Working and Living in Germany in 2025/26 – An Expat’s First-Hand Experience

Part 1 – Arrival and First Experiences

Preparing

After establishing permanent residency in the UK and later in Paraguay, we are now attempting to stay in Germany. I previously worked in Germany as a digital nomad, but this time we relocated as expats. As always, I document each step of this process and share our first-hand experiences.

In the last week of 2024, I came across a job advertisement in Germany that immediately caught my attention. It was for a company I had worked with before as an external consultant — the place where my nomad lifestyle originally began. The position was slightly different but within the same team, and it required full-time employment and relocation to Germany.

After careful consideration, I decided to apply. Location independence had always been my top priority. However, after six months without income, I had to make a difficult choice: preserve country independence, or risk never returning to the profession I have worked in for 16 years. The latter ultimately prevailed.

Before you ask — no, I do not speak fluent German. My level is around A1. Most jobs in Germany, including this one, require B1–B2 proficiency. I was hired because of my previous experience with the company and because I committed to learning German seriously. Despite having worked there before, I still had to complete three interview rounds. The entire hiring process took four months, and I finally started in May.

In advance, I researched the requirements for renting an apartment and learned about the obligation to register an address within 10 days of arrival. It remains unclear whether this rule applies only to new arrivals or also to residents changing addresses within Germany. What became clear, however, was that without a German landlord reference, local credit history, or several months of payslips, our rental options were extremely limited. Platforms such as ImmoScout24 were simply not accessible to us.

There are specific websites aimed at expats coming to Germany for work or study. These platforms offer short-term rentals and allow address registration from day one. Two of the most commonly used are Wunderflats and HousingAnywhere. HousingAnywhere works more like Airbnb and provides limited protection during the first 48 hours after move-in. Both platforms charge an agency fee. A detailed comparison and further information can be found here. I also highly recommend the YouTube channel SimpleGermany, which answers most expat-related questions in depth.

Because apartment viewings are rarely available on Wunderflats and we were short on time, we chose the more expensive option and booked through HousingAnywhere. Booking from abroad felt safer. We wanted peace of mind in case the apartment did not match the description or turned out to be a scam. The booking process itself went smoothly. We paid the first month’s rent and the deposit through the platform. Although the deposit could have been paid directly to the landlord, we requested a payment request via HousingAnywhere for additional security. This resulted in an extra €44 transaction fee.

Booking a long-term apartment without seeing it in person was stressful. We had only photos and descriptions to rely on. The landlord did not allow a viewing prior to move-in, citing HousingAnywhere rules. Later, we understood why. The terms and conditions include small-print clauses stating that noise and neighborhood disturbances are not valid reasons for cancellation or refund.

The initial contract was for three months, but because we have a dog, the landlord agreed only to a six-month stay (you will understand later, why). This condition felt strange. If a dog is not acceptable for three months, why allow it for six? Despite this and our uneasy gut feeling, our limited options pushed us to proceed. We convinced ourselves that at least we could settle in Germany and organize everything else. In hindsight, this decision became our biggest regret.

Arrival

The moment we arrived at the building, something felt wrong. It was immediately clear that the situation was worse than we had imagined. As soon as we entered the apartment, we heard shouting, screaming, and children running above us. It was a Saturday evening — not a good sign. My wife experienced a shock and she needed to go outside to catch breath.

All we wanted was a quiet place to live. Instead, we found ourselves in a nightmare scenario. The payment had already been made, and the contract was signed. At that point, we could not claim that the apartment did not match the listing. We were in shock for hours. Unfortunately, the family above us happened to be at their loudest, and this behavior continued in the days that followed. We spent days thinking about how we could escape the situation sooner.

The landlord initially promised that we could leave after three months instead of six. Shortly afterward, she changed her mind saying, she would lose money on this. From that moment on, we started counting down the days until the end of the six-month contract. At the time of writing this post, one month has already passed.

As if the noisy neighbors were not enough, the landlord also “forgot” to mention that a full roof refurbishment would take place during our stay. At the same time, the neighbors upstairs started renovating their apartment. The noise became constant and concentrated. This situation has been mentally and emotionally exhausting. Ultimately, we can only blame ourselves for ignoring our instincts and rushing the decision.

I initially commuted to the office three to four days a week. Nowadays, it is usually two days. The U-Bahn is nearby, and the commute takes around 30 minutes. The office itself is modern and calm, and I enjoy working there. Working from home has been a mixed experience. When it is quiet, it works well. When it is not, it is extremely challenging. My wife came to the conclusion, she will travel time to time back to our home, to have some quiet time and recharge.

Saturdays are dedicated to sightseeing and weekly shopping. This is also the only day we dare to use the car, as parking is a constant struggle. We visited the Xanten Archaeological Park, Schloss Drachenburg, and spent a pleasant day in Wuppertal. We try to make it a habit to spend at least one day a week away from our immediate living environment. Sundays are usually calmer, when possible, and we spend time walking in the nearby forest.

One positive experience was that having an address from day one allowed us to complete most administrative tasks quickly. Many formalities went more smoothly than expected, which helped us settle despite the difficult living situation.

The Timeline

15 March: Started browsing apartments on Wunderflats and HousingAnywhere.

18 April: Booked the apartment on HousingAnywhere and paid the first month’s rent plus agency fee (€480).

25 April: Paid the apartment deposit (one month’s rent).

3 May: Arrived in Germany and checked into the apartment.

5 May: Registered online for the Anmeldung appointment.

7 May: Attended the Anmeldung appointment.

11 May: Opened a German bank account with N26 (fully online).

17 May: Received our tax IDs by post.

20 May: Signed up online for legal insurance.

23 May: Signed a Telekom mobile contract in Düsseldorf. €70 per month for two lines with unlimited data across Europe, including the UK. One-month notice period. Telekom was chosen for network reliability.

26 May: Received legal insurance documents by post.

28 May: Received the TV license registration form.

What we would do differently: We would arrive first for one to two weeks in an Airbnb, arrange viewings through Wunderflats, and insist on seeing apartments in person. Our fear of missing the 10-day Anmeldung deadline outweighed the risk of signing a contract that made us unhappy.

Comparing Living in Germany to Hungary and the UK

First impressions after one month of living continuously in Germany:

• The UK feels significantly more advanced in online systems, websites, and mobile applications. German platforms often feel complicated and outdated. Many processes start online but continue by post. Anmeldung can be completed online only with an EU ID card, not with a passport.
• In the UK, Know Your Customer verification usually requires only a passport scan or NFC verification. In Germany, many providers require live video verification with agents. These calls are often strict and inconsistent, and even prepaid SIM cards require identity verification.
• Germany requires extensive financial transparency. Shortly after arrival, I was required by a crypto exchange to verify my German address, tax ID, and source of funds, followed by multiple live verification attempts. After several failed calls, only a mobile-based verification app solved the issue.
• Parcel lockers are common in Hungary and easy to use. In Germany, DHL and Amazon lockers exist, but DHL requires full registration and identity verification — even for low-value deliveries.
• Drugstores such as DM and Rossmann offer a wider and more natural product selection in Hungary. Boots in the UK offers a far broader brand range.
• Urban cleanliness is an issue. Cigarette butts and discarded bottles are common.
• Kiosks and Trinkhallen are everywhere, often with people drinking alcohol at all hours.
• Smoking is widespread and poorly restricted. It is difficult to avoid second-hand smoke in public spaces.
• Dogs and their owners often appear unfriendly.
• Fresh produce quality is high. Vegan and vegetarian options are widely available. Groceries are cheaper than in Hungary.
• Clothing, perfumes, books, and accessories are more expensive than in the UK. Sales are rare.
• Services are expensive. Haircuts, tailoring, dry cleaning, and public transport costs are high.
• Bakery products are excellent. Pretzels are a standout favorite.
• Sundays are quiet. Most shops and attractions are closed. Nature is the primary option.
• General unfriendliness is noticeable and comparable to Hungary. British friendliness is missed.
• Parking is a major issue in cities. Weekend use is often the only viable option.
• Bookshops offer beautiful editions, though prices are higher than in the UK.

This list is not yet complete. While much of this post may sound negative, the UK set a very high benchmark, making comparisons difficult.

Part 2 covers more hands-on experiences in Germany, like optimising taxes, driving license exchange and finding a new home.

Thank you for reading. If you live in Germany as an expat, I would be very interested in hearing about your experience.

👉 Read Part 2 here →

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