Munich asks €23.70 per square metre in cold rent and Leipzig asks €10.50 (GREIX rent index, Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Q2 2026). Notice the gap? That gap will shape your first year more than any lifestyle ranking.

So which are the best cities in Germany for immigrants? The answer depends on multiple factors and especially what exactly are you looking for. Munich and Frankfurt can be considered for pay and corporate careers, while Berlin is a great option for community and Düsseldorf and Hamburg are suitable choices for balance. Cologne can be a top choice for those who prioritise social life, and well Leipzig is amazing for low rent. 

Honestly, no city wins on jobs, rent and community at once. The best cities in Germany for immigrants are the ones whose weakness you can live with.

How were the best cities in Germany for immigrant compared?

First of all, ten factors matter: employment, housing, income, international community, transport, quality of life, universities, language access, family life and lifestyle. 

It is to be noted that only four have reliable public city data: rent, unemployment, migration background and student numbers. The rest are editorial judgment, and the text says so.

However, we need to give you one warning first. "International share" depends on who is counting. Frankfurt's city register put residents with a migration background at 51.2 percent in 2015, while the national Mikrozensus survey put it at 44.7 percent (Journal Frankfurt, citing the city's multicultural affairs office). Munich splits the same way: 47.0 percent by Mikrozensus 2022, 48.6 percent by the city's own count (Munich city administration, 2023). A list of the best cities to live in Germany that ranks diversity to the decimal is selling precision it does not have.

The framework here is a two-of-three test for the best cities in Germany for immigrants. Jobs, rent, community. Pick the two you cannot give up. The third is what you pay.

How do the best cities in Germany for immigrants compare on rent and jobs?

Be quite mindful and treat these figures with care when choosing among the best cities in Germany for immigrants. Rents are asking rents for new tenancies (Kiel Institute GREIX index) while Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Leipzig are Q2 2026 levels whereas Berlin, Cologne and Düsseldorf are Q3 2025. Rent change is Q2 2026 against Q2 2025 and jobless rates are 2024 annual averages as per Federal and State Statistical Offices. Germany overall stood at 6.4 percent in March 2026 (Federal Employment Agency).

Our personal advice would be to read the table sideways because the best cities in Germany for immigrants trade one strength for another. Take Berlin for example. It markets itself as the career city, yet it has the highest jobless rate here and its rents fell while Cologne's jumped. Surprising right? Munich's 4.8 percent unemployment is paid for with the highest rent and Leipzig costs less than half of Munich but its jobless rate is not low. Among the best cities in Germany for immigrants, cheap rent and plentiful work rarely share a postcode. This might get confusing and these are the information that GoMigro prioritises for immigrants.

Which are the best cities in Germany for immigrants, city by city?

So coming down to the main question now, let's start with the basics and simplify it all. 

Munich: among the best cities in Germany for jobs

Munich has the lowest unemployment of the seven, with automotive, technology and insurance employers while salaries are high. But on the downside, so is everything around them! A corporate salary makes it one of the best cities in Germany for immigrants with a job offer already signed. But a student budget sadly does not survive €23.70 per square metre. English works inside multinationals and much less outside them.

Frankfurt: finance and the most international feel

Frankfurt was the first big German city where people with a migration background passed half the population, in 2016  as Federal Agency for Civic Education. Being an immigrant here is routine and as per the European Central Bank, the banks, consulting firms and Germany's largest airport make it one of the best cities in Germany for jobs in finance and travel heavy careers. However, for the cons, note that the rent is second highest and the city is compact and quiet after dark.

Berlin: community first, job security second

To put it simply, Berlin suits people who need an English-speaking circle quickly as about 40.6 percent of residents have a migration background against 30.4 percent nationally (as per the Federal Statistical Office, 2024). Among the best cities in Germany for expats in tech, startups and creative work, it is usually the first stop so you can consider it if you fall in this category. The con? The price is job security! Expect a competitive market and a slower search.

Hamburg: balance and logistics

Port, logistics, aviation and media drive the economy. Rent sits at €16.50 and is rising 5.1 percent a year. Hamburg's migration-background share is 40.1 percent (Federal Statistical Office, 2024). Many call it one of the best cities to live in Germany with children. That is judgment, not data, and it makes Hamburg a fair pick among the best cities in Germany for immigrants who want space and water.

Düsseldorf: international business and families

The Japanese connection is the clearest immigrant ecosystem in Germany. A 2017 city press release counted about 7,000 Japanese citizens, roughly a quarter of all Japanese citizens in Germany, and around 600 Japanese companies across NRW and Düsseldorf. Rent is the lowest of the western big cities here. For business roles and families, it ranks among the best cities in Germany for foreigners.

Cologne: social life and media

Media employers, large universities and a famously open social scene. But Cologne is no longer a bargain: rents rose 6.0 percent in a year, the fastest in the table. The jobless rate is 8.9 percent, so arrive with a job lead. It still belongs among the best cities in Germany for immigrants who value neighbours over salary.

Leipzig: the cheaper alternative

Among the cheapest cities in Germany for immigrants in logistics, automotive or remote work, Leipzig stands out at €10.50 per square metre. The warning is community size. The migration-background share is 11.7 percent in eastern Germany against 33.6 percent in the west including Berlin (Federal Statistical Office, 2024). That is a regional average, not a verdict on Leipzig, but Leipzig trails the other best cities in Germany for foreigners on community size, so expect fewer people from your own country than in Frankfurt.

Which of the best cities in Germany for foreigners suit different immigrants?

Students first. Germany had about 402,000 international students in winter 2024/25, with India now the top origin country (DAAD, 2025). The best German cities for international students pair a strong university with rents you can survive, which points toward Leipzig and Berlin more than Munich. Check each university's housing office early.

For families, judgment favours Düsseldorf and Hamburg. For English-language jobs and the best cities in Germany for expats, Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich. The most immigrant-friendly cities in Germany in daily life are those where recent arrivals are common: Frankfurt, Berlin, Munich. Public transport is strong in all seven, so do not let it decide.

FAQ

What is the best city in Germany for immigrants?

There is no single winner among the best cities in Germany for immigrants. Munich and Frankfurt suit people who prioritise salary and job security. Berlin suits those who prioritise community. Leipzig suits anyone who prioritises rent. Choose the two of jobs, rent and community you value most, then match the city.

Is Berlin or Munich better for immigrants?

Munich offers lower unemployment (4.8 percent against 9.7 percent) and higher pay, but rent is €23.70 per square metre against roughly €15.82 in Berlin. Berlin offers an easier international social life. If you have a confirmed corporate job, Munich. If you are still searching, Berlin's costs are gentler.

Which are the cheapest cities in Germany for immigrants?

Leipzig tops the best cities in Germany for immigrants on a budget: it is the cheapest of the eight largest at €10.50 per square metre (Kiel Institute, Q2 2026). Düsseldorf is the lowest among the western big cities in this comparison, though its rents rose 4.1 percent in a year. Cheaper smaller cities exist, but job markets thin out quickly.

Is Frankfurt a good city for immigrants?

Yes. Frankfurt ranks among the best cities in Germany for foreigners in finance and international careers. It passed the 50 percent migration-background mark in 2016, so newcomers meet few barriers to everyday life. Rent is the second highest of the cities compared (€17.80 per square metre), and nightlife is quieter than in Berlin or Cologne.

Sources

• GREIX Mietpreisindex, Q2 2026 and Q3 2025, Kiel Institute for the World Economy.

• Arbeitslosenquote in den größten deutschen Städten 2024, Federal and State Statistical Offices, via Statista, 2025.

• Bevölkerung nach Migrationshintergrund, Erstergebnisse 2024, Federal Statistical Office, via Federal Agency for Civic Education.

• Federal Employment Agency, March 2026 figures, via Frankfurter Rundschau analysis.

• Wissenschaft weltoffen 2025, DAAD and DZHW, November 2025.

• Japan Day Düsseldorf/NRW press release, City of Düsseldorf, PR Newswire, 2017.

• Frankfurt migration data, Journal Frankfurt, 2015 data; Federal Agency for Civic Education, Frankfurt 2016.

• Der Migrationshintergrund, Landeshauptstadt München, 2023.

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