München : The most expensive city in Germany

There is enough office accommodation everywhere. In recent years a lot has been built and put on the market at high prices. But there’s still a shortage of housing – despite state subsidies. Prices and conditions vary greatly, however: it makes a lot of difference whether you live in northern or southern Germany, in a big city, small town or in the country.
It all depends of course on where you work. An hour’s commute is the maximum German employees expect.
If your journey takes an hour and a half or longer, colleagues look on you with a touch of admiration – or pity. And an employer may ask cautiously if it wouldn’t be better to find somewhere to live a little closer. People in Germany tend to stay put once they’ve built or bought a house. They are reluctant to move once they’ve become homeowners, and often stay in the same place till the end of their life.

It’s easier to find somewhere to live in northern Germany, somewhere that isn’t too expensive. In southern German, however, and especially in the Munich area, prices have soared.

Munich is the most expensive city in Germany. Even Frankfurt am Main has dropped behind. There are several reasons for this: the attractive setting and the surrounding countryside, the proximity of Austria and Italy, and also employment prospects. A lot of people travel to Munich not just on holiday or for leisure purposes, but also to work. In the past agriculture was the most important factor in Bavaria’s economy. But all that changed some while ago. The number of farms is dropping all the time.
Munich has become a powerful industrial centre: high-tech firms have set up business, famous car-makers such as BMW are based here, and the city is also a centre of the film and TV industry. The new airport has become an important international hub, and the new exhibition centre attracts exhibitors and visitors in large numbers from far and wide.