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Looking for American Expats in Germany?

  • Connect with fellow Americans in Germany

  • Get information in our Germany guide

  • Join exciting events and activities

  • Exchange tips about expat life in Germany

  • Daiki Saito

    When my company decided to send me to Essen, I took a quick look at the local community and said: Please do!

InterNations – Uniting Americans living in Germany

Would you like to get in touch with other Americans in Germany? Are you in need of help and advice from your American compatriots? Or would you like to join other American expats on an excursion to discover sights and landmarks – e.g. the picturesque islands off the Frisian coast?

Whether you have settled as an expat in Germany or are still living in the United States of America and planning your upcoming foreign assignment, InterNations Germany offers everything you need: Established in 2007, our trusted community soon became the leading platform for international networking among expatriates and global minds around the world. Our network also counts a considerable number of American expats in Germany, coming from all corners of United States of America - from New York City, over Washington D.C. to Los Angeles.

Get First-Hand Insights: What American Expats Like about Living 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:

The social services provided allow me to live my life without the stress of crippling medical bills, student loans, fear of unemployment, etc. I know that the government here will protect me and my rights as a worker, woman, immigrant, and tax paying employee in Germany. I also have access to a great public transportation system that allows me to live without a car. I feel like Germany's values align quite closely with mine. Munich is a relatively bike friendly city, there are ample recycling facilities, and an effort to continue to make the city more climate friendly. - Female expat in Munich

The culture promotes and fosters a much more balanced relationship between work and personal life, allowing for more free time and holidays. And I adore the medical system, which makes it easier to maintain overall health and wellness. German culture is also kinder to the female form than my own culture, and I appreciate the reduction in demands for feminine perfection that have been such burdens for me as I’ve navigated the globe up until now. -Female expat in Göttingen

I like the work-life balance, as well as the challenges and opportunities presented by living in a country where I must learn the language to improve my level of communication and understanding of the people around me. -Female expat in Munich

There is a healthy balance of personal and work time as well as an equally healthy balance of personal responsibility and government-funded social services and quality healthcare. **-Female expat in Karlsruhe

What American Expats Don't Like about Living in Germany

Technology is behind other countries and progresses very slowly. Internet access is unreliable, some merchants don’t accept digital payments, and many government and health offices do not take appointments online. Postal mail is used for a lot of communication and it’s more difficult to translate than digital communication. - Male expat in Munich

The language is difficult to learn. Munich is slow to modernize payment options or online visa services. Customer service is almost non-existent and grocery stores have little variety or healthy prepared foods. Limited opening hours in Bavaria make running errands hard if you work long hours. - Female expat in Munich

The governmental red tape is really hard, especially with the language barrier. Small things, like changing your address or getting a business license, are so difficult and cannot be done online. - Female expat in Munich

The grey and dreary winters are difficult; I've also had some difficulties with understanding how services work and finding out how to get questions answered. Also the TV tax (seriously??) - Female expat in Frankfurt

Which cities are most popular among expats in Germany? Some cities attract more expats than others. These are the cities with the largest expat communities in Germany:

  • Berlin
  • Hamburg
  • Munich

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

Meet other Americans at our events in Germany

Attend our monthly events and activities for Americans expatriates to get to know like-minded expatriates in real life.

Bossa Nova Concert at (...) Protected content (...)
Mar 18, 2024, 9:00 PM
3 attendees
Hello Movie lovers, Let's go and watch the Oscar winner for the best animated movie 2024 and the Golden globe award for the best motion picture animated 2024 at Babylon Kreuzberg Kino. The Boy and t
Mar 18, 2024, 9:00 PM
1 attendee
Dear Karaoke lovers and peeps who love to have fun, Please join on friday 29.03.24 by participating in the karaoke evening planned by me in the Oreillys bar in Düsseldorf Altstadt. No costs but for
Dear bike friends, I would like to invite you on the next trip to discover Munich. Let's continue with one bike trip "Von Isar nach Grünwald" Please see details: https://www.komoot.de/tour/6790822

Want to meet other Americans at our events?

  • Community Member
    From United States of America, living in Leipzig
  • Community Member
    From United States of America, living in Dortmund
  • Community Member
    From United States of America, living in Stuttgart
  • Community Member
    From United States of America, living in Aachen
  • Community Member
    From United States of America, living in Essen
  • Community Member
    From United States of America, living in Mannheim
  • Community Member
    From United States of America, living in Cologne
  • Community Member
    From United States of America, living in Hamburg
  • Community Member
    From United States of America, living in Berlin
  • Community Member
    From United States of America, living in Duesseldorf

Meet other Americans in Germany

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Find Tips and Advice on Germany from American Expats

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 st■ 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.

Join Our Expat Activities and Mingle with Fellow Americans 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!

  • Daiki Saito

    When my company decided to send me to Essen, I took a quick look at the local community and said: Please do!

  • Cristina Fernandez

    On InterNations I did not only meet interesting people but I also found a flat near Bochum and settled in quickly. A great platform.

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Communities in Germany

Other Nationalities in Germany

Germany Guide Topics