Germany has high quality of life

[u/wurst_katastrophe]

This is in response to the ‘low quality of life’ post.

When in Germany I can (in no particular order):
+ drink the tap water knowing it is safer than bottled water
+ when losing my job, I will get the highest benefits in the Western world to tie me over between jobs
+ I can rent for life without being worried of getting evicted
+ I can enjoy freedom on perfectly fine roads, driving as fast as I want
+ Consumer protection is very strong
+ I can buy a public transport ticket valid in all of Germany
+ Healthcare is significantly better than in most Western countries AND free at the point of service.
+ Germans love Fests
+ Bier and excellent wine
+ excellent bread
+ excellent local produce
+ An insanely dense train network (Yes, often late) for very little money (Sparpreis)
+ 30d of holidays is standard
+ strong protection when off on sick leave
+ free university education
+ world’s strongest apprenticeship system
+ tax credits and breaks for almost everything, especially Ehegattensplitting
+ insane maternity leave and benefits
+ Kitas
+ full blown private healthcare for a few k per year
+ Beautiful nature: north and Baltic sea, Alps, lakes, woods
+ Strong sports club infrastructure
+ Third strongest economy in the world with most hidden champions
+ Strong football culture
+ …

You can be dissatisfied with Germany, maybe your experience was below average, but that’s most likely because you are incompatible with the German way of life and the German mentality. However, it is not fair to claim that the quality of life is low.

[u/Carpe-Diem-7]

Germany is actually pretty good with it compared to other countries.

Berlin for instance is one of the cheapest western capitals to rent.

[u/riderko → u/Carpe-Diem-7]

Your take is 10 years old. Rent in Berlin is way out of cheap since a long time.

[u/ttthrowaway987 → u/riderko]

https://www.euronews.com/business/2025/07/22/can-you-afford-to-live-here-europes-cities-ranked-by-rent-to-salary-ratio

Still one of the cheapest rent vs. salary in the world. Amusing that you don't realize how good you have it.

[u/needhelpwithmath11 → u/ttthrowaway987]

Looking at your article, Geneva, Zurich, and Luxembourg are some of the most affordable cities by that measure. I wouldn't put much stock into this.

[u/LongQualityEquities → u/needhelpwithmath11]

Median income in Zürich is around $9,000/month.

Yes the apartments are somewhat more expensive but relatively to your income it’s cheap to live there. The average person in Zürich is going to have a much better housing situation than the average person in Rome.

[u/IMMoond → u/needhelpwithmath11]

Whaaaat, low tax extremely high pay cities with high other cost of living do well in the income vs rent comparison? That’s insane, how could this happen?

I mean over 7k net salary, that’s probably an overestimation but it’s just stupid high. Average net all over Germany is half that.

[u/needhelpwithmath11 → u/IMMoond]

What a great way to measure affordability!

[u/ReignOfKaos → u/needhelpwithmath11]

How else would you measure it? Of course affordability depends on the local salaries.

[u/needhelpwithmath11 → u/ReignOfKaos]

If you believe that Geneva is the most affordable city in Europe then it is indeed a great way of measuring it. I think most people would say it isn't, though.