Living in Germany
The Currency
The euro is the official currency of Germany. You may have known this, but if you come from a country with a different currency, be aware that you will have to exchange it for euros or you won’t be able to buy anything. The other option is to use your debit or credit card which will then be charged.
The language
Germans speak German. Of course, they speak other languages like English, but to get around the country, it’s best to have at least some basic language skills. You could be frowned upon if you don’t know how to say hello, please, and thank you in German. Learning the rest is quite difficult because the grammar rules are not simple, but in every town or village you live in, there will be a language school that offers German classes.
Living in Germany: life is peaceful there
Life is pretty crowded in Germany as in any other place. But in general, the atmosphere is rather and quiet everywhere you go. With the exception of course of the party areas of the big cities. Apart from that, you will find that Germans like silence that corruption is low and it won’t be so hard to find a job.
Germans like order
It’s a cliché at first, yet Germans love rules. They have written and unwritten laws that they adhere to religiously. And if you do something wrong, don’t expect to be let off the hook. Dare to cross the street when the light is red and eyes will be on you or someone will stop and reprimand you. So read up and educate yourself on what you can and can’t do in your new country.
A favorable worker right
Employees are very valuable in Germany. German unions are very strong and protect workers’ rights and if you complain, someone will listen to you. As an employee, you will not be exploited or be at the mercy of a mean boss.
Poor customer service
If you live in a place where the saying is « the customer is king, » you will be disappointed in Germany. Germans are not in the habit of not providing top-notch customer service, or at least it’s cultural.
Living in Germany: finding housing
Never mind, finding housing on the other side of the Rhine is quite difficult and expensive. But when you move in, you will find that the apartment is empty. If you are used to moving in and having a few cabinets, a kitchen and a sink, and maybe a bed frame or a closet, forget it. Most German apartments don’t even have light fixtures. So be prepared to buy a kitchen and other furniture when you move into your new home. You can find cheap items in local newspapers or at a used furniture store.
Quality public transportation
The train and bus are on time. They are also clean. Public transportation is widely used in Germany and I enjoy taking it. If you used to say your bus or train was late as an excuse for not getting to work on time, that will not be possible in Germany! Order and speed are extremely appreciated here.
Living in Germany: cities built for cyclists
Roads in Germany are built and thought out for all types of transportation. They are pedestrian-friendly and, more importantly, bike-friendly. When you move to a new city, the cheapest mode of transportation will be a bicycle. So you can use it a lot in Germany. Almost every road has a lane specifically designed for bikes and you will see cyclists everywhere.
The recycling
Order in Germany goes right into your trash can. You will see special garbage cans for all kinds of waste and there is a specific time when you should do your recycling. Germany is an environmentally friendly country. So you need to hone your recycling skills and know where to throw what when you move in.
A good education system
Education is well organized in Germany. The quality is very good, and most importantly, it’s FREE. You probably won’t have to pay tuition for university, or a few hundred euros per semester. . In Germany, you can start earning a full salary without having to pay back your education.
Living in Germany: lots of travel opportunities
Germany is at the center of Europe. You can be in another country within hours and this can be an opportunity to discover Eastern or Northern Europe. This gives you huge opportunities to travel even within the country, which is very big, and outside of it, to see different cultures.
A varied gastronomy
People imagine that Germans eat a lot of sausages and nothing else. Germany has a wide range of food choices, from meat to desserts. You also get a wide range of breads and other baked goods. You may not be able to easily find the comfort foods of your own country, but you will have the opportunity to try many dishes and ingredients that will be delicious.
An incredible beer
Beer is a must in Germany. Know moreover the German beer is said to be of drink thus little alcoholic unlike the Belgian beer for example which is said to be of tasting and thus much stronger. You can therefore discover excellent beer flavors and all this at very low prices (sometimes cheaper than water!).
Living in Germany: what are the best places?
If you still haven’t chosen a place to live in Germany, then don’t rush. Germany is a huge country and each place has a different atmosphere and opportunities. So here we have listed some of the best cities to live in Germany based on job opportunities. Then we will also list some of the cheapest cities in Germany.
The best cities to live and work in Germany
- Munich
- Düsseldorf
- Frankfurt
- Berlin
- Hamburg
- Stuttgart
- Nuremberg
These cities are in the list because they make it easy to find a job due to the high demand. Many top German companies are located here and all have a dynamic infrastructure and high salary potential. They also rank in the TOP of the best cities in the world, so rest assured if your choice is one of them.
Least_expensive_cities_in_Germany
- Leipzig
- Bochum
- Kiel
- Siegen
- Jena
- Osnabrück
- Bremen
These are the cheapest cities to live in Germany. If you are on a tight budget and expect not to make much money in the first few months or years after arriving in the country, then it is best to move to one of the above cities. Avoid moving to the big cities and the capital Berlin as they are extremely expensive.
Living in Germany: what is the cost of living?
In addition to the best and cheapest places to live in Germany, you probably want to know what the cost of living in Germany is. More specifically, the cost of living in Germany for a family. Based on statistical data, here are 15 cities in Germany and their cost of living index. The higher the cost of living index, the more expensive they are.
| Ranking | City | Cost of living index |
| 1 | Düsseldorf | 85.64 |
| 2 | Frankfurt | 84.17 |
| 3 | Hamburg | 81.65 |
| 4 | Munich | 80.21 |
| 5 | Heidelberg | 76.42 |
| 6 | Stuttgart | 74.47 |
| 7 | Berlin | 72.50 |
| 8 | Karlsruhe | 72.50 |
| 9 | Bonn | 72.00 |
| 10 | Cologne | 71.51 |
| 11 | Nuremberg | 70.95 |
| 12 | Aachen | 69.61 |
| 13 | Dresden | 67.98 |
| 14 | Bremen | 67.00 |
| 15 | Leipzig | 66.60 |
Source: Numbeo
To make a more understandable comparison, let’s compare the cost of living for a family of 4 in Düsseldorf and in Leipzig. In Düsseldorf, you would need about 1,660 euros to pay the rent for a 3-bedroom apartment and another 2,913 euros to cover other living expenses per month. In Leipzig, you would need 890 euros to cover the same apartment and another 2,277 euros for other expenses. In total, a family of 4 would therefore need 4,573 euros per month in Düsseldorf and 3,167 euros per month in Leipzig.
In general, for an expenditure of 2,700 euros in Leipzig, you would need 3,800 euros in Munich. As you can see, Düsseldorf is more expensive than Leipzig.