Health Insurance How the German system works, what it costs, and how to choose between public and private.
Our recommendation
Save up to €435/month on health insurance
For employees earning over €84,150 a year from 2027 (€77,400 in 2026; the 2027 figure still needs Bundesrat approval, expected in November 2026). Self-employed, freelancers and civil servants can switch at any income.
- Whole-market comparison, in English
- Independent consultants, not one insurer
- Free, no-commitment consultation
- Honest advice on when not to switch
Moving to Germany
All moving to germany guidesThe first 90 days decide how smooth your German life gets. Follow the moving-to-Germany checklist, book your Anmeldung early because it unlocks everything else, and learn how to win an apartment in a market where landlords choose tenants, not the other way around.
Every step of your relocation in order, visa, flights, Anmeldung, bank account, health insurance.
The Bürgeramt appointment that unlocks everything else, how to book it, what to bring, what to do if there are no slots.
Where to search, how to win a viewing, and what a German rental contract actually says.
Health Insurance
All health insurance guidesHealth insurance is mandatory in Germany from day one, and the public-vs-private decision is the most expensive one most expats get wrong. Start with how the German system works, check whether you qualify for private insurance, and see what it actually costs before you sign anything.
Who qualifies, what it really costs, and when private beats public.
How statutory insurance works, what it covers, and how contributions are calculated.
How the German system works, what it costs, and how to choose between public and private.
Money & Taxes
All money & taxes guidesGerman finances run on three rails: a local bank account, your Schufa score, and the Finanzamt. Open a free German account before your first paycheck, get your Schufa report before apartment hunting, and file a tax return. The average refund is about €1,100.
Work & Business
All work & business guidesWhether you're employed or going independent, Germany rewards preparation. Learn how to find a job as an English speaker, what it takes to start a business or freelance, and where to find English-speaking tax advisors and lawyers when the paperwork gets serious.
Job boards that work, Blue Card rules, and how to apply the German way.
Freelance vs Gewerbe vs GmbH, registration, taxes, and insurance obligations.
Benchmarks by industry and city, gross-to-net examples, and the planned €84,150 threshold for 2027.
Everyday Life
All everyday life guidesPast the paperwork, Germany starts to feel like home, if you know the local rules. Learn how cycling works here (registration, insurance, and the fines), and what it takes to buy and register a car without losing a Saturday at the Zulassungsstelle.
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How we stay independent
Living in Germany is reader-supported. To keep every guide free, we may earn a commission when you take out a policy through a partner we recommend, at no extra cost to you. Our first commitment is to readers: recommendations are based on the whole market, and we tell you honestly when the public system, or staying put, is the better call. Written by Marco Maurelli and fact-checked with a licensed German insurance broker.