Top 10 German Cities

August 1st, 2024
*Updated February 13th, 2025
Top 10 German Cities Expats Pros and Cons
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Kevin Kocher

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Here below are the Top 10 cities in Germany, ranked by population.

If you are looking to move to one of the larger cities, as a lot of expats do, then you should consider these Pros and Cons.

  1. Berlin

Pros

  • Buzzing culture and diversity
  • Relatively more job openings for foreigners
  • Hardly any problems speaking English in daily encounters
  • International city, some consider it the heart of Europe

Cons

  • Living costs are high compared to most other German cities & increasing
  • High competition for English-speaking roles as this is where most English speakers look first
  • Dirtier compared to other large cities in Germany
  • Some areas like Neukölln are very densely populated

2. Hamburg

Pros

  • One of Europe’s most active harbors, with a mix of modern and classic sections (Different styles of neighborhoods)
  • Plenty of job opportunities – the highest increase in the last year in Germany
  • Waterways all over, and excellent public transport
  • Close to the ocean, beaches, & islands in North Germany 

Cons

  • Weather most of the year is dark and rainy
  • Population is considered reserved and not as outgoing 
  • Less English speaking jobs

3. Munich (München)

Pros

  • High quality of life
  • Very safe
  • Beautiful parks and outdoor mountainous activities
  • Many multinational companies
  • Easier train connections to central Europe & more countries

Cons

  • Most expensive city in Germany (Check the cost of living blog post)
  • Conservative culture may not appeal to everyone
  • Dialect can be harder to understand depending on how you learned German before

4. Cologne (Köln)

Pros

  • Friendly locals and many festivals
  • Rich history and traditional architecture
  • Media and business hub

Cons

  • Not as many international corporations
  • High demand for housing
  • Traffic is relatively bad

5. Frankfurt

Pros

  • International atmosphere and air transport hub
  • High salaries and plenty of job opportunities in finance
  • Growing cultural scene

Cons

  • High cost of living, particularly rent
  • Not as much diversity in neighborhood types compared to the above cities
  • If you are looking for old world Europe, this isn’t the place. Frankfurt is defined by skyscrapers and is quite modern.

6. Stuttgart

Pros

  • Strong job market, especially in auto and engineering
  • Plenty of green spaces and high standard of living

Cons

  • Very high housing costs, and high cost of living in general
  • Less diverse compared to other larger cities
  • Harder to find expat social events

7. Düsseldorf

Pros

  • Known for fashion and arts scene
  • International and diverse community with great international food options
  • Large asian & specifically Japanese community
  • Easy driving connections to neighboring western EU countries like Netherlands, Belgium or Luxembourg

Cons

  • Higher cost of living relatively
  • Not as much “hustle and bustle” like Frankfurt or Berlin if you’re looking for that 

8. Dortmund

Pros

  • Affordable living with a strong football culture
  • Friendly and welcoming locals

Cons

  • Quieter nightlife compared to larger cities
  • Industrial past is still visible in some areas

9. Essen

Pros

  • Rich in history and affordable living
  • Strong cultural and arts scene

Cons

  • Limited job opportunities
  • Public transportation can be less efficient
  • Not as international

10. Leipzig

Pros

  • Budget-friendly with a growing art scene
  • Growing startup culture
  • Close to Berlin

Cons

  • Infrastructure needs improvement
  • Less cosmopolitan than larger cities

Hope you found this useful and learned something new!