Looking for American Expats in Frankfurt?

Why Americans move abroad (& do they like it?)

Every year, we publish one of the biggest global surveys for expats — Expat Insider — where we ask people living around the world about every aspect of expat life. We’ve rounded up key facts about the typical American expat: what motivated them to move to a new country, what they enjoy about life abroad, as well as what they struggle with the most.

Meet the average American expat

The pros & cons of living in Frankfurt 

Of course, no place is absolutely perfect. There’s always the good, the bad, and the ugly. Discover what American expats love about Frankfurt — and the challenges they face.

Pros of living in Frankfurt

Cost of living: When comparing the average cost of living in the US and Frankfurt, you’ll find Frankfurt is cheaper. Especially when it comes to rent, Frankfurt is more affordable than large US cities.

Healthcare: Americans often appreciate both the affordability and the quality of healthcare in Frankfurt.

Public transportation: Public transportation in Frankfurt is efficient and affordable. You can choose between buses, trams, or the metro (known here as the “U-Bahn”) — they’ll take you almost anywhere.

Cheap beer: You can enjoy a cold German beer for around 5 EUR.

Easy traveling: Frankfurt airport is located close to the city, making it easy to travel back to the US on direct flights. You can also travel to other European destinations cheaply.

Cons of living in Frankfurt

Cultural differences: Discovering new cultural norms is part of the experience, but it can take time to adjust. For example, German culture can be more formal, especially in professional settings. Communication can be more direct. And if you’re used to running errands on Sundays, you’ll have to readjust. Shops are closed on Sundays in Frankfurt.

Language barrier: Without the German language, you might find it difficult to make friends with the locals. Some day-to-day activities can also be challenging.

Bureaucracy: German bureaucracy can be difficult to navigate. Researching and finding answers to your questions can take a long time — and the online availability of government services is limited.

Salary: Salaries in Frankfurt certainly don’t compare to what most Americans are used to. But the lower cost of living balances it out.

What American expats have to say about living in Frankfurt

We asked tens of thousands of expats about their lives abroad in our Expat Insider surveys. In addition to our standard questions, we invite them to share what they like or dislike about their experiences in their own words. Here, we’ve selected some of the most interesting or representative quotes about expat life in Frankfurt from Americans, grouped into positive and negative opinions.

Let’s start with the positive ones.

Opinion

I love the ability to travel, the opportunity to be in nature, the way of life here, affordable healthcare or generally available healthcare compared to US, great food and cultural experiences, multicultural country, love that there is a quiet day on Sunday (most of the time).

Opinion

Opinion

I really appreciate the job security, high-quality public transportation, and how nice and respectful people are here. I also love that it’s incredibly safe and offers a rich history to explore.

Opinion

Opinion

I’m really enjoying the lifestyle here. There are plenty of activities, great places to eat, and new churches to explore. Having distinct seasons is also a nice change from California.

Opinion

Opinion

What do I like about my life in Frankfurt? The high quality of life and standard of living. I also enjoy an excellent work-life balance here.

Opinion

Opinion

I like how the government functions and appreciate the local culture. I enjoy being surrounded by centuries of history everywhere I go

Opinion

On the downside, here's are some negative experiences from American expats in Frankfurt.

Opinion

What bothers me most are the grey, dreary winters, the challenges of navigating local services and the TV tax (seriously?).

Opinion

Opinion

I hate to generalize, but I’ve found that many locals lack warmth and empathy, and generally don’t accept foreigners into their circles. I was married to a local and lived in a villiage for 25 years and believe me, I tried! I speak the language fluently

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Opinion

What I do not like is that the society and the job market here are very age-focused. You’re often required to provide your birthdate, even when it’s not relevant.

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Opinion

The biggest factor behind my negative experiences is my current job and the difficulty of finding a new one.

Opinion

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One major issue for me is the lack of beaches for swimming, and another is that shops are closed on Sundays. These are my two biggest challenges of living here.

Opinion

All your questions about Frankfurt, answered

Enjoy the International Experience

We’re not just active in Frankfurt. InterNations has lively communities in most of Germany’s major cities. If you’re traveling or moving to another city in Germany, check out our American communities in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Düsseldorf, Essen, [Cologne] (https://www.internations.org/cologne-expats/americans), Bonn, Regensburg, Heidelberg, or Stuttgart. But that’s not all: If you’re in the mood for a nice night out while traveling further abroad, InterNations is your go-to platform. As an InterNations member, you’re always welcome to join events in any of our communities in over 420 cities worldwide. You can find the list here: Browse all InterNations Communities worldwide. InterNations provides an easy, casual way to get to know expats from the USA and further afield in your local community. Sound good? Then let us welcome you into our Frankfurt Community today!