Looking for American Expats in Germany?

Want to know what life in Germany is really like for expats? Through our annual Expat Insider survey, we ask expats around the world to share their thoughts with us — and they tell it like it is! Everybody’s experience is unique, of course. In fact, it’s the diversity of opinions and personal stories in the community that make InterNations so special — it’s one of the things our members value most!

Here are some pros and cons of life in Germany according to American expats:

Thinking about moving to Germany as an American? These pros and cons come from the InterNations Expat Insider 2026 survey, in which thousands of expats around the world share what they like and don't like about life abroad each year. The points below reflect what an American expats in Germany wrote in their own words, backed up by survey percentages from all expats living there.

• It's safe, green, and things just work. “Everything works” is a phrase Americans repeat, and 82% of expats in Germany rate personal safety positively, with 87% happy with how easy it is to get around on foot or by bike (vs. 78% globally).

• Public transport and infrastructure are strong. Trains, trams, and daily systems get a lot of love — 78% of expats in Germany rate the availability of public transportation positively.

• Green priorities line up with many Americans' values. About seven in ten (73%) say the government supports policies to protect the environment, against 62% globally.

• Travel and nature are close at hand. Germany's central location makes trips easy (89% rate the opportunity to travel positively) and 88% rate the natural environment positively.

• Bureaucracy is the biggest gripe by far. Red tape and long waits for appointments dominate the answers, and just 20% of expats in Germany find it easy to deal with local authorities (vs. 38% globally).

• Locals are hard to befriend. Americans describe a reserved culture — only 23% say making local friends is easy and 48% feel welcome, both well below global averages.

• The language is tough. Just 17% say German is easy to learn, and only 30% find it easy to get by without it (vs. 48% globally).

• Costs and housing bite in the cities. Only 31% rate the general cost of living positively and 19% rate housing affordability positively (vs. 32% globally).

For Americans, Germany offers safety, infrastructure, and a green, well-run quality of life. The catch is social and administrative: reserved locals, a hard language, and heavy bureaucracy. Tellingly, expats in Germany rate overall happiness below the global average (60% vs. 70%), and that gap is mostly about friendliness and red tape.

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.

Of course, expat living in Germany is not just about shipping your belongings and filing in some bureaucratic papers. Regular socializing with fellow Americans is an essential part of expat life and helps getting accustomed to the German way of life and mentality. InterNations helps you connect and meet up with other Americans in Germany, residing in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and many other places throughout the country. Just take a look at our group of Americans in Munich or Americans in Berlin.

• Look up our top quality network to get to know open-minded expats from the United States of America in Germany.
• Obtain and share insider tips in our Germany Expat Forums – e.g. how to hire a babysitter fluent in your native tongue for your children or where to get stuffed turkey in Hamburg.
• Search the InterNations Places database for Germany to get information on institutions from your home country, including the American embassy.

From the picturesque islands off the Frisian coast to beautiful Bavaria, we’ll help you connect with supportive and friendly American expats in Germany.

Moreover, please feel free to attend our regular expat events and activities in Germany. Our get-togethers are very diverse and range from a cozy gathering to enjoy the traditional German roast pork with Knödel, to big expat celebrations with hundreds of participants in Berlin’s best locations. You can also participate in one of our expat trips to go and see the beaches at the North Sea and the Baltic coastlines as well as other beautiful landmarks in Germany.

Our meet-ups and activities are a great opportunity to mingle with expats from the United States of America and various other countries in a casual setting. Interested? Just sign up and you’ll soon be receiving a cordial Hello from our Americans living in Germany!