Which Country Is Better To Live In: Germany or Australia?
Germany and Australia are both wealthy, developed countries with a high standard of living. Both countries offer good opportunities for education and employment. However, this doesn’t mean that either country is necessarily better than the other. The decision of which country to live in depends on your individual preferences and priorities.
In this article, we help you decide on the best country to live in between these two. We compare and contrast the two countries regarding the weather, lifestyle, populations, healthcare, jobs, salaries, economy, and cost of living. Hopefully, this information will help you make an informed decision about where to live.
Living in Germany vs Australia
Notably, there are some clear differences between the two countries. Germany has a much higher population density than Australia, and its cities are generally much more crowded. This can make life in Germany feel more hectic and fast-paced than in Australia.
Australia, on the other hand, is a much more spacious country. It has a lower population density, and its cities tend to be more spread out. This, on the other hand, can make Australia feel more relaxed and laid-back than Germany.
Both countries have a lot to offer, but you need to consider the following crucial differences before making a decision:
Weather
Generally, Australia is a warmer country compared to Germany. Australia has the following four seasons across the country:
- Summer: December to March (average temperature of 29 °C)
- Autumn: March to May (from 12.7 to 22.7°C)
- Winter: June to August (average temperature of 13 °C)
- Spring: September to November (11 – 23°C)
German summers are hot, and the winters are cold and snowy, but rains are common and unpredictable during all seasons. The average summer temperature is 22°C, while in winter, it goes up to 3°C.
The maximum temperatures in Germany are usually -10°C in winter and 35°C in summer. The country has numerous states, each with a unique landscape; this causes the weather to vary from one area to another.
Below is a table showing a summary of the climate in Germany and Australia:
| Climate | Germany | Australia |
| Daytime temperatures | 13.7 °C | 24.4°C |
| Sunshine hours per day | 4.7 | 8 |
| Nighttime temperatures | 5.5°C | 12.6°C |
| Relative humidity | 79% | 64% |
| Water temperature | 9.9°C | 26.3°C |
Lifestyle
Germany and Australia have very enormously diverse lifestyles. Australia’s lifestyle is quite laid back compared to the German lifestyle.
Australians are pretty easygoing and friendly, even to foreigners, as they tend to value good friendships and neighborhoods.
Australia has some of the most beautiful natural landscapes globally; hence, most people enjoy outdoor activities. They value connecting with the earth through nature, part of Australian culture for more than 50,000 years.
Australians love sports; the continent has received awards severally for being the world’s sports capital. According to data by Clearinghouse for Sport, 70% of Australia’s total population participates in one sports activity at least once a week.
On the other hand, Germany’s lifestyle is very private and involves straightforward structure and routines in their life. Germans have high demands for punctuality from their acquaintances, friends, and business partners.
The lifestyle of a typical worker in Germany usually consists of balancing work and social life. They are very high-skilled and diplomatic at work but love the outdoors, sharing meals, and drinking beer after work or over the weekends.
Germans are very active and engage in many sports, such as football, leading to a healthy life. Nonetheless, obesity in younger people has been increasing in this country.
Related: Which country is better for living: Australia or the UK?
Population
Germany is approximately 357,022 sq km, while Australia is approximately 7,741,220 sq km, making Australia 68% larger than Germany.
Nonetheless, According to Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data, the population in Germany is 802 million. This is 54.7 million higher than Australia, with approximately 26 million people.
The life expectancy for females in Australia is slightly higher than in Germany at 85 years, while women in Germany are 83 years. The life expectancy of men in Australia is somewhat higher at 81 years, while Germany’s is at 79 years.
Below is a table showing summary details on both Germany’s and Australia’s populations:
| Factor | Germany | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Inhabitants/km²: | 83,161,000 | 26,693,000 |
| Life expectancy (Females) | 83 years | 85 years |
| Life expectancy (males) | 79 years | 81 years |
| Average age | 47.9 years | 37.5 years |
| Birth rate | 9.30% | 11.50% |
| Immigration rate | 1.50% | 7.49% |
| Death rate | 11.90% | 6.30% |
Healthcare
Both Australia and Germany offer free, publicly funded healthcare.
In Germany, statutory contributions fund healthcare, making it freely available to all residents and citizens. At the same time, one can also take out private health insurance to replace or top up state cover.
The Federal Ministry of Health is responsible for developing health policy in Germany. The Joint Federal Committee regulates the sector.
Australia uses the medicare health system, which is the government’s public health insurance scheme. This system provides Australian residents with free treatment for an optometrist, dental care, psychology services, and treatment by doctors.
The services available through the Medicare healthcare system vary depending on whether you are an Australian citizen, overseas visitor, or visa holder.
The needs and entitlements of an individual are influenced by many components, such as the nature and degree of their health status, age, gender, location, and cultural background.
Jobs
Both Germany and Australia have numerous exciting job opportunities for foreigners and locals.
There are plenty of job opportunities in all industries in Germany, but most of them are concentrated in the STEM fields.
Alongside jobs in German, many English-speaking positions are available for expats. Tech and IT have the majority of vacancies for non-German speakers since the jobs involve little to no human interaction.
To get them, you have to meet specific qualifications and have experience. Lower manual work jobs are usually done by German-speaking people, with the exception of the hospitality and tourism industry.
Employees enjoy several benefits when working in Germany. It includes health, pension, unemployment insurance, paid vacation, and parental leave. Workers also rarely do overtime.
Germany regularly needs foreign workers, from highly qualified expats to common laborers. The immense opportunities with the highest salaries are within STEM industries, such as IT, research, and engineering.
It’s essential to have qualifications to work in Germany as a non-EU national. Sticking to the job for at least two years can get you permanent residency in Germany when coming on an EU Blue Card.
In Australia, there are numerous job opportunities in all fields. However, the top jobs in Australia are in accounting, education, computer system design, hospitality, and medical services.
Regarding the unemployment rate, both Australia and Germany have low rates, below the OECD average of 5.6 %. Australia ranks number 20 among the countries with the lowest unemployment, with a current rate of 5.2%, while Germany is at 5.3% in 2022.
Check out the most in-demand jobs in Germany in 2022.
Salaries
According to the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, an employee in Germany earns an average of 3,810 EUR per month before taxes. Salaries in the country range from 960 EUR to 17,000 EUR.
The average monthly wage includes transport, housing, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different careers.
Individual salaries can vary significantly from this figure, as they are affected by career path, age, working hours, seniority, experience in the industry, and geographical location.
Below is a table showing the average salary in Germany by industry based on the 2022 German salary report:
| Occupation | Average annual gross income (€) |
|---|---|
| Banking | 62.744 |
| Finance | 73.847 |
| Law | 68.642 |
| Doctor | 89.539 |
| Consulting | 64.173 |
| Finance | 73.847 |
| Doctor | 89.539 |
| Law | 68.642 |
| Consulting | 64.173 |
| Banking | 62.744 |
| Engineering | 62.564 |
| Production / Manufacturing | 60.046 |
| IT | 60.563 |
| Marketing / PR | 60.174 |
| Sales | 59.691 |
| HR | 58.029 |
| Construction | 57.270 |
| Design | 48.574 |
| Scientific research | 56.399 |
| Logistics | 50.538 |
| Health & social services | 45.724 |
| Media | 45.121 |
| Skilled crafts & trades | 44.710 |
| Wholesale & retail | 45.067 |
| Administration | 43.788 |
On the other hand, an employee in Australia usually earns approximately AU$90,800 (60,831 EUR) per year or 5,069 EUR per month gross.
It’s significantly higher than in Germany. Salaries range from AU$23,000 (15,408 EUR) to AU$405,000 (271,330 EUR).
Below is a table showing the average salary for different occupations in Australia:
| Occupation | Salary (AU$) |
| CEO or Managing Director | 242,500 |
| Senior Manager | 146,000 |
| Other Managers | 109,000 |
| Skilled professionals | 87,000 |
| Associate Professional and Technical | 72,000 |
| Trades Workers | 60,000 |
| Laborers | 50,000 |
Economy
Both Germany and Australia have strong and resilient economies, which have been leading globally for years. The automotive industry remains the most productive in Germany, with 436 billion euros per annum earnings.
The vehicle manufacturing industry also secures earnings for other sectors. Mainly because it has close links with companies in the metal, chemical, textile, electrical engineering, and steel industries.
Another industry that generates high returns in Germany is the healthcare industry, generating approximately 372 billion euros per year.
The electrical industry and electrical engineering usually generate 191 billion euros per year. With a broad portfolio of services, these sectors offer various employment opportunities.
On the other hand, Australia is highly developed with a mixed-market economy. According to data from the World Bank, Australia has the 18th and 13th largest economy by PPP-adjusted GDP and nominal GDP (Gross Domestic Product), respectively.
Additionally, it’s the 20th-largest goods importer and 25th-largest exporter globally.
The Australian economy is dominated by the service sector, which comprises 62.7% of the GDP and employs 78.8% of the labor force.
Australia has numerous natural resources which immensely contribute to its economy; these resources are valued at $19.98 trillion.
Cost of living
The cost of living in Germany is pretty low compared to Australia. The average cost of living for a single person in Australia is AU$3,537 (2,353 EUR) per month. It’s at least 9% more expensive than in Germany (2,160 EUR).
Read how much you need to live in Germany as a single.
However, in reality, Australia is significantly more expensive if we consider cities like Sydney and Melbourne. Australia ranks 16th among the most expensive countries to live in, while Germany ranks 31st.
As a household in Australia, you are likely to spend, on average, AU$2,200 (1,473 EUR) per week or about AU$8,000 (5,359 EUR) per month.
This estimate includes home loans or rents at an average of AU$600 a week, followed by food and eating out at AU$400 (267 EUR), and insurance and other financial services at AU$200 (133 EUR).
- Housing – AU$2,400
- Food – AU$1,600
- Insurances and others – AU$800
- Total: at least AU$4,800 or 3,194 EUR per month
In Germany, the cost of living varies depending on your location and way of life. However, on average, you’ll require about 1,500 EUR per month and at least 18,000 EUR per year to live comfortably as a single. A family of four will need 3,906 EUR per month to live a good life in Germany.
All the prices for entertainment, food, clothes, accommodation and other bills in Germany are usually in line or even cheaper than the EU average.
![Car Insurance Cost in Germany [2024 Guide]](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAxMTc4IDc4NSIgd2lkdGg9IjExNzgiIGhlaWdodD0iNzg1IiBkYXRhLXU9Imh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGZXhwYXRyaXN0LmNvbSUyRndwLWNvbnRlbnQlMkZ1cGxvYWRzJTJGMjAyMyUyRjA1JTJGcGV4ZWxzLWl2YW4tc2Fta292LTc5OTA2MTcuanBnIiBkYXRhLXc9IjExNzgiIGRhdGEtaD0iNzg1IiBkYXRhLWJpcD0iIj48L3N2Zz4=)
