Which country offers the most savings for German expats?

Malaysia currently leads — roughly 58% lower cost of living than Germany, with a healthcare proxy of 78/100.

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

Malaysia ranks #1 for German expats — about 58% cheaper than Germany on cost of living and 62% cheaper on rent.

Score blends cost arbitrage, a healthcare proxy (78/100), safety (74/100), visa access, and English fluency.

City-level costs inside Malaysia vary a lot. Compare cities with Pro →

Top 10 by lifestyle-adjusted score

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

Malaysia

62.4

Portugal

62.2

Malta

59.6

United Arab Emirates

59.1

Cyprus

58.4

Estonia

57.7

Thailand

57.3

South Korea

57.1

Spain

56.9

Croatia

55.4

#	Country	Score	CoL vs Germany	Rent vs Germany	HC	Safety
1	MalaysiaVisa	62.4	−58%	−62%	78	74	vs Germany →
2	PortugalVisa	62.2	−21%	−14%	88	90	vs Germany →
3	MaltaVisa	59.6	−17%	−5%	82	84	vs Germany →
4	United Arab EmiratesVisa	59.1	−8%	+73%	82	88	vs Germany →
5	CyprusVisa	58.4	−16%	−23%	78	82	vs Germany →
6	EstoniaVisa	57.7	−8%	−36%	78	84	vs Germany →
7	ThailandVisa	57.3	−57%	−58%	76	70	vs Germany →
8	South KoreaVisa	57.1	−16%	−16%	90	84	vs Germany →
9	SpainVisa	56.9	−16%	−18%	92	80	vs Germany →
10	CroatiaVisa	55.4	−30%	−47%	74	82	vs Germany →
11	CanadaVisa	54.8	+20%	+41%	84	80	vs Germany →
12	JapanVisa	54.8	−13%	−16%	92	95	vs Germany →
13	HungaryVisa	54.5	−32%	−51%	72	78	vs Germany →
14	GreeceVisa	54.4	−21%	−53%	78	78	vs Germany →
15	IcelandVisa	54.4	+49%	+55%	88	96	vs Germany →
16	Singapore	53.4	+3%	+164%	95	95	vs Germany →
17	LatviaVisa	53.2	−24%	−51%	70	78	vs Germany →
18	RomaniaVisa	53.2	−41%	−58%	66	70	vs Germany →
19	IndonesiaVisa	52.9	−58%	−69%	58	64	vs Germany →
20	Slovenia	52.0	−18%	−36%	80	88	vs Germany →
21	South AfricaVisa	51.8	−45%	−56%	62	36	vs Germany →
22	Bahrain	51.6	−34%	−27%	74	80	vs Germany →
23	GeorgiaVisa	51.4	−47%	−56%	60	60	vs Germany →
24	Netherlands	51.0	+5%	+50%	90	88	vs Germany →
25	Qatar	50.8	+0%	+73%	84	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