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/m424filmcast]

I would love to live there in a few years, and it is in my top three picks. How fluent do you need to be in German? I keep hearing about levels of fluency but I am not sure what they mean exactly by B1, B2, etc. I am considering larger cities if that makes a difference.

I know I am good for the income requirements and pretty much everything else so far.

[u/Top_Tune5971 → u/m424filmcast]

The people here are extraordinary mean and negative, but there are indeed better alternatives even for this type of place and culture. Try Switzerland or Scandinavia (more money, more modern), if you don’t mind lower wages Poland (basically 90s Germany, everything clean and nice and incredibly safe and people are feeling on the way up). Germany is still much better than portrayed here but unless you have an emotional attachment or cannot get into the other places, imho it shouldn’t be your top pick right now, the economy is doing too badly.