Looking to buy our first apartment in Germany

I have been on a long journey to decide where to buy our first home in Germany. This is not simply a question of price, but of how a city feels to live in, its rhythm, its spaces, and how well it meets both our needs and our way of life. While we plan to live mainly in Asia in the near future, we want to buy our first apartment in Germany to have a fixed point here as well, a place we can always return to. Over the years in Germany, I have lived in Heidelberg (she lived in Gengenbach around that time), Berlin, Frankfurt, Oldenburg, and now in Chemnitz, and each city has shaped how I think about where we should settle. I picture quiet, leafy streets, high ceilings, wood parquet floors, light-filled rooms, good vegetarian food within reach, reliable (English-speaking) doctors, quality schools, fast internet, and the ability to move around without a car. It should welcome us as an international couple and allow us to live with both comfort and openness without being too expensive. East Germany offers exactly that.

For example, Chemnitz is quiet, small, and very affordable. Large renovated apartments cost around €1,200 to €2,000 per square meter, meaning €120,000 to €200,000 for 100 square meters (our favorite area being Kaßberg). Prices are surprisingly close to Timisoara, the city I was born and studied (my favorite areas in Timisoara being Circumvalatiunii, Dacia, Unirii, and Victoriei) in Romania. Chemnitz has a technical university (TU Chemnitz), parks, and improving infrastructure, though English-speaking services and international diversity remain limited. Its economy is mostly industrial with few large global employers, which keeps housing demand moderate. Also, it doesn’t have an airport, people going usually to Leipzig (1h distance).

Dresden feels elegant, orderly, and exceptionally clean. In Blasewitz or Striesen, well-kept historic apartments cost between €4,500 and €6,500 per square meter, or €450,000 to €650,000 for 100 square meters. Healthcare is excellent, safety is high, and the economy benefits from employers such as Siemens, Bosch, and Globalfoundries. However, it is less international than other cities we have considered, English is less common, and the airport is small. It offers calm stability more than constant variety.

Leipzig (also known as HypeZig and considered „the new Berlin“) strikes a balance between cost, energy, and livability. In Gohlis-Süd, Gohlis-Mitte, or Schleußig, renovated Altbau apartments cost between €3,500 and €5,000 per square meter, or €350,000 to €500,000 for 100 square meters. The city combines the charm of historic villas and leafy streets with the convenience of good public transport and a layout that works well without a car. It is one of the most bike-friendly cities in Germany, flat and connected with dedicated lanes. Its economy includes the DHL global hub and a massive Amazon warehouse, ensuring strong logistics and trade activity. Leipzig’s cultural life has a youthful energy, shaped by artists, musicians, and independent businesses that thrive here because the city is still affordable. The food scene is diverse and growing, with many vegetarian and Indian options, as well as good international restaurants. An international school is located close to the neighborhoods we like (Gohlis-Süd, Gohlis-Mitte, Schleußig), and doctors, clinics, and everyday services are easy to reach. The airport offers good European connections (e.g., direct flights to Tenerife) and is only 90 minutes by train from Berlin Brandenburg Airport for long-haul flights. The pace is steady, with enough movement to keep life interesting but without the chaos of a much larger city. The airport is also better than the one in Dresden.

Berlin is the largest and most global, full of languages, ideas, and cuisines from around the world. It is also a startup capital with major universities and cultural institutions. You can live almost entirely in English, but in the areas that suit us (Schöneberg, Friedenau), property prices are between €6,000 and €9,000 or more per square meter, meaning €600,000 to €900,000 or more for 100 square meters. It offers unmatched variety, but space and calm come at a cost which we cannot afford as of now. Its airport is big and international.

Frankfurt is smaller and more corporate than Berlin, a financial hub with constant international business travel. It has excellent transport links, a strong international community, and high prices similar to Berlin. It is efficient and well-connected, but lacks the charm and greenery of some other cities. It has the biggest and best international airport I know in Germany.

Heidelberg is beautiful (my favorite small city in Germany), safe, and academic, with the old town and the river giving it timeless elegance. Its economy is shaped by the university and research institutions. Property in its best areas is as expensive as in Frankfurt, and while it offers peace and beauty, it is smaller in scope for international variety. It has no airport, for this the closest being the one in Frankfurt.

Oldenburg is calm and friendly, with affordable housing between €250,000 and €350,000 for 100 square meters and a good quality of life. It is best suited for those who prioritize routine over cultural variety, and it is far from the international openness we seek. The closest airport is the one in Bremen.

Munich is in many ways Germany’s most desirable city to live in (my favorite big city in Germany), clean, green, safe, and very well connected internationally. It has a strong economy with BMW, Siemens, Allianz, and many tech firms. Its cultural life is rich, and the Alps are close. But for the lifestyle we want, the price is prohibitive, between €9,000 and €14,000 per square meter in central desirable areas, so a 100 square meter apartment can cost between €900,000 and €1.4 million or more. It offers almost everything, but at a cost that would restrict space and freedom. It has second best international airport after Frankfurt am Main.

We also considered Köln due to being vibrant, multicultural, and full of life. It has excellent vegetarian and vegan food options, a wide variety of world cuisines, and one of the largest immigrant communities in Germany. English is widely spoken, especially in professional settings and the service industry. The city’s cultural calendar is packed, from Carnival to major trade fairs, and it has a strong media and creative industry. However, property is expensive compared to Leipzig, with good areas costing €5,000 to €7,000 per square meter, or €500,000 to €700,000 for 100 square meters. It is also busier, denser, and has less of the leafy villa atmosphere we are drawn to. Green space exists but is more limited within central areas, and cycling is less smooth due to traffic congestion.

If I imagine a perfect and affordable city for us, it would combine Munich’s quality of life, Berlin’s diversity, Leipzig’s affordability and creative energy, Dresden’s cleanliness and healthcare, Köln’s cultural vibrancy, Frankfurt’s business connectivity, Heidelberg’s beauty, Oldenburg’s manageability, and Chemnitz’s spaciousness, all for under €400,000 for 100 square meters in a safe, green, walkable neighborhood. None of the cities is perfect for our budget and metrics, but each offers something valuable.

For now, Leipzig offers the best combination for our present life, with space, greenery, character, cultural variety, and a pace that allows breathing room. Dresden seems to be the most stable for long-term quiet comfort, Munich the dream if price were no barrier, Berlin the world city if space did not matter (we want minimum 85 square meters, ideally more than 100 square meters), Köln the best for international food and events, and Chemnitz the budget choice if cost were the only concern (I often think that buying also a 1-2 room apartment in Chemnitz-Kaßberg just for investment purposes is not a bad idea, because I saw many here being around €50,000).

Yes, we’ve looked at some apartments in the Leipzig Gohlis-Süd and -Mitte areas over the past couple of weeks, but we still need a bit more time before making a final decision. I’ll share it here once it’s been made.