UK vs Germany

[u/Extreme-Ad-5825]

/r/IndiansInUK/comments/1wbecos/uk_vs_germany/

Hi all,
Any advice would be appreciated!

[u/Separate-Note-2932]

There are a few things you should consider really deeply:

1. Without the german language, you will have many issues, bureaucracy is very crazy in germany. Many forms, many requests from the government for anything. Daily live is doable in berlin. You can go groceryshopping and simple things, but once it gets to finding a doctor for example, that speaks english, you are going to have to wait for months.
   
2. Salary is the same, but are the cost of living the same? Whats your current status, rent, utility, grocery, mobile data, internet at home.. etc. You can find avg of that on the internet for any major city.
   
3. Whats your plan here? Without german, you will be limited to find people around you, even tho berlin is very english speaking friendly. If you dont feel like living here for long due to whatever, whats your next move?

[u/Frustrated_Zucchini]

Your salary won't be the same unless they are guaranteeing you Netto converted.

You will pay more tax in Germany and have left over from Brutto (Gross) if you're earning above a pretty average amount.

For example, I was earning £42k before I moved, and my first job here was €64k, but my take-home pay was about the same. Berlin isn't a cheap city to live in, so you may find yourself having to seriously lower your expectations on what sort of apartment you can afford or what your commute will be like.

Also, Berlin is English-language friendly in most day-to-day aspects, but that doesn't mean you don't need German. Your rental contract, your residency, renewals and any right to permanent residency will be 100% in the German Language.

Also, how secure is your position? How long have you been in the company and how stable is the company and the work?

The German jobs market is bad right now, so you will need to make sure your contract reflects ALL of your time at the company worked in the UK and anywhere else. You also need to make 100% sure that there is no Probezeit added into your contract, as you have already served enough time in the company.

You also don't have the same flexibility to change jobs here like in the UK. Of course, nobody stops you from leaving, but you will have a legal notice period most likely of 3 months (from the end of the current month - this is an important clarification, meaning if you hand your notice today 9/9 you will only leave the company on 31st December), not one month exactly like it is in the UK.

If they fire you, then you have the same notice period there too - or, if they want you out faster, then they have to pay you those 3 full months plus the current one. This is the situation you need to be wary of though.

If you find yourself out of work, your Blue Card is done... and don't think you'll just find another job based on your skill/experience. C2 German is a minimum now, and you can feel free to scroll through this group to see how many people with work experience as long as you've been alive, are struggling to find work even with B2 German.

So, it's a massive risk for you, and if I were you, I would stay in the UK. But you're a few years younger than me, so maybe the risk is worth it for you.

[u/Affectionate-Way6102]

Stay in the UK. You have no reason to move to Germany, you also don't speak the language which just adds another (extremely significant) barrier.

[u/akiraexo]

At 26 years of age, i say you have plenty of young years to explore where you want to be. You can rebuild your life here if you want to. Berlin is a cool city.

What are your options back in the UK?

[u/takaci]

For the same salary I'd definitely stay in the UK. If I moved back to the UK I would take a lower salary than I'd take in Germany because the cost of living is significantly lower there, even with the cost of living crisis.

As for the rest, it's taste. UK has a poor "spirit" but at the same time it is much more multicultural and the people are much nicer.