Aachen is the best city for expats to live and work in Germany
General conclusions: most expats are attracted to Germany, the USA, Switzerland, the UK and the United Arab Emirates. As Deutsche Welle notes, three out of ten expats live and work in these countries.
The top spot went to Taiwan. This debutant of 2016 firmly holds its leading position. In second place in the 2019 ranking is Vietnam. Third place went to Portugal. Interestingly, more than half of expats plan to stay in this country forever.
Germany, despite being on the list of countries with the largest number of expats, ranks 33rd in the current ranking. At the bottom of the ranking is Russia (56th place), alongside Greece and South Korea.
Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City – these Asian cities received the highest ratings from expats. The best German city for living and working is Aachen (11th place in the overall ranking). It managed to outpace other cities thanks to its financial index: expats here have high salaries and relatively low living costs. However, in terms of hospitality culture, Aachen is not yet a leader.
More well-known German cities – Düsseldorf (31st place), Hamburg (42nd), Frankfurt (49th), Munich (51st) – received lower ratings from expats. In Munich, as in other cities on the list, the work of highly qualified specialists is well paid, but they also have to pay for a high quality of life. For example, Munich is one of the cities with the most expensive rental housing.
Interestingly, at the bottom of the city ranking are such megacities as Rome (81st place), Milan (80th), Paris (78th), San Francisco (77th), Los Angeles (76th), New York (74th). Among Russian cities, Moscow received the highest rating (54th place).
InterNations analysts compile the ranking based on key indicators: quality of life, ease of settling in, work, family life, and financial situation.
As experts at the company note, Germany continues to be a top destination for foreign professionals. It received an "excellent" rating for its economy and labor protection. "Excellent career opportunities," "optimal working week length," "good conditions for families," expats share their impressions.
The main barrier for foreigners working in Germany remains the language. Without knowledge of German, foreign specialists find it difficult.