Best cities in Germany to live in: A city comparison

See how the top 5 cities to live in Germany compare to one another and find out which Germany city is the one for you.

Ellie

9 minute read

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Updated on 19 Sep 2024

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Moving

Germany is a popular place to live because of the top-notch universities, incredible career opportunities and overall high quality of life. The best city to live in Germany depends entirely on what you’re moving to Germany for. Each German city has its unique appeal and advantages to life there. In this article, we’ll look at the 5 best cities in Germany to live in and highlight who exactly this city is best suited for.

When we consider important factors such as quality of life, career opportunities, and cost of living, the cities that jump out the most are Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, and Stuttgart. Let’s break down these cities further and see which is best for you.

Germany’s capital city is a beautiful mix of historical charm and modern innovation. Despite its fast-paced atmosphere, most Berliners have a laidback mentality that makes life there very fulfilling. Berlin is a city full of surprises. While it appears to be a concrete jungle at first glance, it’s abundant with green spaces and nature. One-third of Berlin is covered in parks, lakes, and rivers.

Berlin’s diversity is seen throughout the city. With neighbourhoods like the fancy Charlottenburg, you also have the party-centric Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg where you’ll find some of the best spots to enjoy Berlin’s nightlife. Berlin’s party scene is a big part of what makes it such a popular student city.

Student life in Berlin is filled with fun, culture and internationality. Berlin is one of the biggest student cities in the world, with thousands of students flocking to one of the many Berlin universities that provide English-taught programs. International students typically find the cost of living in Berlin to be affordable, as the city has plenty of cheaper options and discounts that cater especially to students.

In fact, the overall cost of living in Berlin is pretty cheap compared to other capitals in Western Europe. The average cost of living in Berlin for a single person is about €2,100 per month, including rent. For a family of 4, it’s about €4,400 per month. If you earn close to the average gross salary of €4,360 per month in Berlin, you should live here quite comfortably. The cost of rent in Berlin varies depending on which Berlin neighbourhood you choose to live in, but here’s a rough idea of the cost:

Even Berlin’s public transport is pretty cheap. A single ticket costs €3.20, and a monthly pass is €91— or free for students! Your company may cover your transport as a perk. Berlin is home to many startups, offering lucrative perks attracting skilled expats. Plenty of large corporations and major companies also have their headquarters in Berlin, making it an excellent place to kickstart and excel in your career.

The expat lifestyle in Berlin is also fulfilling for workers— there’s always something happening in Berlin. While Berlin has many English speakers, it’s still a good idea to learn some German when you move to any of these cities. It’ll make your day-to-day interactions a little easier!

To sum up: Explore rental homes in Berlin if you’re a student or young professional wanting to make the most of Berlin’s universities and start-up scene (as well as the iconic nightlife!).

Life in Munich is very authentically German. Munich is the safest city to live in Germany and is in the top 10 of Mercer’s quality of life ranking. With such a reputation for safety and a high quality of life, it’s obvious why Munich is the spot for families moving to Germany. Munich has many international schools, excellent kindergartens, plenty of parks, and even a Palace!

Munich has plenty of incredible neighbourhoods catering to a lot of preferences. You can settle in a prestigious, family-friendly neighbourhood like Neuhausen-Nymphenburg, make yourself at home in the boho neighbourhood of Schwabing or be close to campus in an affordable home in Garching. Munich isn’t just ideal for families. With prestigious universities and iconic companies like BMW located in Munich, it’s also well-suited to students and young professionals.

About 16% of Munich’s population is comprised of international students who come to study in top-rated universities that provide English-taught programs. Despite Germany's incredibly low tuition fees, student living in Munich is pricey. It can be difficult to find affordable student housing in Munich, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time to get sorted.

Munich isn’t just expensive for students. Overall, it’s an expensive place to live. The monthly cost of living in Munich for a single person is about €2,500, and for a family of 4, it’s about €5,000. Don’t let those high costs put you off, though, as the average salary in Munich's high too, at a gross of €4,210 monthly. Your biggest expense in Munich will be your rent. The average rental prices in Munich are:

Like most big German cities, Munich has an excellent public transport system in place. This is particularly helpful for families who might want to settle outside the city in the suburbs and commute for work. By commuting, you’re open to the opportunities of the city centre while living in the beautiful suburbs surrounding Munich.

No matter where in Munich you settle, it’s unlikely you’ll be the only foreigner in the neighbourhood. Around 38% of the population of Munich is international. Like Berlin, Munich has plenty of English speakers, so you’ll get by without learning German, but it’ll certainly help you to learn some— even just to make a good impression!

To sum up: Find homes for rent in Munich if you’re moving with your family and want a safe city with secure job prospects.

Hamburg is Germany’s answer to Venice or Amsterdam. Over 2,000 bridges zigzag the city's many rivers and canals. Hamburg is a gorgeous city with plenty of outdoor spaces and cultural events to keep you busy throughout the year. Alster Lake is located in Hamburg, making it a perfect place to live if you love spending time in the great outdoors. Hamburg is also home to an abundance of theatres, English-speaking cinemas, and the Hamburg State Opera, so culture-buffs will love living here.

Each Hamburg neighbourhood highlights how full of variety life in Hamburg is. Living in Mitte, you’ll be close to the economic centre of Hamburg— HafenCity. Hamburg Nord is the spot for nature and outdoor activity enthusiasts as it borders Alster Lake. Altona is the place to party in Hamburg and a popular place to live for students and young professionals in particular.

Life in Hamburg also brings plenty of opportunities to the plate. Whether you’re coming here to study, do an internship or work, there’re plenty of opportunities for internationals in Hamburg. Hamburg has a bustling economy revolving around media, entertainment, and finance. You’ll also find plenty of international students in Hamburg studying these topics at university.

Hamburg is considered one of the more luxurious cities in Germany, and the monthly cost of living reflects this. The average monthly cost of living in Hamburg for a single person is about €2,400. For a family of 4, it’s about €4,700. But similarly to Munich, the average gross salary of €4,280 per month in Hamburg compensates for the higher cost of living. Your main expense living in Hamburg will be your rent, which will cost about:

Hamburg has one of the most unique public transport systems in Germany, as you can even get a water bus to make your way around the city. If you’re not a fan of boats, fear not! They also have a U-Bahn, S-Bahn and ground-level buses.

Hamburg is not as international as the likes of Munich or Berlin, but there’re still plenty of reasons to live here as an international. Hamburg locals will speak decent English, as is common in many of Germany’s northern cities, but if you plan on settling here for a while, you must learn some German.

To sum up: Discover rental properties in Hamburg if a life of lakeside activities combined with urban luxury appeals to you.

Frankfurt am Main’s nickname, Mainhattan, tells you a lot about life in this city of innovation. Frankfurt has a skyline that echos New York’s and the fast-paced business vibe of Wall Street. Aside from being a city of innovation and career opportunities, Frankfurt is a great place to study, live in an international community, and explore all that life in Germany has to offer.

Frankfurt’s neighbourhoods truly have something for everyone. Sachsenhausen is a central neighbourhood ideal for young professionals who want to live centrally and make the most of Frankfurt’s nightlife. Europaviertel is a residential neighbourhood that offers affordable, quality housing with plenty of amenities for families. Bockenheim is a student-friendly neighbourhood with plenty of cheap housing options close to the Goethe University campus.

Speaking of universities, Frankfurt is home to several universities offering English-taught courses, particularly in the financial sector. It’s also a great place to complete an internship or excel in your career, as several major organisations, such as Boeing, JP Morgan, and PwC, are based in Frankfurt.

Frankfurt is basically NYC, but way cheaper! The average monthly cost of living in Frankfurt for a single person is about €2,200 per month. The monthly cost of living for a family of 4 is about €3,500. With an average monthly gross salary of about €4,210 in Frankfurt, you should live comfortably as long as your rent isn’t too high. On average, rent in Frankfurt costs about:

As you’d expect, Frankfurt also has plenty of public transport options which make getting around or even commuting to Frankfurt a walk in the park.

Because of its central location in Germany and its status as the finance capital of Germany, Frankfurt attracts plenty of internationals each year. You’ll be living amongst a population of people from many different countries. As always, learning German is very useful, but you’ll get by with English as many Frankfurters speak English quite well.

To sum up: Search homes for rent in Frankfurt if you want to immerse yourself in the energetic atmosphere of finance and business.

Stuttgart is located in an idyllic valley of mountains and vineyards, yet it’s home to two of the biggest names in the automotive industry. Life in Stuttgart is an incredible balance of innovation and technology, laidback culture, and artsy vibes. It’s also hotter than most parts of Germany, so Stuttgart is the place to be in the summer!

The variety seen in Stuttgart’s neighbourhoods reflects the variety of lifestyles you can have while living there. Mitte is close to the heart of the action and is a cultural hub in Stuttgart. It’s also close to both the business district and parts of the university campus. West is a densely populated neighbourhood with plenty of funky buildings, amenities and affordable housing. Ost is where you’ll have the best valley views and enjoy escapism from the other touristy parts of the city.

Studying in Stuttgart is ideal for internationals, especially those interested in the automotive industry. Many Stuttgart universities offer English-language courses and are particularly known for their engineering degrees. Naturally, once you complete your studies, you’ll have an abundance of career opportunities at your feet as Stuttgart is home to plenty of innovative start-ups as well as automotive giants like Porsche and Mercedes Benz.

Even with its booming economy and lucrative career opportunities, Stuttgart is one of the cheapest cities to live in Germany. The average monthly cost of living in Stuttgart for a single person is €2,000; for a family of 4, it’s about €4,600. The average salary in Stuttgart is around €4,140 gross per month, so you should be able to afford to live here comfortably. Of course, your budget depends on the cost of your rent. On average, rent in Stuttgart per month is around:

Stuttgart also has an excellent public transport system to help you navigate the city. They’ve got an S-Bahn, U-Bahn and buses to help you get from A to B.

Stuttgart’s strong economy and its position as a major business hub in Germany does attract a lot of internationals to move here. Not only do people move for business and university (about 20% of Stuttgart’s university students are international!), but they also relocate with their families. Stuttgart is a family-friendly city with plenty of international schools. There’s quite a decent level of English literacy in Stuttgart, but you’ll need to learn some German living here.

To sum up: Explore rental homes in Stuttgart if you want to be a part of the automotive wheel in Germany while exploring German culture.

As soon as you find your dream destination, you can start planning your move to Germany and looking for a place you'll soon call home.

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