Your Expat Community in Germany

Why are expats moving to Germany?
Of course, the individual reasons why expats decide to move to Germany can vary a lot. But thanks to our vast member base and our annual Expat Insider survey, we were able to uncover some of the underlying trends that make Germany an appealing place to move to. Notably, the most valued attributes of Germany as an expat destination are a great economy & career prospects, almost unmatched job-security and great childcare, healthcare & social services.

In addition, out of the 64 expat destinations worldwide in our Expat Insider 2019 survey, Germany scores quite well in our Quality of Life Index (22nd) but much worse in our Ease of Settling in Index (60th). However, it ranks super well in our Working Abroad Index (4th). Germany isn’t just interesting for career-driven single expats. It has a lot to offer families as well, resulting in a very respectable ranking in our Family Life Index (14th)

How much do expats earn in Germany?
On average, expats make on average 199,392 USD according to the ECA Expat Salary Survey for salary levels of expats in middle management positions. This is not the cash salary that expat workers take home after taxes, but the total value of their expat package that usual includes healthcare, cost of education, and housing (among other things). Germany scored average in both our Personal Finance Index (31st) and our Cost of Living Index (27th) in 2019.

Where are expats living in Germany?
Usually the expat population concentrates in places that offer the most career opportunities — at least for those who aren’t just looking for a place to retire in the sun. According to our member base these are the most popular cities for expats in Germany:

• Berlin
• Hamburg
• Munich
• Frankfurt
• Stuttgart

How much rent do expats pay in Germany? Your personal situation plays a role here. Single expats spend on average 950 USD on their accommodation per month, while expat families spend around 1,825 USD. And of course, rents can also vary greatly depending on the location and city within Germany.

To give you an idea of what to expect, here are some rent averages for the most popular cities in Germany.

Average rent in Berlin

• Single expats: 1,425 USD
• Expat families: 2,560 USD

Average rent in Hamburg

• Single expats: 1,120 USD
• Expat families: 2,150 USD

Average rent in Munich

• Single expats: 1,565 USD
• Expat families: 2,730 USD

What are the most common nationalities in Germany?
As an expat in Germany, you'll meet people from many different cultures (especially if you're an InterNations member!) The top nationalities in the InterNations Communities in Germany currently are:

• Americans
• Indians
• Italians
• British

How safe is Germany?
You may be wondering about safety. In general people perceive their personal safety situation in Germany as very safe. People rate the risk of falling victim to petty crime (such as pickpocketing or minor theft) as very low. They consider the chance of being the victim of violent crime (including mugging) very low. And, they rate confidence in the police force and related local authorities as very high.

How safe is Germany for women?
Female expats rated the safety situation in Germany as very safe. This is based on the feedback of expat women living in Germany (rather than actual crime statistics). So obviously this can be highly subjective and depends on factors such as where people live.

Germany's diverse climate includes the mountainous, snowy Alps of the south, the vast Black Forest of Baden-Wuerttemberg, and the Baltic coast of the north. Within this beautiful and diverse landscape are some of the most livable cities in the world, offering expats the best quality of life available anywhere. German culture and cuisine, an example of which is the Munich Oktoberfest, is also famous throughout the world. So whether it is the great outdoors or the great indoors that you are interested in, there is always something to interest you in Germany. The capital of Germany is Berlin, known as the thriving cultural hub of Germany's art and tech industries. Munich is the industrial capital of Germany, home to some of the world's largest manufacturers (as well as the Oktoberfest). Hamburg is one of the largest ports in Europe and, along with Frankfurt, is home to some of Germany's largest banks and financial services companies. All of these cities speak to the huge diversity within Germany. As an economic powerhouse with some of the world's largest and most innovative companies, the country offers expats a fantastic quality of life combined with a rich cultural and historical environment. Germany has the complete package for any expat.

InterNations is the largest global network for expatriates, with communities in 420 cities around the world. Meet fellow global minds in your city of residence or get to know local expatriates before you're moving or traveling abroad and never feel like a stranger. InterNations makes it easy for you to stay in touch with your expat friends, both online and offline, so you can grow your network of friends and contacts from all over the world. Whether they live in Peru or China, InterNations allows you to be close to them even if they are miles away.

Our community offers a safe and secure environment to interact with other expats, due to our careful approval policy for new members. We expect members to behave in a polite and trustworthy fashion at all times showing a friendly, helpful, and open-minded attitude towards other members. Feel free to pose questions on any topic relevant to living in Germany or about expat life in general in our forums. From the more trivial concerns about the finer points of German customs to more complex issues (such as buying property or understanding the German system of social security), our community of expats is always ready to guide you in the right direction. We also offer a range of real-life events that you can join whether you live in Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, or elsewhere in Germany. Our community of expats has a wide range of interests so whether it is hiking, sports, or cooking, there is always an event to suit you. Being able to continue your favorite activities after moving to Germany is an important part of a successful relocation. We also offer larger "get-together" events; these give you the opportunity to meet all of our expats and will help you settle into life in Germany. If you plan on visiting any other countries, be sure to check out other communities in the country or city that you are visiting.

Further reading: 9 Things All Expats Headed for Berlin Should Know