Pros and Cons of Living in Germany | Gerson Relocation (2024)

FAQs

What are the cons to moving to Germany? ›

With flexible working hours and excellent recreational opportunities, Germany offers a good work-life balance. In the Annual Best Countries Report 2023 with findings from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Germany ranked 9th for the highest quality of life in the world.

Germany is often thought of as a country of strict regulations and rules. Global Peace Index ranks 163 countries based on their overall level of peacefulness; Germany was ranked 16th in 2022. The crime rate is low, and Germans place a high value on law and order.

Better climate & climate change

According to a survey, the weather is a major reason why German expatriates left their country. For many people, rain, snow, clouds, and low temperatures drive people out, so they decide to escape German winter and have a pleasant climate and sunshine all year round.

Fortunately, US citizens can enter Germany for 90 days without needing a visa – this gives you roughly 3 months to apply for roles, attend in-person interviews and land a job, after which you can apply for a Work Visa or EU Blue Card at your local immigration office in Germany.

It depends on your personal preferences and priorities. Germany provides a high quality of life, work-life balance, and affordable education. The USA offers a dynamic economy, prestigious universities, and higher salaries.

Good jobs and salaries, a clean environment, low crime rates, lots of leisure-time and cultural attractions, good public transport – that what makes Germany so attractive for foreigners. People migrate to Germany because of many reasons, but probably the most important ones are strong economic and welfare system.

Taking into account such major categories as housing, food, and utilities, life in Germany is 13.5% cheaper than in the United States. The data used for this was compiled based on user feedback and price indices in October 2024.

In Germany, healthcare is funded by statutory contributions, which therefore entitles German citizens to free healthcare (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung). In addition to this, you can also take out private health insurance (Private Krankenversicherung) to replace or top-up the cover that's offered by the state.

Today, Germany and the United States are close and strong allies. In the mid and late 19th century, millions of Germans migrated to farms and industrial jobs in the United States, especially in the Midwest. Later, the two nations fought each other in World War I (1917–1918) and World War II (1941–1945).

Am I too old to move to Germany? ›

However, one of the age conditions for immigration to Germany is that the applicant should not be older than 67 years, as many countries consider this age as retirement age, which may not be suitable for any job.

Reasons to leave

The most commonly given reason was simple enough: Legal issues associated with residency. "I'm assuming that in most cases those were residency permits for training or work and these simply expire and weren't extended," said IAW study author Bernhard Boockmann.

Germany's Real Challenges are Aging, Underinvestment, and Too Much Red Tape. Germany is struggling. It was the only G7 economy to shrink last year and is set to be the group's slowest-growing economy again this year, according to our latest projections. Some pundits say Germany's economic model is irreparably broken.

How Much Money Should I Take to Germany? As a general rule, plan on going with savings of at least three times your monthly expenses. Upfront fees upon your arrival in Germany could include a housing deposit equalling up to three months of rent, insurance, and setting up your new place.

If you have been accepted by a college or university to study in Germany and you can prove that you have sufficient funds to support yourself while you're here, then you're eligible for a student visa. This has to be the most common way to move to Germany without having a job already in place.

All told, how high is the cost of living in Germany? According to Destatis, it adds up to €2,507 a month, with 37% of this going towards housing and energy costs and 15% on food, alcohol, and tobacco (as of September 2022). If you calculate this on an annual basis, the average cost of living in Germany is €30,084.