Living in Germany
City guides
Where internationals live, how to get started, and what it costs — pick a city to dive in.
Find your city
Which German city suits you?
Question 1 of 3
What matters most?
Budget examples assume one employed adult in 50 m². Rent uses Q2 2026 asking cold rents plus €3/m² for running costs and heating; other spending uses planning allowances. Seven cities without observations use a clearly labelled overall reference. Source: Kiel Institut für Weltwirtschaft auf Basis der VALUE Marktdatenbank. Check actual listings before deciding.
Berlin
Germany's capital: international, creative and full of startups, with a tight rental market. Plenty of jobs work in English, though not most.
Example budget: €1,661/month (50 m², one employed adult)
Read guide→Munich
Prosperous and very livable, with big employers in automotive, engineering, insurance and tech, and the highest rents of Germany's big cities.
Example budget: €2,079/month (50 m², one employed adult)
Read guide→Hamburg
A green, wealthy port city with media, logistics, aviation and trade, and a calmer feel than Berlin.
Example budget: €1,720/month (50 m², one employed adult)
Read guide→Frankfurt
Germany's finance hub and busiest airport: compact, very international, strong for banking, consulting and fintech.
Example budget: €1,784/month (50 m², one employed adult)
Read guide→TiG Pilot · free browser extension
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