Looking for Indian Expats in Munich?

Why Indians move abroad (& how they like it)

Every year, we run one of the biggest global surveys among people working and living abroad and ask them about various aspects of their expat life. Learn what motivated our Indian members to move abroad, what keeps them there, and what they struggle with or miss about home.

The pros & cons of living in Munich

No place is perfect; there’s always the good, the bad and the ugly. Find out what our Indian members love about their lives as well as the challenges they face in Munich.

Pros:

• High standard of living: Germany in general, and Munich in particular, offers a comparatively high quality of life. This includes great public services such as healthcare and education.

• Work–life balance: Munich offers a good work life balance for Indians with a legal minimum of 20 vacation days a year and many additional public holidays in Bavaria.

• Safety: Munich is a very safe city. Walking around alone at night, even as a woman, you’re unlikely to get pickpocketed or be exposed to violent crime.

• Public transportation: With trains (both suburban and underground), trams, and buses, Munich offers a comprehensive transportation network. Services are efficient and frequent, but not exactly cheap unless you’ve got the monthly ticket.

• Walkability: Next to public transportation, you can also easily get around Munich on foot or by bicycle.

Cons:

• Cost of living: Compared to India, the cost of living in Munich is considerably higher. Adjusting to the vast difference in currency (1 EUR equals not quite 100 INR) and expenses can be difficult.

• Language barrier: Normal day-to day activities and interactions are do-able without speaking German. But doctor’s appointments, registration at official offices, finding rental apartments, and so on are much harder without knowing the language. And most expats also find learning German quite difficult.

• Bureaucracy: German bureaucracy has been known to annoy not only expats with its refusal to be more modernized. There’s often a lot of rigorous paperwork and formalities required when registering your address, applying for work permits, and handling other necessary paperwork.

• Cultural differences: Adjusting to the cultural difference between Indians and Germans can be a hurdle. Indians are generally warm and expressive, while Germans can be more restraining with their emotions and come across as distant and cold.

• Climate: Depending on where you’re from in India, the cold weather might take some adjusting. Throughout the year, Munich sees significant variations in temperatures, ranging from below zero in winter to a pleasant average of 20 to 25°C in summer.

• Taxes: Germany can be brutal with its tax system: both income tax and social security contributions will eat up a large share of your income, especially compared to India. In fact, Germany was ranked second for high tax burdens amongst 31 other OECD countries.

What Indian expats have to say about living in Munich

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 Munich from Indians, grouped into positive and negative opinions.

Let’s start with the positive ones.

Opinions

What I like about Munich is the social life, workplace environment, the pay, as well as the focus on wellness, the mountains surrounding the city, and its central location in Europe.

Opinions

Opinions

What I like most about Germany is that, by being patient and giving people time to open up, I was able to make some truly great friends. It wasn’t easy at first, but it was definitely worth the wait.

Opinions

Opinions

I love about Munich that I can feel safe here. Men and women are treated equally, and the work culture is good.

Opinions

Opinions

I love that Munich offers plenty of career opportunities.

Opinions

On the downside, here's are some negative experiences from Indian expats in Munich

Opinions

My biggest challenge is that it’s almost impossible to find a good doctor here. Since most people have public insurance, you generally have little control over your own healthcare, and doctors often do only the minimum required without discussing tests or diagnoses with you.

Opinions

Opinions

What I dislike about living here is the the bureaucratic system, which can be somewhat inefficient and time-consuming, which can make straightforward tasks like obtaining a residence permit more challenging than expected

Opinions

Opinions

For me, my challenge is the way German society seems welcoming—people are polite, greet you, and engage in small talk. However, after this initial friendliness, it can be difficult to form deeper connections. Many expats find that social circles are quite close-knit, and it’s rare to be invited for casual meals or to become close friends.

Opinions

Opinions

I find dealing with German authorities daunting. They rely heavily on paper-based processes and are often hesitant to embrace digital solutions, which makes life a bit more difficult for me.

Opinions

Frequent questions about living in Munich

Opinion

What I like about my life in Munich? The great infrastructure, clean and green environment, equal society, and the chance to travel to a number of different countries. (Indian expat in Munich)

Opinion

Enjoy the international experience with InterNations

We’re not just active in Munich — InterNations offers lively communities in most of Germany’s major cities. Whether you’re traveling or considering moving elsewhere in the country, check out our Indian communities in Berlin, Hamburg , Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Essen, Cologne, Bonn, Regensburg, Heidelberg, Stuttgart, and more.

But that’s not all! If you’re in the mood for a nice night out while traveling further abroad, you can find us in 420 cities across the globe. Browse all InterNations Communities worldwide.