Living in Germany

7 myths about life in Germany

Germany is a popular destination for many people who want to live, work or study in Europe. But what is life in Germany really like? In this article, we will explore 7 facts about living in Germany to see what is reality and what is a myth. Read this article to find out the truth about life in Germany and decide if it's the right place for you!

Our company, Nexus-Europe GmbH, assists foreigners with starting and developing their own business in Germany and moving to Germany through business.

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Truths and myths about life in Germany

Let's see what Germany is really like.

1. Let's start with the most popular statement. Living in Germany means being a part of one of the biggest and strongest economies in the world, with a low unemployment rate and a high living standard. Germany indeed has one of the strongest economies in the world. During the lockdown, the government allocated billions of euro to support small businesses and save jobs. To help companies and people impacted by the increasing energy prices, Germany has allocated more than 260 billion euros. However the German economy is also affected by inflation. According to the official figures, the inflation rate in Germany was 7.9% in 2022 and in realty the cost of certain important groups of products, such as some foods, increased on average by 20%. But what country isn't affected by inflation right now?

2. Living in Germany means getting around easily and conveniently. Yes, you can use trains, buses and trams to go anywhere in the country or even to other countries. The transportation is clean and cheap. During the energy crisis, the government introduced the 29-euro-ticket. And currently there are various passes. However you can hardly call the German transport punctual. Long distance trains often have delays. Occasional transport strikes can also affect your life in Germany and should be taken into account.

3. Living in Germanymeans benefitting from the country's achievements in innovation and technology. For sure Germany is strong in such directions as engineering, automotive and renewable energy. On the other hand, Germany is significantly behind other countries in terms of digitalization, even compared to a number of not so advanced countries. For example, you might find yourself with no mobile data in the middle of the city or not be able to pay with a credit card in some shops. And notifications from authorities will still be delivered by regular mail. Such things may come as unpleasant surprises of life in Germany to those who aren't used to it.

4. Living in Germany means enjoying a good social security system that gives benefits for unemployment, retirement, disability and family support. It also has a good health care system that pays for most medical costs and offers good services. However there are some disadvantages of public health insurance, such as long waiting times (up to 6 months!) to get a doctor's appointment, for example. Also, the benefits mentioned earlier mean that “average” taxes in Germany are the highest among the advanced EU countries. You can find more articles about life in Germany on our website. We also have articles on the topics of business in Germany and immigration to Germany, don't forget to check them out as well.

5. Life in Germany means having high living standards. It's true that Germany offers good salaries and plenty of benefits with relatively cheap food and accommodation costs. However over the last view years finding affordable housing in big cities is a very hard and time-consuming task, which has made living in Germany as a foreigner more complicated.

6. Living in Germany means having a good balance between work and life. Indeed you can enjoy plenty of vacation days, a variety holidays and Germans always rest at the weekend. But you should be ready that it might be quite challenging to find, for example, an electrician or a plumber. Sometimes you'll need to wait for months for their availability. Appointments with good specialists may be booked out for several months in advance as well. And even supermarkets and pharmacies are closed on Sundays and public holidays. That is a part of life in Germany that shocks many foreigners.

7. Living in Germany as a foreigner means feeling comfortable in a multicultural and tolerant society.That is actually true. Germans are very friendly towards foreigners who are ready to get integrated into life and work in Germany. This is especially clear to see in the multinational and open Berlin. And if you want to open a business in Germany and get a residence permit through business, please contact our company, Nexus-Europe GmbH.