Munich is famous for its pretzel franchises and is home to one of the most successful German football organizations, the FC Bayern Munich club. More than 1.5 million people live in Munich, and 37% of those are foreign nationals, mainly coming from the European Union.
Another tour is finished, and you’re set to be posted in Bavaria’s capital. How does one settle-in in Munich? Here are a few pointers for you to consider as you prepare for your move to Italy’s “most northerly city.”
An Overview of Munich
No. It isn’t part of Italy but because of the lifestyle, e.g., chasing after the sun as soon as it is out and staying outside for coffee, the moniker “Italy’s most northerly city” stuck. It’s landlocked, and the only way to enjoy the sun is to sit outside for coffee. If you want to enjoy the beach and the sun, you’d have to travel more than 450 miles (724 km) somewhere down south to Croatia or San Marino in Italy.
Bavarians have a strong sense of “national identity.” While they consider themselves as “Germans,” they are first Bavarians. But you won’t have to worry about a possible political turmoil brought about by separatism. Bavarians have generally accepted the union with Germany.
Living in Munich
A total of about 120,000 American’s are living in Munich, excluding some 50,000 military personnel spread across the different military bases in the country. Here are a few more things to keep in mind when moving to Munich.
- Like home. America’s influence in the city is unmistakable. Nearly 7,000 Americans live in the town, so there is a large community that you can lean on. You won’t have to worry about craving for America’s fast food as McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC, and other similar brands can be found in the city.
- Cost of living. The cost of living in Munich is high. It is much higher than living in Berlin, for example. Make an itemized list of your typical expenses and see where you can slash your budget to make way for the higher living cost in the city. Budget around € 19 or $21 per square meter of space per month. An 860 square foot (80 sqm) flat will cost roughly €1,500 or $1,656.
- Multi-cultural and more cosmopolitan. The shopping district, the architecture, museums, and commercial institutions like banks are all top-notch. Multi-culturalism is highlighted by the tens of thousands of Turks, Albanians, Croats, Serbs, Greeks, Austrians, and Italians living in the city.
- Bank account. One of the very first things that you need to do when you get to Munich is to get a German bank account. This is necessary if you want to rent a space or sign-up for facilities such as internet connection and electricity. Check out for banks that will allow you to open an account online.
- Public transportation. Public transportation is one of the best in the world, but they are not cheap. Trams, trains, and buses are all easily accessible, and nothing is powered better by German efficiency than public transportation. Public transportation is practically never late. If they are, announcements informing the public of the delay are immediately released.
Munich is dark and gloomy during the winter, but loud and vibrant during the summer. There are plenty of more things to know, but these are just some realities you’d have to deal with head-on when you settle in Munich.
