Which country offers the most savings for German expats?

Portugal currently leads — roughly 17% lower cost of living than Germany, with a healthcare proxy of 88/100.

Do German citizens need a visa?

Most destinations on this list offer a digital nomad, retirement, or long-stay visa accessible to German passport holders. Confirm specifics before relocating.

Will I still owe tax in Germany?

Tax residency rules in Germany typically depend on physical presence and ties — consult a cross-border adviser before relocating.

Best Countries for German Expats (2026)

Germans enjoy EU free-movement plus excellent purchasing power abroad — Spain, Portugal, and Thailand are perennial favourites.

Updated March 2026

Key takeaway

Portugal ranks #1 for German expats — about 17% cheaper than Germany on cost of living and 14% cheaper on rent.

Score blends cost arbitrage, a healthcare proxy (88/100), safety (90/100), visa access, and English fluency.

Top 10 by lifestyle-adjusted score

Higher = better cost arbitrage and lifestyle fit for German expats.

Portugal

61.8

Malaysia

60.5

Estonia

59.1

United Arab Emirates

58.9

Malta

57.6

Cyprus

57.3

Spain

56.7

Iceland

56.5

Canada

56.2

Thailand

55.3

#	Country	Score	CoL vs Germany	Rent vs Germany	HC	Safety
1	PortugalVisa	61.8	−17%	−14%	88	90	vs Germany →
2	MalaysiaVisa	60.5	−42%	−62%	78	74	vs Germany →
3	EstoniaVisa	59.1	−19%	−36%	78	84	vs Germany →
4	United Arab EmiratesVisa	58.9	−6%	+73%	82	88	vs Germany →
5	MaltaVisa	57.6	−1%	−5%	82	84	vs Germany →
6	CyprusVisa	57.3	−7%	−23%	78	82	vs Germany →
7	SpainVisa	56.7	−14%	−18%	92	80	vs Germany →
8	IcelandVisa	56.5	+32%	+55%	88	96	vs Germany →
9	CanadaVisa	56.2	+9%	+41%	84	80	vs Germany →
10	ThailandVisa	55.3	−41%	−58%	76	70	vs Germany →
11	HungaryVisa	55.0	−36%	−51%	72	78	vs Germany →
12	CroatiaVisa	54.3	−22%	−47%	74	82	vs Germany →
13	JapanVisa	54.2	−9%	−16%	92	95	vs Germany →
14	GreeceVisa	54.1	−19%	−53%	78	78	vs Germany →
15	South KoreaVisa	54.1	+8%	−16%	90	84	vs Germany →
16	LatviaVisa	53.5	−26%	−51%	70	78	vs Germany →
17	RomaniaVisa	53.1	−40%	−58%	66	70	vs Germany →
18	Slovenia	51.9	−18%	−36%	80	88	vs Germany →
19	IndonesiaVisa	51.5	−47%	−69%	58	64	vs Germany →
20	South AfricaVisa	51.1	−40%	−56%	62	36	vs Germany →
21	Qatar	50.9	−1%	+73%	84	90	vs Germany →
22	Netherlands	50.8	+7%	+50%	90	88	vs Germany →
23	Sweden	50.4	+3%	−11%	88	84	vs Germany →
24	ItalyVisa	50.3	−12%	−29%	86	74	vs Germany →
25	Finland	50.2	+8%	−5%	86	90	vs Germany →

What we measured

Cost arbitrage — how much cheaper rent and overall cost of living are vs Germany.
Healthcare proxy (0–100) — blended outcome data, infrastructure, and resident satisfaction.
Safety proxy (0–100) — petty + violent crime + perceived nighttime safety.
Visa access — whether the destination offers a digital-nomad or long-stay visa accessible to German citizens.
English fluency — day-to-day usability for new arrivals before learning the local language.

Top 10 by lifestyle-adjusted score

What we measured

Other origins