → €53,087
To maintain the same standard of living in Germany
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 16.3% more
Groceries
pay 15.4% less
Transportation
pay 42.9% more
Housing
pay 14.0% less
Childcare
pay 46.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 11.0% 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.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from United States to Germany, and how the trend has changed.
people moved from United States to Germany · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
How United States and Germany stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
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 United States 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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Germany performs significantly better than United States across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
United States generally does better on environment, though Germany leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
United States 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
United States generally does better on employment & economy, though Germany leads in unemployment 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
Germany generally does better on family life, though United States leads in education spending.
Data: Internal Revenue Service, 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 | Washington | Berlin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) | 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) | 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) | 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) | 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Washington | Berlin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) |
| Feb | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) |
| Mar | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) | 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) |
| Apr | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) | 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) |
| May | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) | 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) |
| Jun | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) | 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) |
| Jul | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) | 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) |
| Aug | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) | 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) |
| Sep | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) | 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) |
| Oct | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) | 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) |
| Nov | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) | 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) |
| Dec | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) | 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) |
National Weather Service
Deutscher WetterdienstVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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 States passport holder visiting Germany
Visa Free
Germany passport holder visiting United States
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 States?
Generally yes: Germany runs about 18% cheaper than United States on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
How much money do I need to move to Germany?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around €13,272 in Germany for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, deposits, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Germany?
With 45.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Germany can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in United States and Germany.
Is Germany safe for expats?
Germany performs significantly better than United States across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Germany is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.4 in United States. About 72% of people in Germany feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Germany compared to United States?
Germany performs significantly better than United States across all health & wellbeing metrics. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Germany, compared to 36.1 in United States. Germany scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United States: 86).
What's the weather like in Germany compared to United States?
The average high temperature in Berlin is 56°F, compared to 66°F in Washington. Berlin receives around 22.5 in of rainfall per year, while Washington gets 41.5 in.
What language do they speak in Germany?
The official language in Germany is German. In United States, the official language is English.
