A 12 percent cut on the country basket against the UK, the Chancenkarte points based opportunity card, the EU Blue Card at 43,759 euros, full GKV healthcare, and the seven productive metros from Berlin to Munich. The 2026 country reading.
Germany absorbed approximately 386,000 net foreign residents during 2025 across the productive long stay pathways, the highest figure on record outside the 2015 to 2016 humanitarian intake. The country sits first among Western European destinations on absolute count, ahead of Spain, France, the UK, and Italy. The pull is structural: the largest European economy with the deepest skilled labor market shortage (1.8 million unfilled positions across the country at the start of 2026 per the Bundesagentur für Arbeit), the new Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) launched June 1, 2024 that runs a points based skilled migration pathway, the EU Blue Card threshold reduced to 43,759 euros for shortage occupations, full Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung (GKV) healthcare access on legal residency, and an 8 year track to German citizenship (reduced from 8 years average to 5 years under the June 2024 dual citizenship reform).
The metro choice runs across seven productive options. Berlin runs the cultural and creative capital; Munich runs the financial and engineering capital; Hamburg runs the maritime and media capital; Frankfurt runs the financial services capital; Cologne and Düsseldorf run the Rhineland cluster; Stuttgart runs the engineering and automotive capital; the smaller secondary cities (Leipzig, Hanover, Dresden, Nuremberg) run the value tier. The metro reading sits at the Atlas city profiles for Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne, and Stuttgart.
The German country level cost basket runs $2,300 a month for a single inbound resident in central Berlin, $3,000 a month in central Munich, $2,500 a month in Hamburg, $2,750 a month in Frankfurt, $2,200 a month in Cologne, $2,400 a month in Stuttgart, and $1,820 a month in Leipzig at the central tier. The Munich to Leipzig spread runs 65 percent across the same product class.
The structural cross border deltas in May 2026: 12 percent below the UK at the country tier, 22 percent below the United States, 28 percent below the Netherlands, and 8 percent above Spain at the country tier. Germany sits in the middle of the Western European cost band, cheaper than the UK, the Netherlands, and Switzerland but more expensive than Spain, Portugal, and Italy at the secondary metros.
The housing line runs 38 to 48 percent of the basket. Berlin Mitte one bedroom rents at $1,600 a month at the May 2026 spot; Prenzlauer Berg runs $1,540; Kreuzberg runs $1,420; Friedrichshain runs $1,380; Charlottenburg runs $1,540; Neukölln runs $1,180. Munich Schwabing or Maxvorstadt runs $1,950; Lehel runs $2,140; Glockenbachviertel runs $1,840; Sendling runs $1,580. Hamburg HafenCity runs $1,840; Eppendorf runs $1,580; St. Pauli runs $1,420; Altona runs $1,380.
The food and groceries basket runs $400 to $560 a month for a single resident across Berlin and Munich. Restaurant tier runs 12 to 22 euros for the casual lunch, 22 to 48 euros for the casual dinner, and 60 to 180 euros for the central premium dining. The 19 percent VAT applies to most goods and services; food and books run at 7 percent. Public transport monthly passes run 64 euros in Berlin (Deutschlandticket valid nationally), 64 euros in Munich, 64 euros in Hamburg, 64 euros in Frankfurt; the Deutschlandticket monthly subscription replaces local passes nationwide and runs 64 euros covering all regional public transport across Germany.
The full per metro reading sits at the Atlas German city profiles; the cost calculator runs the per scenario math against any home country baseline.
Germany operates five productive long stay visa routes for non EU citizens. EU citizens register at the local Einwohnermeldeamt within 14 days of arrival. Non EU residents (UK, US, Canadian, Australian, Indian, and others) file through one of the five pathways below.
Germany launched the Chancenkarte on June 1, 2024 under the Skilled Immigration Act reform. The Opportunity Card runs a points based pathway for inbound skilled workers without an existing job offer. Eligibility requires a recognized qualification (Bachelor's degree or vocational training of at least 2 years equivalent), German A1 or English B2 language certification, and 6 points across the qualifying categories (advanced qualification, language proficiency, age, professional experience, prior Germany ties, spouse with qualifying skills).
The Chancenkarte grants 1 year residence with the right to work up to 20 hours a week part time during the job search and any trial employment up to 2 weeks. Once the holder secures a qualifying job offer, the visa converts to the EU Blue Card or the Skilled Worker Visa. The full Chancenkarte guide covers the per category point calculation.
The EU Blue Card fits inbound highly qualified professionals with a recognized university degree and a German employer offer above the salary threshold. The 2026 threshold runs 43,759 euros a year for shortage occupations (IT specialists, engineers, doctors, scientists, mathematicians) and 48,300 euros a year for non shortage occupations. The November 2023 reform reduced thresholds from 56,400 euros for shortage and 58,400 euros for general; the 2024 reform extended the shortage list.
The Blue Card runs 4 years initial validity matching the employment contract. Permanent settlement (Niederlassungserlaubnis) is available after 33 months on the Blue Card with German A1, or after 21 months with German B1. The Blue Card holder's spouse receives unrestricted work rights from day one, the structural advantage over the Skilled Worker Visa. The full Blue Card 2026 guide covers the per category eligibility.
The Skilled Worker Visa fits inbound qualified workers with German employer offers below the Blue Card threshold. Eligibility requires recognized vocational training (2 plus years) or a recognized university degree, and a German employer offer matching the qualification field. The November 2023 reform expanded eligibility to skilled workers without exact field match; the holder can take any qualified work position.
The Skilled Worker Visa runs 1 to 4 years matching the employment contract. Permanent settlement is available after 33 months with A1 German, or after 21 months with B1 German for some categories. The structural pick for inbound vocational professionals (nurses, electricians, plumbers, mechatronics technicians) where the Bundesagentur für Arbeit shortage list runs deepest.
The Freiberufler Visa fits inbound self employed liberal professions: artists, writers, journalists, language teachers, doctors, engineers, lawyers, IT consultants, and architects. The application requires a Berlin or German residence, evidence of professional qualification, a financial plan showing self sufficiency for the first 12 months, and 1 to 3 letters of intent or contracts from German clients. The visa runs 1 to 3 years initial.
The Freiberufler Visa is the structural pick for inbound creative and professional self employed workers; Berlin is the historical Freiberufler hub with approximately 12 percent of all Freiberufler visa issuances despite holding 4 percent of the German population. The full Freiberufler guide covers the per profession application detail.
The Job Seeker Visa fits inbound qualified workers without a current German job offer. Replaced largely by the Chancenkarte in June 2024 but retained as an alternative pathway. Eligibility requires a recognized qualification and proof of self financial sufficiency for 6 months in Germany. The visa runs 6 months and converts to a work visa once a qualifying offer is secured.
Germany applies progressive personal income tax (Einkommensteuer) at rates 0 percent to 45 percent on tax residents. The 2026 brackets run 0 percent up to 12,084 euros (the Grundfreibetrag), 14 percent to 17,005 euros (linear progression), 24 percent to 66,760 euros (linear progression), 42 percent to 277,825 euros, and 45 percent above 277,825 euros (Reichensteuer). The Solidaritätszuschlag (solidarity surtax) runs 5.5 percent of the income tax above approximately 18,130 euros income tax liability (effectively above 73,000 euros gross income for singles).
Church tax (Kirchensteuer) runs 8 to 9 percent of income tax depending on the federal state for members of the Catholic, Protestant, or Jewish religious communities. Inbound residents not registered with a recognized church do not pay Kirchensteuer. The structural inbound resident frequently declines church registration at the Einwohnermeldeamt to avoid the 8 to 9 percent surtax.
Capital gains run 26.375 percent flat (25 percent flat plus 5.5 percent solidarity surtax) on financial assets held outside business activity. Real estate gains run at the standard income tax rates if sold within 10 years of purchase; gains on real estate held over 10 years are exempt for residential use.
Germany operates 95 plus bilateral tax treaties including the UK (1964, replaced 2010), the United States (1989, amended 2006), Australia (2015), Canada (2001), India (1995), and 90 plus other inbound origin countries. UK residents arriving Germany retain the UK to Germany bilateral treaty. UK State Pension is taxable only in Germany under article 17. UK SIPPs remain UK tax sheltered until drawdown. UK ISAs lose the tax shelter on German residency.
US persons file the German return plus Form 1040 worldwide. The FEIE ($126,500 for 2026) plus the Foreign Tax Credit prevent double taxation in most positions; high earners on Berlin or Munich tech salaries above $200,000 still hit residual US liability. The full reading needs a US licensed CPA plus a Steuerberater. The Atlas tax calculator runs the per scenario after tax math.
Germany operates a dual health insurance system. The Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung (GKV) is the statutory public health insurance system covering 90 percent of the population; the Private Krankenversicherung (PKV) is the private insurance system covering the remaining 10 percent of higher earners and self employed residents.
GKV is mandatory for employees earning below the Versicherungspflichtgrenze (the compulsory insurance ceiling, 73,800 euros a year for 2026). Above the ceiling, employees can choose GKV or PKV. Self employed residents (Freiberufler, business owners) can choose between GKV (voluntary) and PKV. GKV contributions run 14.6 percent base rate plus a 1.7 percent average supplementary contribution and a 3.4 percent average long term care contribution, totaling approximately 19.7 percent of gross income (split equally between employee and employer for employed residents). The maximum monthly GKV contribution at the 2026 ceiling runs approximately 1,000 euros for the employee share.
The productive GKV insurers are TK (Techniker Krankenkasse, the largest with 11.7 million members), Barmer, AOK (regional, the second largest with 26 million members across all regional AOKs combined), DAK Gesundheit, IKK Classic, and HKK. Most insurers run at the statutory minimum benefits with limited differentiation; TK runs slightly stronger digital service plus dental supplemental options.
PKV runs as a private insurance market. Premiums depend on age at enrollment, health status, and chosen coverage tier; typical premiums run 380 to 980 euros a month for a 35 year old male, 420 to 1,140 euros for a 35 year old female. PKV provides faster access to specialists, private hospital rooms, and dentistry coverage at higher reimbursement levels. Once enrolled in PKV, switching back to GKV becomes structurally difficult; the GKV switch back requires re entering employment under the ceiling, becoming unemployed, or moving to a non PKV state. The full GKV versus PKV guide covers the per scenario election arithmetic.
The German hospital cluster runs at exceptional quality across both public and private tiers. Charité Berlin (the largest university hospital in Europe), Helios network (private, 89 hospitals), Sana Kliniken (45 hospitals), Asklepios (160 hospitals across multiple federal states), Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, and the Munich university hospitals (Klinikum Großhadern, Klinikum rechts der Isar) cover the productive picks. Charité ranks in the global top 10 university hospitals on multiple specialty indicators.
For the gap window before residence permit and GKV registration, SafetyWing Nomad Insurance at $56 a month covers the entry to residency window. Cigna Global at $280 a month covers the family premium tier with US compatible coverage.
Germany sorts into seven productive metros and regional clusters for inbound residents.
Berlin runs $2,300 a month at the central Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg, Kreuzberg, Friedrichshain, or Charlottenburg tier. The structural pick for inbound creatives, technology workers (the Berlin startup cluster runs 4,800 plus active companies anchored by Zalando, Delivery Hero, N26, HelloFresh, and SoundCloud), Freiberufler visa holders (the deepest German freelancer community), and any inbound resident prioritizing the most international and English speaking German metro. Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg, Kreuzberg, Friedrichshain, Charlottenburg, Neukölln, and Schöneberg cover the productive central neighborhoods. The full Berlin profile covers the per Bezirk reading.
Munich runs $3,000 a month at the central Maxvorstadt, Schwabing, Lehel, or Glockenbachviertel tier. The structural pick for inbound professionals on Blue Card or Skilled Worker positions in the Munich engineering and corporate cluster (BMW, Siemens, Allianz, Linde, MunichRE, MAN), families needing the strong international school cluster, and any inbound resident prioritizing the Alps proximity and the deeper Bavarian cultural cluster. The structural compromise is the highest German metro cost basket and the tightest housing market in the country. The full Munich profile covers the per Stadtteil reading.
Hamburg runs $2,500 a month at the central HafenCity, Eppendorf, Eimsbüttel, or Altona tier. The structural pick for inbound professionals in maritime, media, and logistics (Beiersdorf, Otto Group, Tchibo, Lufthansa Technik, Hamburg Port Authority), and any inbound resident prioritizing the Northern German maritime cluster plus the Alster and Elbe waterfront infrastructure. Hamburg runs higher humidity and rainfall than the Southern German metros; the structural compromise. The full Hamburg profile covers the metro reading.
Frankfurt runs $2,750 a month at the central Westend, Nordend, Sachsenhausen, or Bockenheim tier. The structural pick for inbound financial services professionals (the European Central Bank, Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, DZ Bank, plus the post Brexit ECB clustered banking activity), aviation industry workers (Lufthansa headquarters, Frankfurt Airport second largest in Europe by international passenger volume), and any inbound resident prioritizing global air connectivity. The full Frankfurt profile covers the metro reading.
Cologne runs $2,200 a month at the central Belgian Quarter, Innenstadt, Sülz, or Ehrenfeld tier; Düsseldorf runs $2,440 a month at the central Pempelfort, Carlstadt, or Oberkassel tier. The Rhineland cluster (Cologne plus Düsseldorf plus Bonn, all within 60 km) runs the largest contiguous metro region in Germany. The structural pick for inbound media professionals (RTL, Deutsche Welle, the Cologne broadcasting cluster), Japanese expats (Düsseldorf hosts approximately 11,000 Japanese residents, the largest Japanese community in continental Europe), and any inbound resident prioritizing the productive central Western German cluster. The full Cologne profile covers the metro reading.
Stuttgart runs $2,400 a month at the central Mitte, West, or Süd tier. The structural pick for inbound automotive and engineering professionals (Mercedes Benz, Porsche, Bosch, the deepest German engineering cluster outside Munich), and any inbound resident prioritizing the productive Baden Württemberg cluster plus the Schwarzwald (Black Forest) proximity. The full Stuttgart profile covers the metro reading.
Leipzig runs $1,820 a month at the central tier; Dresden runs $1,750; Hanover runs $1,940; Nuremberg runs $2,040. The structural pick for inbound residents seeking the lowest German metro cost basket plus the strong cultural cluster. Leipzig runs the deepest creative scene outside Berlin and the largest year on year inbound growth among the secondary cities. The full Leipzig profile covers the metro reading.
The German international school cluster sits at 165 schools nationally, concentrated in Munich (32 schools), Berlin (28 schools), Frankfurt and the Rhine Main region (24 schools), Hamburg (16 schools), and Stuttgart (12 schools). Annual fees run 11,000 to 28,000 euros at the day school tier and 38,000 to 56,000 euros at the boarding tier (Schule Schloss Salem, the European School Frankfurt premium tier).
The IB Diploma cluster runs the Berlin International School, the Bavarian International School (Munich and Haimhausen), the International School Frankfurt Rhine Main, the International School of Hamburg, the International School of Stuttgart, and the International School of Düsseldorf. The American curriculum cluster runs the John F. Kennedy School Berlin, the Frankfurt International School, the Munich International School, and the International School of Munich. The British curriculum cluster runs the British International School Berlin, the Munich International Lower School, and the European School in Frankfurt.
German state schools run free at all levels for legal residents with extensive German as a second language support programs in the high inbound metros. Berlin, Hamburg, and Bremen run integrated state plus international school options at no cost (the John F. Kennedy School Berlin runs as a state school with bilingual American program at zero tuition). The German state Gymnasium tier delivers Abitur qualification matching German university entry standards.
German universities run 0 to 1,500 euros a year at the public tier (most federal states charge no tuition; Baden Württemberg charges 1,500 euros a semester for non EU students). The Technical University of Munich (TUM), the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), the Humboldt University of Berlin, the Free University of Berlin, the RWTH Aachen, and the Heidelberg University rank in the global top 100. Germany operates the cheapest top tier higher education system in the developed world for international students.
The German first 90 day administrative sequence runs as follows. Step one is the Anmeldung (residence registration) at the Bürgeramt (citizen office) within 14 days of moving to a new German address. The Anmeldung issues the Meldebescheinigung (registration certificate) which is required for any subsequent administrative step. Appointments at the Bürgeramt run booked 3 to 8 weeks ahead in Berlin and Munich; the structural inbound resident books the Anmeldung appointment from abroad before the move where possible.
Step two is the Tax ID (Steuer Identifikationsnummer or Steuer ID) automatically issued by the Bundeszentralamt für Steuern within 2 to 4 weeks after Anmeldung. The Steuer ID is required for any employment, freelance contract, or German bank account. Step three is the Aufenthaltstitel (residence permit) appointment at the Ausländerbehörde (foreign office). The non EU resident books the appointment within 90 days of arrival; processing runs 4 to 12 weeks depending on the federal state.
Step four is the German bank account. Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, Postbank (now Deutsche Bank Postbank), Sparkasse (regional savings banks), Volksbank Raiffeisenbank (cooperative), N26, ING, Comdirect, and DKB run the productive resident accounts. Account opening requires Anmeldung, passport, Steuer ID (or pending application receipt), and proof of income or savings. Most banks now accept fully digital onboarding (N26, ING, DKB, Comdirect) for inbound residents with completed Anmeldung. Monthly fees run 0 to 14 euros.
For multi currency banking and cross border transfers, Wise runs the productive setup at no monthly fee, mid market rates, plus a German IBAN that meets utility provider requirements. Revolut runs the same with a tighter Eurozone cap. The structural inbound stack runs Wise as the international primary plus a German resident account at N26, ING, or DKB for utilities, rent, and German tax liabilities.
Germany runs three climate zones. Northern Germany (Hamburg, Bremen, Hanover, Berlin) runs maritime to continental at minus 2 to 26 Celsius range with wet mild winters and warm summers; Hamburg runs the wettest at 880 mm annual rainfall. Central Germany (Cologne, Frankfurt, Leipzig, Dresden) runs continental at minus 4 to 28 Celsius range. Southern Germany (Munich, Stuttgart, the Bavarian Alps) runs continental with cooler winters and warmer summers; Munich runs minus 6 to 28 Celsius range. Annual rainfall runs 600 to 880 mm across the country.
The German language is mandatory for citizenship at year 5 (reduced from 8 years under the June 2024 dual citizenship reform); the test runs at the B1 CEFR level through the goethe.de Zertifikat Deutsch B1 exam at 200 euros. The B1 prep runs 360 to 480 hours of structured study; Babbel German runs $14 a month and covers the B1 corpus across 9 to 12 months of daily practice.
English coverage runs 84 percent across Berlin under 35, 64 percent across the same metro above 50, and 78 percent across Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, and Düsseldorf in similar age bands. Outside the high inbound metros English coverage runs 35 to 55 percent. The German workplace runs increasingly bilingual at the technology and finance sectors; German A1 is the practical baseline for the Anmeldung and Ausländerbehörde interactions; B1 is the practical baseline for full daily life and the citizenship qualification.
The German rail system (Deutsche Bahn) runs ICE high speed service at 300 km/h: Berlin to Munich in 4 hours at 30 to 145 euros, Berlin to Hamburg in 1 hour 50 minutes at 20 to 80 euros, Frankfurt to Munich in 3 hours 10 minutes at 30 to 110 euros, Cologne to Berlin in 4 hours 30 minutes at 35 to 130 euros. Berlin U Bahn runs 9 lines and 175 stations; Munich U Bahn runs 8 lines and 100 stations; Hamburg U Bahn and S Bahn run 12 lines and 175 stations combined. The Deutschlandticket at 64 euros a month covers all regional public transport across Germany on a single subscription.
For inbound residents needing a car, Discover Cars runs the productive long term rental at 28 to 48 euros a day. New car purchase carries the 19 percent VAT plus the Kraftfahrzeugsteuer (road tax) at 5.625 to 31.625 euros per cubic centimeter of engine displacement plus emissions surcharge. The structural pick for inbound long term residents is a German registered used vehicle at 3 to 7 years old. The Autobahn network runs 13,200 km with no general speed limit on most sections (130 km/h advisory).
The Atlas Germany first 90 day playbook runs the following sequence. Days 1 through 7: arrival, hotel or short term rental at Booking.com, German SIM at Vodafone, Telekom, O2, or Aldi Talk (15 to 25 euros prepaid). Days 8 through 14: signed 12 month lease via ImmoScout24, Immowelt, or the WG Gesucht portal, Anmeldung appointment at the Bürgeramt within 14 days of moving. Days 15 through 30: Steuer ID receipt by post, German bank account opening at N26, ING, or DKB, Krankenversicherung registration (TK, Barmer, or AOK if GKV; the chosen PKV insurer if private).
Days 31 through 60: Aufenthaltstitel application at the Ausländerbehörde, Rundfunkbeitrag (broadcast fee at 18.36 euros a month) registration, GEZ confirmation, German driving license exchange where applicable. Days 61 through 90: utility transfers (regional Stromanbieter for electricity at e.g. Eon, EnBW, Vattenfall, plus regional gas and water concessionaire), internet installation (Telekom, Vodafone, 1&1, Pyur fiber at 250 to 1,000 Mbps), German tax registration through the Steuerberater for self employed residents, school enrollment if applicable.
The structural failure modes for inbound residents in Germany sit at three points. Failure mode one: missing the 14 day Anmeldung window after moving to a new address. The missed window risks fines of 50 to 1,000 euros and complications with subsequent Aufenthaltstitel and bank account applications. Mitigation is the Bürgeramt appointment booking from abroad through the city online portals.
Failure mode two: choosing PKV at the wrong career stage. Premium increases as the holder ages run sharply; the structural inbound resident at age 35 should run the 30 year PKV cost projection before electing PKV over GKV. Mitigation is a pre election meeting with a German Versicherungsmakler. Failure mode three: underweighting the German bureaucratic friction. Germany runs heavier paperwork than most Western European peers; the structural inbound resident builds a 60 to 90 day buffer for full administrative completion.
Germany fits four structural inbound resident profiles in 2026.
Profile one: the inbound highly qualified professional on a $80,000 to $300,000 employment contract eligible for the EU Blue Card. The reduced 43,759 euro shortage occupation threshold opens the Blue Card to junior to mid level technology, engineering, and scientific roles. Berlin (technology), Munich (engineering, finance), Frankfurt (financial services), Hamburg (media, maritime), and Stuttgart (automotive) cover the productive metro picks. The Blue Card permanent settlement at 21 months with B1 German runs the fastest pathway to permanent residence in Western Europe.
Profile two: the inbound skilled vocational worker (nurse, electrician, plumber, mechatronics technician, IT support specialist) on the Skilled Worker Visa or Chancenkarte. The Bundesagentur für Arbeit shortage list runs deepest in healthcare, construction trades, and IT; the German vocational qualification system (Ausbildung) accepts equivalents from most OECD countries. The cost basket runs 12 percent below the UK at the country level and well below the US at the equivalent skilled wage.
Profile three: the inbound creative or self employed professional (designer, IT consultant, language teacher, journalist) on the Freiberufler Visa. Berlin runs the deepest Freiberufler community in Europe with strong English coverage, low rent against Munich and Frankfurt, and the deepest creative cluster. Leipzig and Hamburg run the secondary picks at lower cost basket. The Freiberufler residency converts to permanent settlement at 5 years with B1 German.
Profile four: the inbound family with school age children prioritizing the deep public education tier, the strong international school cluster, and the structural safety baseline (Germany ranks in the top 20 on the Global Peace Index for 2024 and 2025). Berlin (John F. Kennedy School, Berlin International School), Munich (Bavarian International School, Munich International School), and Frankfurt (Frankfurt International School, the European School Frankfurt) cover the curriculum range. German state schools run free with strong inbound integration support.
Germany does not fit the inbound resident expecting the lowest Western European cost basket; Portugal, Spain, and Italy at the secondary metros run sharply cheaper. It does not fit the inbound resident expecting English everywhere outside the technology and international school clusters; German A1 at minimum is the practical baseline for daily life. It does not fit the inbound resident with the lowest tolerance for bureaucratic friction; the Anmeldung, Aufenthaltstitel, Steuer ID, Krankenversicherung, and Rundfunkbeitrag sequence runs structurally heavier paperwork than most Western European peers.
For the four profiles above, Germany is the strongest single country choice in continental Europe in 2026 on the labor market depth, healthcare quality, education tier, and infrastructure weighted basis. The country choice is sound; the metro choice (Berlin versus Munich versus the Rhineland cluster) shapes the structural outcome. The Atlas reads the metro choice through 14 published German city profiles, the tech workers ranking, the safest cities ranking, and the family cities ranking. The neighboring country reading sits at Moving to the Netherlands, Moving to Austria, and Moving to France. The global reading sits at the best countries ranking where Germany places sixth on the 2026 weighted index.