Temporary Residency in Germany

I don't know why it would be Köln and south of there. I would say Bavaria.

After WWII, Köln was in the south of the British zone, most of the county south of there was the French zone. The American zone was primarily Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. I used to belong to a German club (a TÜV) in Denver. A lot of our members were former GIs who were stationed in Bavaria after the war and married Bavarian women.

Kaiserslautern is a big US airbase and it's now in what was the French zone. (Don't know why).

Maybe a lot of Americans served in Kaiserslautern and Ramstein and want to go back to where they served. I think there is a big US Army base near Ansbach (Bavaria).

I have traveled several times to Germany (even more to Switzerland), that's why I favor Bavaria more for a home base.
Just doing preliminary legwork, in case I move for a couple years to Germany. *yes, I have investigated Temporary Residency requirements in depth.

In Bonn you will find some Americans working for UN and for large corporations such as Deutsche Telekom or Deutsche Post.

You will find a lot of expats working in Frankfurt or in Berlin. The American consulate in Frankfurt plus all the international schools (11 I think) banking, and businesses. In Berlin, the Embassy and lots of tourism. Wiesbaden has a base as does Kaiserslautern.

Still not sure why you want to be south of Köln, but any big city will do. That said, there are probably proportionally more expats in Frankfurt (I don't know about Americans per se) than anywhere--but I don't have hard numbers or anything.

Here is a map how many US-Americans live in which county of North Rhine-Westphalia. Cologne's German name is Köln, find it in the lower left map area.

And one article in German language why so many US Americans decided to move to Berlin.

Use DeepL for best translation from / to German - a Cologne startup btw.

Just cuirious, why do you want to go to Germany to be around Americans?

I had a temporary assignment in the Netherlands many years ago. All the full-time American expats on the project lived near one another, shopped in stores that provided US products and socialized only with fellow expat workers. All that I asked stated they didn't care about living there, they only wanted the cost of living and salary benefits proivided by the company.

If you want to be around lots of Americans, move to a town adjcent to the Ramstein Air Force base. It is, I belive, the largest concentration of US militiary and civilian contractor personnel in Europe.

Good question, jkh.

Your profile indicates you have solid command of German. It does seem that being with other Americans might just exacerbate your discomfort with "impending political chaos" you are seeking to escape, wynoka.

I would also just mention that Germans themselves tend to be very concerned about and involved with US politics. Maybe escaping to a more "remote" country might suit you.

I'd say Bavaria and near Stuttgart and Dusseldorf are very Americanized.

That said, Germany is going through its own election and the likely new chancellor is very right wing(voted against marital rape laws), abortion and is anti-foreigner. Not to get political, but I doubt you will be able to escape political chaos nowadays anywhere.

That said, any big city in Germany will have it's share of American expats.

Here is a map how many US-Americans live in which county of North Rhine-Westphalia. Cologne's German name is Köln, find it in the lower left map area.

MarkK, thanks for the link. That's very interesting. I think if I were ever to move to Germany, I would choose the North-Rhine/Westphalia area, but mostly because my ancestors came from there. Well, one side came from Ostbevern. The other side came from Hanover, but still in the general area.

I spent Christmas in Landsthul, near Ramstein Air Base. Might as well have been in the US. So if that's what you want ...

Personally I prefer my current home where I live among others than Americans and in the local economy.

Thanks for the answers
.
It's not at all that I "want to be around other Americans," rather, if questions about settling in would arise, others that have moved to Germany might be able to share connections and tips.

I love Staufen and Freiburg, the Rheingebiet and Nordrhein-Westphalia.
I am retired, will not be working, using public transit to go hiking and visiting other towns as finances permit. A town with a train station is best!

Germany has changed a lot in the past 40 years. in the 1980's there were over 500,000 US citizens working for the military in Germany. Most of those are long gone. There are still some bases left, but nowhere near what were manned back then. And there are a number of expats who are also exmilitary, and they often live near where they worked; often because they married into a local family, bought a house, and stayed. I know many of these.

Know this, when looking to move to any country in the EU, there's a local price for lodging, and an American price. And if you move near other Americans you're going to pay more to do so. And if you don't speak the language, you definitely will do so.

By and large Bavaria is the most expensive State (lande). What used to be East Germany (excluding Berlin) is the cheapest. Expect to rent, most Germans do.

Know this, when looking to move to any country in the EU, there's a
local price for lodging, and an American price.

No reason to doubt you that this is true in Germany. Actally my son ran into this but its got a lot to do with the locals knowing the housing allowance. But it isnt a true statement here, and I would suspect its not a true statement in most of the EU. If I were looking for a cost effective retirment location with a welcoming environment, dont think Germany would be my first choice.

Germany as market has to be seen more differentiated. Example rents:
https://zdfheute-stories-scroll.zdf.de/hohe_mieten_in_deutschen_staedten/

Also Bavaria shows huge regional differences: "the regional differences in the cost of living are greater in Bavaria than in any other federal state. While Munich is by far the most expensive region in Germany, Wunsiedel ranks sixth among the cheapest German districts and counties" (source).

Even in every city and community you will find districts with very high and comparable low rents. Reason: German states, ities and communities practice social housing This means that poorer families and people get permission from authorities to rent a housing for very low costs which was built and is often owned by companies belonging to states, ities and communities. Currently social housing capacities are too often blocked, one reason is the currently vers high number of refugees, another one is that the number of available social housing are shrinking dramatically (number of new built ones is much lower than number of units falling out of binding period).

Sorry MarkK, but did that support the notion that Americans are required to pay more for housing than Chinese, Syrians, Romanians, etc?

Sounds like housing is very socialized in Germany. What percentage of the housing is government owned vs private? Do they impose rent retrictions on private rentals? Just curious.

Not to say one or the other is better, more to illustrate how different different parts of Europe are, the home ownership rate in Germany is less than 50% while in most of Eastern Europe its over 90%. This sort of reality impacts all sorts of discussions, short term rental impact for instance. https://www.statista.com/statistics/246355/home-ownership-rate-in-europe/ I found some other sources for this is the past and the numbers were essentially the same they did a better job of defining the statistic, and that was "What percentage of people live in a home owned by one of the members of the household" and I believe that is the basis for these numbers as well. I also remember finding that in Germany the ownership rate in the major cities was under 20%. Again a significat factor if one wants to argue any housing issue.

If you are interested you can find tons of data about buildings and households on this website about the German census 2022.

Americans do not have to pay higher rent than other nationalities in Germany. Do not confuse the rental market in locations near military bases with the rental market in most towns and cities. Around military bases, rents can be ridiculous, but there are so many Americans that want 4-5 bedrooms and 2-3 baths, yards, space for 3 dogs, and those are just not typical rentals in Germany.

In many cities, people prefer to rent and live near the city center, where there are lots of activities / shopping and they don't need a car. Plus, they feel like they don't need to worry about the roof or plumbing, etc.

Mr. E, please stop comparing Germany to where you live, especially since you have not ever lived here.

Ms Jo, I didnt do any comparisons. I just asked questions.

Sorry, but I love these topics and want to learn. Actually maybe I supported the notion that Germans dont overcharge Americans. That didnt seem logical, and I doubt its true. But in the process I learned to ask about how much of the housing in Germany is socialzied. Facinating. So dont be defensive.

Germany is beautiful. I spent Christmas in Germany with my son, his wife and children. I try and drop in on them from time to time. Last trip we drive around the country a bit. This time stayed close to their home as it was Christmas. Enjoyed every minute of it. They have been there going on 6 years now so we talked about the trials and tribulations of living in Germany a lot. He is looking into getting Spanish citizenship and moving to Spain in about four years when he leaves Germany. .

There are a number of companies which assist with relocation. I have priced furnished 1 BR apartments through "Housing Anywhere," so far (doable).
I do NOT want to live IN a large city, ( will consider a smaller city), but would need access to bus or trains.
Aware that I will need health insurance (public option is manageable at about 100 €/month.)
I can read and understand most (everyday, but not technical) German.
My tentative plan would be a temporary residency of 1-3 years. Yes, I am aware that I would need to apply, and show ability to care for myself financially also.

I do NOT want to live IN a large city, ( will consider a smaller city)

Bonn (near Cologne)
Neuss (near Düsseldorf)
Mainz, Wiesbaden, Bad Vilbel or Darmstadt (near Frankfurt)
Potsdam or outskirts of Berlin
Lübeck, Stade or Wedel near Hamburg, also outskirts

Berlin and Hamburg are special for your interest: the outskirts were and still are somehow little towns on their own, e. g. Köpenick or Spandau in Berlin. In history they were sub-ordered as districts. See Greater Berlin Act or Greater Hamburg Act.

Near Frankfurt I would look at Bad Homburg, Kronberg, Oberursel, or Königstein. All on train routes into Frankfurt and all charming, historic towns.

If you are on FB, join some of the expat pages. There are number of them and they can be helpful for finding apts, hand workers, meet-ups, etc.

I would look at Bad Homburg, Kronberg, Oberursel, or Königstein

These towns are very expensive for living because the ratio of high income or wealth people is over acerage - not only family Quandt.

My tentative plan would be a temporary residency of 1-3 years. Yes, I
am aware that I would need to apply, and show ability to care for
myself financially also.

Thats great that German residency visas are so easy to get ("show ability to care for myself financially").
That could be a deal changer for a lot of people looking to be resident in Europe as thats among the lowest standards of any country. Well done.

What I'd do is get a map of the railroads, and then look for transit hubs. A lot of those are in smaller cities, like Ansbach vs. Munich.

Or take a look at where the discount airlines fly into if you want to experience more than Germany in your several years in Germany.

• Wizz flies to/from: Berlin Brandenburg, Bremen, Dortmund, Frankfurt Hahn, Friedrichshafen, Hamburg, Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden, Leipzig, Memmingen/Munich West.
• Ryan flies to/from: Berlin Brandenburg, Bremen, Cologne, Dortmund, Dusseldorf Weeze, Frankfurt Hahn, Hamburg, Karlsruhe / Baden-Baden, Leipzig, Lubeck, Memmingen, Münster, Nuremberg, Paderborn.

But check to where as some of these might be seasonally and / or to some obscure "why?" destination.

If you could find a location that was both an air hub and a train hub, then the world is yours.

And I am going to assume that the OP's principal driving force is to a acheive a certain quality of life and not to live cheap. If the OP were to truly live within the local economy, meaning typical median housing, public transportation instead of owning a car, cooking not hitting the restaurants 6 times a week and the use of the public health care system ...... I think the OP will find that life is Germany can sufficiently less expenisive than the US national average to allow for an upgrade over what he could have in the US.

Mr. E,
OTHER residency requirements for Germany include:
- No criminal record
- B level proficiency in the language
- proof of Health Insurance, private or public
- Bank statement to support financial ability to care for self
- Completed housing rental agreement
- valid passport of another nation

I am simply preparing, JIC, I know my options.
Now, to choose a town ( Mainz, Boppard and Bamberg float to the top of my list).

Still among the easiest. Where I live that wouldnt work. Its great.

Berlin has an American ex-pat community to be sure. I've never run into them or see these New Yorkers according to the interesting article above preferring to live in Berlin as opposed to New York. It would be interesting to see where the American hang-outs in Berlin are, above all, as to which district. Maybe I don't go to the right districts.

Every trip includes going back to Berlin, whether I am staying as few as 3 nights on a particular trip or 16 consecutive nights in a Pension or hotels, I don't see Americans in any great numbers, at least not yet, other than those obvious tourists.

Those YouTube videos on Americans having moved to Germany , both single and families, are revealing and have a persistent common thread. They chose to move to Bavaria or Baden-Wüttemberg, most often to smaller towns.

Interesting in terms of assimilation and acculturation to hear what they have experienced as to cultural differences or even "cultural shock." along with pros and cons, etc.

North Germany is not their choice, let alone in eastern Germany.

I do NOT want to live IN a large city, ( will consider a smaller
city), but would need access to bus or trains. Aware that I will need
health insurance (public option is manageable at about 100 €/month.)

It's hard to find a place of any size WITHOUT a train station, and many very small towns have them too. It is not necessary to live in a rail-hub city to have rail access!

Mainz, Boppard and Bamberg float to the top of my list.

These are distinct places for, sure. Mainz, at 220k people, is a big city as I define it... not big like Frankfurt, of course, but a largely modern, always-busy, very liveable, unstuffy place that feels very city-like on the whole. It's one you probably wouldn't have to leave except for leisure travel, but one that is relatively expensive. Boppard, at 16k, is a small town by comparison. Finding your Zuhause there may be iffy, but it might be more reasonable than expected if you do. Boppard offers most of the basics (and it's surrounded by hiking options) but you would likely be dependent on Koblenz for certain needs and entertainment, which is no big deal, as Koblenz is just 15 minutes away by direct train. Charming Bamberg (80k) will have hiking options nearby and many charming places within a tight radius for visiting. You might need to head to Nuremberg for certain needs. Sadly, I haven't spent enough time there to say any more than that as regards life's basics.

I would exclude Boppard because it is a tourist spot and has too less to offer for "normal life".

My uncle lived in Bamberg and liked it. Unfortunately I am not a fan of Franconian kitchen. I found it not easy to deeper connect to the people. Weather in Bamberg can be really cold and unpleasant. A big plus is that Bamberg has an ICE train station.

Mainz is with mentioned number of people a large city (> 100k people) and capital of German state Rhineland-Palatinate. I lived on the other Rhine side in Wiesbaden outside the city center and with direct connection to the neautifil Rheingau. Staying in the outskirts there is an option but be aware that Mainz is approach / start flight path for Frankfurt Airport (noisy). Furthermore I am not a fan of the whole Carnival season which plays a huge role there from Nov to Feb each year.

@Fred: the US communities (not only one) in Berlin are at different places, not district related. Gays are in or around the typical heighborhoods, e. g. Winterfeldtplatz. Other typical places are around the universities, restaurant Benedict (lot of Aussies as well), the America House, the American library (ZLB), Fine Bagels in F-hain, AmericanFood4U and one special lunch place in Mitte from which I forgot the name (founded by a New Yorker).

@ Markk....Thanks for the information on Americans in Berlin. It corresponds to that which my friend in Potsdam has said, ie basically no one single place, she said "verstreut". You're saying likewise. None of the places you list I am familiar with regarding their location, except Amerika-Haus, which I've passed by.

The place listed in Friedrichshain sounds intriguing, never went out to that district, another place to explore.

I agree with MarkK about excluding Boppard. I really like the town and stayed there for 4 days a couple of years ago, but I would not want to live there. It's a very touristed town and during the high (and shoulder) seasons can get crowded. You probably wouldn't get as much interaction with locals (or maybe you don't care about that?).

As Russ said, most small towns in Germany have a train station and you can get around most everyplace. The smallest place I stayed in (Ostbevern in North Rhine/Westphalia) shared a train station with another town, so it was a bit of a headache without a car as it was 2 1/2 miles outside of town. But that was the exception. And you can always rent a car for a few days if needed.

Have you considered the Black Forest? There are some lovely small towns down there (Gengenbach being my favorite) with good train service, and close proximity to smaller cities like Freiburg im Breisgau (a university city) and even Stuttgart. You're also near several borders like France, Switzerland and Luxembourg if that means anything to you. The only disadvantage (depending on your outlook) is that there are not very many Americans there. So if having an expat community nearby means something, you might want to look elsewhere,

I would exclude Boppard because it is a tourist spot and has too less
to offer for "normal life".

I was surprised at this comment as Boppard is to some degree a focal point and gathering place for residents of other local Rhine communities with similar interests. I believe it is much more than just a tourist spot. A few thoughts...

The Hunsrück: Boppard is the largest of the towns in the Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis, whose towns are home to more than 100,000 residents. Boppard is a gateway town into the Hunsrück, a slightly remote and interesting agricultural region where few American tourists or other international tourists have ever set foot. The Hunsrück has its own culture and Dialekt and remains a very "German", very traditional "island from the past" in a country of rapid progress. The Hunsrück Railway begins in Emmelshausen and gets Hunsrück locals out of their villages and into the "big cities" of Boppard and Koblenz. Going in the opposite direction, a lot of GERMAN outdoor enthusiasts make the trek from the larger Rheinland cities into the Hunsrück for hiking and for the Hunsrück bike path or the Schinderhannes bike path. Recently, the Geierlay Bridge has become a known destination for that tiny handful of athletic international tourists who are out for some adventure. Some Germans look down on the Hunsrück as a "backward" kind of place where they would not choose to live, which is understandable. They would feel like outsiders, and you would too, but as a resident of Boppard, you'd be joined by your fellow outdoors-lovers, rubbing elbows with Germans and other Europeans on visits to the area, and you'd be observing a part of GERMANY that few get to see.

Boppard isn't the Hunsrück. But neither is it Rothenburg (where tourism is THE ONLY industry and annual hotel nights are 5 times those of Boppard.) Boppard is in principal a wine town, one which gets visitors, mainly in the warm-weather months, when weekends fill the hotels. It gets overcrowded mostly on Weinfest weekends. However, most tourists here are Germans and other Europeans. I disagree with the idea that you will be starved for contact with locals. As a German-speaker living in Boppard, I doubt you'd be treated as an international tourist or lack options for contact with locals. Very few of those speak any German at all; you'd likely be someone special. If you are a "joiner," a large number of clubs and organizations exists in Boppard... see column on left here. (I notice there is even a group for "Einzelbrötler" - ha!!)

Boppard is actually a collection of towns. If you have an aversion to visitors, who don't bother with anything but Boppard proper, you could perhaps find a home in one of the other nearby settlements, where the chances that a tourist will cross your path are very slim. On page 3 of this document you can see a map of Boppard proper and the smaller satellite Boppard settlements... Boppard-Bad Salzig, Boppard-Hirzenach, Boppard-Buchholz, and of course Boppard proper each have a rail station. Bus service connects the other places to Boppard proper.

(TBC)

(Cont.)
I would not limit my search to Boppard. I have a German friend who loves his life in Rhens (7 train minutes from Koblenz Hbf!) A tiny town for sure. So is Osterspai, across the river from Boppard (a whopping 15 minutes from Koblenz (pop. 108,000.) I hesitate to mention what a fine little place it is... I might head there in a heartbeat if I knew I were moving to Germany and could find a rental there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4E5FyzrK98

In a city like Frankfurt, or Mainz, or even train-hub Koblenz, you would probably have to spend 7-15 minutes on the bus to get from a home on the outskirts to the town center. And you don't just walk out your front door onto a hiking trail in these places like you can do in a place like Boppard or Osterspai.

A T/A forum member named Trish, whose opinions on local life on the Rhine I respect, has lived for some time in Koblenz and in St Goar and might be willing to respond to a PM from you if you are interested in Boppard or any of these places. Scroll down on this page to click on her name just above the review she wrote.

Thanks Russ and all,
I appreciate the input.
Gosh, I forgot about Gengenbach-stayed there for 10 days a couple decades ago!
SO many choices!