In short
Berlin is the cheaper capital: a single person with a central 1-bedroom spends about €2,370 a month, against about €3,465 in Amsterdam. Neither has a digital nomad, retirement or golden visa — most Americans move with a job offer, their own business or study. Citizenship takes about 5 years of residence in both. Every figure below is checked against official sources.
The verdict
Which Country Fits You?
Where one side is clearly better for most Americans, it gets the point — the rest depends on your plans.
Choose the Netherlands if…
- You qualify for a special tax regime: 30% ruling — 30% of salary tax-free for up to 5 years.
- You will run a company — corporate tax is 19% up to €200,000, 25.8% above.
- You want to work for yourself: DAFT — invest €4,500 in your own business; family may work (US citizens only).
Choose Germany if…
- You want lower costs — about €1,100 a month less for a single person with a central 1-bedroom in Berlin.
- You have a job offer — the EU Blue Card salary bar is lower: €50,700 a year (€45,934 for shortage jobs, graduates and IT).
- You are a founder: self-employment permit — no minimum investment; freelance permit for liberal professions.
Digital Nomad Visa
Neither Country Has a Digital Nomad Visa
| Netherlands | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Digital nomad visa | NetherlandsNone | GermanyNone |
| Apply from inside the country | NetherlandsYes — no entry visa needed; apply after arriving visa-free | GermanyYes — any permit at the local foreigners office after visa-free entry |
| Special tax regime | Netherlands30% ruling — 30% of salary tax-free for up to 5 years✓ | GermanyNone |
| Public healthcare | NetherlandsMandatory private basic insurance — about €159 a month (2026) | GermanyPublic insurance about 8.75% of salary for employees, plus care insurance |
| Main work permit | NetherlandsHighly skilled migrant — €5,942 a month (age 30+), €4,357 under 30 (2026) | GermanyAmericans may take any job with Federal Employment Agency approval; skilled-worker permit up to 4 years |
Cost of Living
Berlin Is About €1,100 a Month Cheaper
| Netherlands | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-bed apartment, city centre | Netherlandsabout €2,329 (Amsterdam) | Germanyabout €1,320 (Berlin)✓ |
| 1-bed apartment, outside centre | Netherlandsabout €1,743 (Amsterdam) | Germanyabout €995 (Berlin)✓ |
| Everyday costs, single person (no rent) | Netherlandsabout €1,135 (Amsterdam) | Germanyabout €1,050 (Berlin)✓ |
| Total a month — single, central 1-bed | Netherlandsabout €3,465 (Amsterdam) | Germanyabout €2,370 (Berlin)✓ |
Living costs: Numbeo estimates for the capital (2026), as shown with sources on each city guide and in the key facts below.
Tax & Business
Taxes & Company Rules
| Netherlands | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | Netherlands35.75% to 49.50% (2026) | Germany14% rising to 42% (45% for top incomes); €12,348 tax-free |
| Special tax regime | Netherlands30% ruling — 30% of salary tax-free for up to 5 years✓ | GermanyNone |
| Usual company | NetherlandsBV — no minimum capital; notarial deed | GermanyGmbH — €25,000 capital (€12,500 at formation), or UG from €1; notary needed |
| Corporate tax | Netherlands19% up to €200,000, 25.8% above✓ | GermanyAbout 30% in Berlin incl. trade tax |
| US tax treaty | Netherlands1992 treaty; Social Security agreement since 1990 | Germany1989 treaty with a 2006 protocol |
US citizens & Green Card holdersThe US still taxes you
Wherever you live, the US taxes its citizens on worldwide income. You keep filing a US return, and an FBAR once your foreign accounts total more than $10,000 at any time in the year.
Settling In
Permanent Residence, Citizenship & Healthcare
| Netherlands | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent residence | NetherlandsAfter 5 years, with a civic integration diploma | GermanyAfter 5 years — 21–27 months with a Blue Card, 3 years for skilled workers |
| Citizenship | Netherlands5 years and an integration exam; you normally must give up US citizenship | Germany5 years, B1 German and a test; dual citizenship allowed |
| Public healthcare | NetherlandsMandatory private basic insurance — about €159 a month (2026) | GermanyPublic insurance about 8.75% of salary for employees, plus care insurance |
Daily Life
Daily Life in Amsterdam and Berlin
| Netherlands | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (capital) | NetherlandsAbout 942,500 (2026) | GermanyAbout 3.7 million (2025) |
| Public transport (capital) | NetherlandsTap a bank card or phone on all public transport | GermanyDeutschlandticket €63 a month — all local transport in Germany |
| Nonstop flights to the US | NetherlandsNonstop to Schiphol from many US cities — KLM alone serves 15 | GermanyNonstop to Frankfurt and Munich from many US cities; Berlin from Newark and JFK |
| Currency | NetherlandsEuro | GermanyEuro |
FAQ
Netherlands or Germany? Your questions
Is Amsterdam or Berlin cheaper?
Berlin is cheaper: a single person with a central 1-bedroom spends about €2,370 a month there, against about €3,465 in Amsterdam (Numbeo, 2026). Rent for a central 1-bedroom is about €2,329 in Amsterdam and €1,320 in Berlin.
Does the Netherlands or Germany have a digital nomad visa?
The Netherlands has no digital nomad visa. Germany has no digital nomad visa.
How long until I can get citizenship?
The Netherlands: 5 years and an integration exam; you normally must give up US citizenship. Germany: 5 years, B1 German and a test; dual citizenship allowed.
Do I still pay US taxes if I move?
Yes. The US taxes its citizens on worldwide income wherever they live. You keep filing a US return, and an FBAR once your foreign accounts total more than $10,000. Foreign tax credits and the treaties usually prevent paying twice on the same income.
Netherlands vs Germany: key factsLast verified 30 September 2026
| Netherlands: Amsterdam rent | 1-bedroom about €2,329 a month in the centre and €1,743 outside (Numbeo, September 2026) Source: Numbeo: Cost of Living in Amsterdam |
|---|---|
| Netherlands: Amsterdam living costs | A single person spends about €1,135 a month without rent — about €3,460 with a central 1-bedroom (Numbeo, September 2026) Source: Numbeo: Cost of Living in Amsterdam |
| Germany: 1-bed apartment, Berlin | about €1,320/month in the centre, €995 outside estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Berlin (Sep 2026) |
| Germany: Living costs, single person (Berlin) | about €1,050/month without rent estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Berlin (Sep 2026) |
| Germany: Digital nomad visa | None — and no official plan for a remote-work permit has been announced Source: Make it in Germany: self-employment |
| Netherlands: Entry visa | US citizens are exempt from the entry visa (MVV) and can apply for a residence permit after arriving visa-free Source: IND: MVV exemptions |
| Germany: Where to apply | US citizens can get any residence permit (Blue Card, skilled worker, freelance, study) at the local foreigners office after visa-free entry Source: Residence Ordinance § 41 (AufenthV) |
| Netherlands: 30% ruling | 30% of salary tax-free for up to 5 years for employees recruited from abroad earning over €48,013 taxable (€36,497 under 30 with a master's) in 2026; 27% from 2027 Source: AWVN: Salariscriteria kennismigranten en 30%-regeling 2026 · Rendement: 30%-regeling wordt 27%-regeling · Law & More: 30% ruling 2026/2027 |
| Netherlands: Health insurance | Mandatory Dutch basic insurance within 4 months of arrival — about €159 a month on average in 2026, with a €385 yearly deductible Source: Government.nl: Health insurance and residence permit · Consumentenbond: Zorgverzekeringen 2026 · Overstappen.nl: Zorgpremies 2026 bekend |
| Germany: Public health insurance | 14.6% + average add-on 2.9% (2026), split with the employer — employees pay about 8.75% plus care insurance Source: Federal Ministry of Health: contributions 2026 |
| Netherlands: Highly skilled migrant | Salary of at least €5,942 a month (age 30+), €4,357 (under 30) or €3,122 (recent graduates) in 2026, from an IND-recognised sponsor; permit up to 5 years Source: IND: Required amounts income requirements · IND: Highly skilled migrant |
| Germany: § 26 BeschV nationals | US, Canadian, Australian, UK, Israeli, Japanese, Korean and NZ citizens may take any job, regardless of where the employer is based, with Federal Employment Agency approval (priority check) Source: Employment Ordinance § 26 (BeschV) |
| Netherlands: Income tax | Box 1 in 2026: 35.75% up to €38,883, 37.56% up to €78,426, 49.50% above (below state pension age) Source: Belastingdienst: Voorlopige aanslag 2026 tarieven |
| Germany: Income tax | Tax-free allowance €12,348 (2026); 14% rising to 42% and 45% for top incomes Source: Federal Ministry of Finance: main tax changes 2026 |
| Netherlands: Usual company type | BV (private limited company): no minimum capital since 2012, formed by notarial deed and registered with KvK Source: Business.gov.nl: Private limited company (bv) |
| Germany: Company types | GmbH with €25,000 capital (€12,500 paid in at formation) or UG from €1 Source: Limited Liability Companies Act § 5 (GmbHG) |
| Netherlands: Corporate tax | 19% on the first €200,000 of profit and 25.8% on the rest (2026) Source: KVK: Vennootschapsbelasting |
| Germany: Corporate tax | 15% + 5.5% solidarity surcharge (15.825%), plus trade tax — about 30% in Berlin, 33% in Munich; falling by 1 point a year from 2028 to 10% in 2032 Source: Corporate Tax Act § 23 (15%) · Federal Law Gazette 2025 I No. 161: investment programme (corporate tax cut) · Berlin Senate: trade tax FAQ · City of Munich: trade tax multipliers |
| Netherlands: US tax treaty | The 1992 US–Netherlands income tax treaty (2004 protocol) applies; the saving clause keeps US taxation of citizens Source: IRS: Netherlands tax treaty documents |
| Germany: US tax treaty | 1989 treaty with 2006 protocol; saving clause lets the US tax its citizens Source: US Congress report on the 2006 US–Germany protocol |
| Netherlands: Permanent residence | After 5 years: civic integration diploma and sustainable, sufficient income required (fee €254) Source: IND: Long-term EU resident permit · IND: Fees (valid 1 Jan–31 Dec 2026) |
| Germany: Permanent residence (general) | After 5 years with 60 months of pension contributions and B1 German; faster routes for Blue Card, skilled workers and the self-employed Source: Residence Act § 9 (settlement permit) |
| Netherlands: Citizenship | Naturalisation after 5 years with a civic integration exam (at least A2); you must normally give up US citizenship, unless an exemption applies (e.g. married to a Dutch citizen) Source: IND: Becoming a Dutch national through naturalisation · IND: Renouncing your nationality |
| Germany: Citizenship | 5 years of residence (since June 2024), B1 German and a test; the 3-year fast track was abolished in October 2025; dual citizenship allowed; fee €255 Source: bpb: reform of citizenship law (2024) · Bundestag: abolition of the 3-year fast track (Oct 2025) · BAMF: naturalisation |
| Netherlands: Amsterdam population | 942,504 on 1 January 2026 Source: NH Nieuws: Amsterdam groeit verder naar ruim 940.000 inwoners (CBS) |
| Germany: Berlin population | About 3.7 million (official, end of 2025) Source: Statistics Berlin-Brandenburg: population December 2025 |
| Netherlands: Public transport | Pay by tapping a bank card or phone (OVpay) on trains, trams, metro and buses; subscriptions use the OV-chipkaart Source: I amsterdam: Pay for public transport |
| Germany: Berlin transport | AB single €4.00; Deutschlandticket €63 a month; BER airport to Hauptbahnhof 23 minutes by FEX train Source: VBB: fares from 1 January 2026 · Deutschlandticket · BER: rail connection from December 2025 |
| Netherlands: Flights from the US | Nonstop to Amsterdam Schiphol from many US cities — KLM alone serves 15 US destinations (since 2025), plus Delta and United Source: The Bulkhead Seat: KLM adds its 15th US destination (San Diego, 2025) |
| Germany: Flights from the US | Nonstop to Frankfurt and Munich from many US cities; Berlin (BER) from Newark and New York JFK Source: BER: summer schedule 2026 |
| Germany: Self-employment permit (§ 21(1)) | Economic interest or regional need, positive effect on the economy and secured financing; no minimum investment Source: Make it in Germany: self-employment |
Go deeper
The full guides
Across Europe
Every guide and comparison
- OverviewMove to Europe
- CountriesAll 29 Countries
- LivingExpat Guides
- RetirementRetire by Country
- CitiesBest Cities to Live In
- BusinessCompany Formation
- FoundersStartup Visas
- InvestorsGolden Visas
- Remote workDigital Nomad Visas
- RetirementRetirement Visas
- CitizenshipCitizenship by Descent
- CostsCost of Living
- HealthHealthcare
- TaxTax Residency
- PetsMoving with Pets
- DrivingUS Driver's License
- PropertyBuying Property
- EducationStudy in Europe
- SafetySafety & Stability
- WorkWork-Life Balance
- TravelTravel & Schengen
- LifestyleLifestyle
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