potential career move to berlin - thoughts?

[shirt]

hi all,

in short, i'm facing a career crossroads and one option is a role based in berlin. i'd be moving from the UAE so other than the job stuff, what i want to know is:

- what's a 'good' salary? how much do you need after tax for a comfortable lifestyle? i'm single, no kids, but i like racing and live well so my outgoings are pretty much the same as if i had kids

- what is the tax regime? its been 10yrs since i paid any, i literally have no clue. any additional taxes to be aware of, pension scheme etc.?

- what should i be googling to look at property prices [rental and purchase]? i'm not having much luck searching using english terms. how is the property market? i remember berlin being cheap as chips 10yrs ago, doesn't look that way at all now.

- anyone here live in/near berlin? where's a good area to live? i'm a city mouse but also need space for 3 cars, a workshop and a growing motorbike habit...

- oh yeah, ich kann nicht sehr gut deutsch sprechen. i don't think this will be an issue work wise but perhaps may be in daily life?

- how's the general feel of the place? economy, politics, society, crime etc? dubai is like being in cotton wool sometimes, you forget about such things but then immediately notice them on return to europe.

- for those who've made germany their home having come from elsewhere, would you recommend it?

ETA: what’s the process and rules for importing vehicles? I have a Canadian market 2006 lotus elise (nonCoC) and a uae market 2013 Ducati. Would I get these registered? Worth more there and work would pay the shipping etc.

Cheers!

Edited by shirt on Monday 6th January 13:49

[JMGS4]

shirt said:

hi all,
in short, i'm facing a career crossroads and one option is a role based in berlin. i'd be moving from the UAE so other than the job stuff, what i want to know is:
- what's a 'good' salary? how much do you need after tax for a comfortable lifestyle? i'm single, no kids, but i like racing and live well so my outgoings are pretty much the same as if i had kids

- what is the tax regime? its been 10yrs since i paid any, i literally have no clue. any additional taxes to be aware of, pension scheme etc.?

- what should i be googling to look at property prices [rental and purchase]? i'm not having much luck searching using english terms. how is the property market? i remember berlin being cheap as chips 10yrs ago, doesn't look that way at all now.

- anyone here live in/near berlin? where's a good area to live? i'm a city mouse but also need space for 3 cars, a workshop and a growing motorbike habit...

- oh yeah, ich kann nicht sehr gut deutsch sprechen. i don't think this will be an issue work wise but perhaps may be in daily life?

- how's the general feel of the place? economy, politics, society, crime etc? dubai is like being in cotton wool sometimes, you forget about such things but then immediately notice them on return to europe.

- for those who've made germany their home having come from elsewhere, would you recommend it?

ETA: what’s the process and rules for importing vehicles? I have a Canadian market 2006 lotus elise (nonCoC) and a uae market 2013 Ducati. Would I get these registered? Worth more there and work would pay the shipping etc.

Cheers!

Good salary: If you've been working as a taxfree ex-pat don't expect Berlin to pay you as well... IMHO around €7500,-p.m. before tax for a salaried qualified worker...... however not knowing your background that's a shot in the dark.....

TAX: as a singleton expect tax and reductions (pension, health etc) to be around 47-52%

Housing: Berlin has become ridiculously expensive, if you're looking for room expect to have to move out of town (30-50kms), especially with 3 cars and a bike and wanting a workshop.... methinks an old business property or a farm?

Residency: after 31. Jan 2020 don't expect to be able to get residency.... GB (thank goodness) is out of the EU, so you have no rights to live in the EU, perhaps your employer can get you a workvisa.....

Language: you'll have to learn German, will probably be a requirement for a workvisa after 31. Jan! (Have a Nephew who's lived in Berlin for the last 5 years, he expects to lose residency rights)....

Atmosphere in Germany: expect all burocrats (Beamten) to be self-righteus and obnoxious, pernickerty down to the last dot and comma, especially if you're a "foreigner", of course the exception proves the rule!. Germany is run by rules and regulations, no burocrat can take their own initiative, their very existence relies on paperwork..... provided you can live under/with these rules, some ridiculous and some very good, expect it to grate.....
Germans can be/are very welcoming provided you meet them on their terms i.e. speak their language and join in, especially a club (Verein), then you'll get to know them. They expect you to integrate, they'll not come to you...... They DO have a sense of humour, however they can't understand British black humour, they're more slapstick, Benny Hill type....

Economy etc: economy is still staying fairly level, but expecting a downturn esp in traditional businesses (engineering, vehicles, vehicle supply and manufacture) IT is still very behind the times, slow internet etc....

I've lived here for almost 50 years, what with military service and privately, wouldn't go back to GB as I'm "germanified"...

Import of vehicles: unless they have an EU compliancy certificate it can be very expensive, initial compliany inspection can cost €2000,-, then you have to modify to meet German (not EU) law, then import tax and VAT and insure.... Unless you have a specialist helping you I'd avoid it wherever I could....

Hope this helps.....