Throughout history, Germany has remained as one of the superpowers in the world, with a renowned political background, strong economy and exceptional technological advancement.
Today Germany is one of the major countries in the world that attracts a lot of foreign investments and residents. With around 82.7 million people, it is one of Europe’s most populous countries, where its unique cultural diversity and modern lifestyle goes hand in hand.
Germany has around 10.6 million foreign population, which ranges from immigrants and expats workers to refugees. For them, living in Germany collectively means to just one thing – a better life for themselves and their future generations.
So what is it like to live in this country?
The world knows Germany for its wonderful cuisine, the extravagant food, different varieties of bread, wine and ale. The country is also well known for being an industrial powerhouse, a hotbed for mechanical and technological inventions and home to many of the world’s biggest car manufacturers.
But apart from these, what makes the country a favoured destination for expats? What is it like to be living in Germany? Let’s take a look:
Living in Germany as an Expat
For a foreign national, living in Germany can be an exciting as well as challenging experience. With a very strong economy that yields good business profits and better salaries, most expats can afford the high quality of life in the country. Over the years, the expat population has gradually risen and currently is around 0.3% of the total population.
The country boasts of a highly efficient health care system and is also home to some of the most prestigious schools in the European continent.
As the quality of life is far superior to many others, living in Germany is generally costlier than some of its neighbouring nations. Despite the cost of living, most expat residents can easily afford these expenses due to the significantly high business profits and salary rates than in other areas of Europe. The cost of living also varies from place to place within Germany. Cities like Berlin and Cologne has a higher cost of living than other parts of the country. However, compared to the other major cities in the world, the German cities have a relatively lower cost of living while having access to similar lifestyle and facilities.
Economy, Business and Career Prospects
Germany has a highly developed social market economy, which is supported by the highly skilled labour force, a large capital stock, high levels of innovation and a low level of corruption. It is the largest national economy in Europe and the fourth-largest economy in the world.
The Business economy of Germany is exceptionally developed and mature, with access to some of the best inventions and resources in the world. The country has a world-class automotive industry, with big names like Mercedes, Volkswagen and Porsche. Germany is also part of the European single market which represents more than 508 million consumers across the globe.
Apart from its manufacturing and production industries, the service sectors are also very strong in Germany. Around 71% of the total GDP is contributed by the service sectors. With 3.1% (2019) unemployment rate, Germany has one of the best unemployment rates in the world with high labour productivity levels
German Neighborhoods
Living in Germany can be quite different from what you have expected before. The people are law-abiding citizens who take their rules quite seriously. For instance, there is a popular German winter rule that states that all residents are required to remove any ice and snow from their properties unless their property has a caretaker. And further, any injuries caused as a result of neglecting this duty will be considered as your legal liability!
Most house owners do not allow their tenants to make extra copies of their rental houses without permission. And if you lose your keys, you will be asked to replace all the locks in the house.
The people are generally private about their lives and don’t pry into others lives unnecessarily. They also tend to keep your personal and professional lives separate. So, worry not if your people who associate with your business stay away from all gestures and invites for building a friendship outside work.
Guidelines to navigate the cities
There are many ways for you to reach out to like-minded people and even foreign residents like yourself in the city while living in Germany. There are Expat Info Desks available, where you get the basic information for all necessary steps you need to take to settle into your life in Germany. These also include places to shop, socialize and even details about schools where you can enrol your children.
In a nutshell, living in Germany is quite easy if you follow the guidelines provided by the cities and their people. Connect with us to learn more about moving to and living under the Entrepreneurial Residency Program.
