When foreign nationals dream of moving to Germany to start a new life, they often envision it as an exciting adventure, filled with vibrant social life and cozy apartments. However, the two largest cities in Germany received low ratings in a recently compiled ranking, particularly concerning making friends, dealing with bureaucracy, settling in, and finding housing.
In the "2023 Expat City Ranking" by InterNations, based on a survey of over 12,000 people living abroad, Berlin and Hamburg are named the two worst cities for expatriates.
Worst cities in Germany for expatriates
The top three cities in the ranking for the best cities for expatriates to live in were Malaga, Alicante, and Valencia in Spain.
Hamburg, ranking 46th out of 49 according to InterNations, is a city where foreign citizens are "most dissatisfied with their social life." Meanwhile, Berlin is a city where expats face a "rough start," securing the 45th position.
So why did these cities perform so poorly?
Hamburg
This Hanseatic city is known for its lively nightlife and as the place where the Beatles honed their skills before becoming global pop stars. Today, it is also an economic hub with numerous elite bars, world-class restaurants, and luxurious hotels.
According to the InterNations survey, foreigners in this city feel the second-highest level of unhappiness, just after Vancouver.
Despite the city's cultural and pub scene, 41 % of expats are dissatisfied with their social life, compared to the global average of 25 %.
Additionally, 35 % of InterNations survey respondents lack a support network, and just over 60 % find it challenging to make local friends. As a result, Hamburg ranks 46th in the ease of settling in.
Hamburg is also not the best place for expats to start working, ranking 47th in the Expat Essentials index.
The city is notorious for the difficulty in finding affordable housing. The cost of living in Hamburg is among the highest and fastest-growing in Germany.
"Despite being in the top ten for ease of finding housing (46th place) and navigating without local language knowledge (40th place), Germany ranks second to last (after Berlin) for the ease of making cashless payments (48th place), and 61% of respondents find it challenging to deal with local bureaucracy (compared to 38% worldwide)," reports InterNations.
The cold and rainy weather in Hamburg also does not leave expats indifferent. Access to medical services is also reported as challenging, affecting the overall quality of life in the city.
Despite these challenges, foreigners are more satisfied with their jobs. Hamburg is fourth in job security, with 67 % of respondents impressed by the local job market. However, in overall job satisfaction, Hamburg is in the bottom of the list, ranking 25th out of 49 in the Work Abroad index.
Berlin
Berlin, with a population of about 3.5 million people, attracts people from all over the world. Whether they want to have fun in nightclubs like Berghain, visit museums, delve into history, or relax in one of the numerous parks, Berlin has a unique appeal.
However, according to the InterNations ranking, the German capital is also the worst city in the world for expatriates to start working. Berlin also took the last place in the "Digital Life" ranking overall and in the availability of high-speed internet in homes.
For those accustomed to the city, it is not surprising that 43 % of expatriates struggle with cash payments, more than five times the global average (8 %).
In recent years, the housing crisis in the capital has worsened as demand rises and supply remains low. Seventy-eight percent of InterNations survey respondents state that expats find it challenging to find accommodation, compared to 31% globally.
Given Berlin's reputation, it is also one of the most challenging places for expats in terms of expanding their social life, ranking second in the "Ease of Settling In" index, only surpassed by Vienna.
Berlin's characteristic aloofness is evident: residents are considered the second-least friendly globally.
"Perhaps this is why 39% of expats do not feel at home in Berlin, almost twice the global average (20%)," notes InterNations. "And 57% cannot make friends among the local population."
Despite this, there must be something positive about Berlin—why else do people keep moving there?
According to the survey, in the "Work Abroad" category, Berlin ranks 24th. Expatriates highly appreciate the local job market, with 83% recognizing its stability.
Although Berlin received an average score for overall quality of life (24th place), it achieved some high results in this area.
Foreign residents highly rate the availability of eco-friendly goods and services, such as renewable energy sources and environmentally friendly food products, as well as the famous culture and nightlife (4th place).
Moreover, 90 % of Berlin residents enjoy its cultural life, and 85 % highly appreciate the urban environment.
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Despite determining Hamburg and Berlin as the worst cities for expatriates due to challenges in social life, making friends, and dealing with bureaucracy, InterNations highlights Hamburg's impressive job security with 67% of respondents impressed by the local job market, albeit ranking low in overall job satisfaction. Berlin, with its unique appeal and vibrant cultural scene, also receives recognition for its stable job market, with 83% recognizing its reliability.
