In order to find the best places to live in Germany, you must be able to compare the pros and cons of each option.
While cities like Munich and Frankfurt might appear ideal on the surface, they are likely much more expensive than smaller German towns with an equally high quality of life. What factors should you consider when picking where to live in Germany?
And what are the top 5 places to live in Germany? Let’s take a look at these and other questions below.
Table of Contents
1) Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a state of Germany. It’s bordered by four other German states, including North Rhine-Westphalia, Bremen, Hamburg, and Schleswig-Holstein. The capital city of Lower Saxony in Hanover. Around 10 million people live in Lower Saxony. Many people visit Lower Saxony for its mountains, lakes, and cities. You can also find many museums and theatres there.
If you want to visit one of these places then it’s best to go in spring or summer because it can get very cold during winter. And if you like shopping then you should go to Wolfsburg because it has many shops there.
You should also go to Goslar because that has a beautiful old town which has been well preserved over time. Another good place to visit is Lüneburg because it has a castle there which was built around 800 years ago.
That castle still stands today and looks almost exactly as it did back then. Another place you should go to is Salzgitter because that’s where Volkswagen was founded and they make cars there now too. Also, Braunschweig is worth visiting because it was once home to Henry the Lion who was an important man at one point in history.
2) North Rhine-Westphalia
The Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, with more than 11 million inhabitants, is one of Europe’s biggest urban areas.
The largest cities of North Rhine-Westphalia are Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Dortmund. The area is home to diverse industries such as steelmaking, automobile manufacturing, and brewing.
It’s also one of Germany’s most important centers for higher education and research. Düsseldorf, it’s the capital city, is also a renowned center for art and culture. It hosts major annual events like Düsseldorf Carnival (Europe’s biggest street festival) and the International Film Festival. Its international airport, Dusseldorf Airport, has direct flights to many European destinations.
The Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region offers an excellent infrastructure: Its extensive public transportation system includes two of Germany’s largest tram networks (Düsseldorf and Essen), numerous bus lines, and a network of subway lines serving all five major cities.
There are also several train stations throughout the area that connect it with other parts of Germany and neighboring countries.
When it comes to living standards, people living in North Rhine-Westphalia have some of the highest salaries in Germany.
Unemployment rates are low, too. Education levels among residents are high—the proportion of people who hold at least a secondary school diploma is above average compared to other German states.
This makes life easier for families raising children; there’s plenty of child care available, which helps women reenter or stay on the job market after having kids.
3) Bavaria
Bavaria is a German state, and it’s also one of four cultural areas of Germany. As you might guess from its name, Bavaria is located in southern Germany and has a rich, historic culture with strong roots in art, music, and sports.
When it comes to housing costs, Bavaria is an affordable place for ex-pats: according to Numbeo data for 2018 (the most recent available), rent for 85 square meters of apartments costs about $677 per month. In addition, Munich is home to several universities, which means there are plenty of opportunities for education and career growth.
In fact, Munich was recently ranked as one of Europe’s best cities for tech startups by Startup Genome. Overall, Munich scores high on livability: Numbeo users rank it as one of their top 10 favorite cities worldwide.
The city has been named as one of The Economist’s most liveable cities every year since 2011. It even beat out Vienna and Zurich in 2017!
4) Baden-Württemberg
As its name suggests, it’s situated in southwest Germany and has borders with both France and Switzerland. The capital is Stuttgart, home to Mercedes Benz and Porsche, while Freiburg was voted the most liveable city in Europe by Monocle magazine.
But don’t let that put you off: there are plenty of other places to live too – from Heidelberg (famous for its castle) to Pforzheim (known for watches). The Black Forest region around Freiburg is also a great place for outdoor activities like hiking and skiing.
There are lots of green spaces and even some vineyards to explore. However, if you prefer your wine bottled then Berlin might be more up your street. Home to more than 400,000 people, Berlin is one of Germany’s most dynamic cities; perfect for those who want an urban lifestyle but still have time to enjoy life outside work. It’s not all fun and games though: if culture is what you seek then Munich should be high on your list.
5) Hesse
Established over 1,000 years ago, Hesse (or Hesse) has been popular among tourists for centuries due to its stunning natural landscapes and charming cityscapes. In terms of a job market, Hesse is home to Darmstadt’s Technologiepark — a business park that hosts high-tech companies like Siemens and various startup ventures.
If you’re looking for somewhere peaceful with plenty of space for self-expression, consider moving to Hesse. The only downside? Finding an affordable place to live here may be tough! That said, there are plenty of cheap apartments in Hesse if you know where to look.
According to Numbeo, a furnished one-bedroom apartment will cost around $590 per month on average; you can find cheaper places by searching WG Zimmervermietung Hessen on Facebook. A two-bedroom apartment will cost around $922 per month on average; search Zimmervermietung Frankfurt is Main or Zimmervermietung Wiesbaden instead.