THE COMPLETE EXPAT & RELOCATION GUIDE FOR FRANKFURT (2026)
Whether you are relocating for work, moving with your family, or building a business in Germany's financial capital, this guide covers everything you need for your move to Frankfurt am Main.
WHY FRANKFURT? EUROPE'S FINANCIAL CAPITAL
Frankfurt is far more than banks and skyline. With around 781,000 residents it is Germany's fifth-largest city and its most international: over 30% of the population hold a non-German passport, more than 180 nationalities are represented, and 93 consulates are based here. The European Central Bank, Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank and KfW steer European financial policy from Frankfurt. Since Brexit, over 60 financial firms have relocated staff from London, including Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan.
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is Germany's largest with direct connections to over 300 destinations in 98 countries. The new Terminal 3, opened on 22 April 2026, adds capacity for 19 million passengers annually. Messe Frankfurt, the world's largest trade fair organiser, attracts over 4.9 million visitors per year. Add a compact city with short commutes, excellent public transport and a 63 € monthly ticket for all local transit nationwide.
FRANKFURT AT A GLANCE
| Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Population | ~781,000 (city), ~5.8 million (Rhine-Main region) |
| Language | German (English widely spoken in finance and international companies) |
| Currency | Euro (€) |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) / CEST (UTC+2 in summer) |
| Key industries | Finance & banking, consulting, law, trade fairs, pharma, logistics, IT |
| Avg. rent (1-bed, furnished) | ~1,400 to 2,000 €/month |
| Climate | Temperate, warm summers (~20°C), mild winters (~2°C) |
| Airport | Frankfurt Airport (FRA), S-Bahn to Hauptbahnhof in 11 min |
VISA AND IMMIGRATION
Germany's reformed Skilled Immigration Act has created the most open immigration framework in the country's history.
EU / EEA / SWISS CITIZENS
Full freedom of movement, no visa required. Only obligation: address registration within two weeks.
NON-EU PROFESSIONALS: THE EU BLUE CARD
Salary thresholds 2026:
| Category | Gross annual salary |
|---|---|
| General threshold | 50,700 € |
| Shortage occupations (IT, STEM, healthcare, logistics) | 45,934 € |
| IT professionals with 3+ years experience (no degree) | 45,934 € |
| Employees over 45 (first application) | 55,770 € |
Permanent residence after 33 months, or 21 months with B1 German. Spouses receive automatic work permits.
THE CHANCENKARTE (OPPORTUNITY CARD)
Allows up to 12 months of job-seeking without a job offer. Fee: 75 €.
ADDRESS REGISTRATION (ANMELDUNG)
Required within two weeks of moving in. Frankfurt has eleven registration offices, and since August 2024 the Anmeldung can be completed entirely online via wohnsitzanmeldung.de. Documents needed: passport, registration form, Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (landlord confirmation).
HOUSING IN FRANKFURT
Frankfurt's regular rental market has a vacancy rate of 0.1%. For newcomers without a Schufa credit history, a furnished apartment is the logical first step: move-in ready, all-inclusive rent, Anmeldung possible, no Schufa required.
Furnished apartments. Studios from 1,100 €, two-bedroom from 1,700 €, premium from 3,500 €. All utilities included.
Serviced apartments. With cleaning and concierge. From 1,500 €/month. Ideal for stays of two weeks to six months.
Best neighbourhoods for expats. Westend (banks, premium), Nordend (urban, families), Sachsenhausen (culture, river views), Ostend (ECB), Bockenheim (value), Europaviertel (modern), Taunus belt (families, green).
⇒ Browse furnished apartments in Frankfurt
COST OF LIVING
| Item | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Furnished apartment (1-bed, central) | 1,400 to 2,000 € |
| Groceries | 350 to 500 € |
| DeutschlandTicket | 63 € |
| Health insurance (public, employee share) | ~400 to 500 € |
| Gym membership | 30 to 80 € |
| Restaurant meal (mid-range, 2 persons) | 60 to 100 € |
| Internet (in furnished apartment) | Included |
| Liability insurance | ~5 € |
HEALTHCARE
Germany has a dual health insurance system: public (GKV) and private (PKV).
Public insurance (GKV). Mandatory for employees earning below 73,800 € gross per year (2026). Contribution rate approximately 14.6% plus supplementary premium, employee pays roughly half. Major providers: TK (Techniker Krankenkasse), Barmer, AOK Hessen, DAK. Family members without income are covered at no extra cost.
Private insurance (PKV). Available above 73,800 € gross or for self-employed. Often lower premiums for young, healthy individuals, but premiums rise with age and there is no family co-insurance.
Key hospitals. Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt (Niederrad, 8,500+ employees), Bürgerhospital (Nordend), Markus-Krankenhaus (Ginnheim), Krankenhaus Nordwest (Steinbach/Praunheim). English-speaking specialists are concentrated in Westend, Nordend and Sachsenhausen.
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS
| School | Location | Curriculum | Fees/year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frankfurt International School (FIS) | Oberursel / Wiesbaden | IB (PYP, MYP, DP) | 11,590 to 29,210 € |
| ISF International School Frankfurt | Sindlingen | IB / SABIS | ~15,450 € |
| European School Frankfurt | Nordweststadt | European Baccalaureate | Free for ECB staff, others variable |
| Fintosch International Primary School | Westend | Bilingual DE/EN | ~10,000 to 14,000 € |
| Phorms Bilingual School | Nordend / Steinbach | Bilingual DE/EN | ~5,460 to 7,500 € |
| Strothoff International School | Dreieich (south of FFM) | IB (PYP, MYP, DP) | ~12,000 to 16,000 € |
| Obermayr International School | Schwalbach a.T. | International / German | ~16,200 to 16,600 € |
FIS and ISF are the main options for families seeking fully English-language education. The European School primarily serves ECB families. Apply early: waiting lists are common, especially at FIS and the European School.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Frankfurt has nine U-Bahn lines, an extensive S-Bahn network, and numerous tram and bus routes.
S-Bahn City Tunnel. Hauptbahnhof, Hauptwache, Konstablerwache, Ostendstraße, Frankfurt Süd: connects Gallus, Innenstadt, Ostend and Sachsenhausen on a single through-route.
S8/S9. Airport to Hauptbahnhof in 11 to 14 minutes, 24-hour service.
U4. The single most useful line: Bockenheim, Messe/Europaviertel, Hauptbahnhof, Innenstadt, Bornheim.
DeutschlandTicket. 63 €/month for all local and regional public transport nationwide, including S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams, buses and regional trains. Valid for trips to Wiesbaden, Darmstadt, Offenbach and the airport.
ICE. Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof is Germany's second-largest station. Berlin in 4 hours, Munich in 3.5 hours, Cologne in 1 hour, Paris in 3.5 hours.
WORKING IN FRANKFURT
| Industry / Position | Gross annual salary (median) |
|---|---|
| Investment banking (Analyst/Associate) | 65,000 to 120,000 € |
| Management consulting (Consultant/Manager) | 60,000 to 110,000 € |
| IT / Software engineering | 55,000 to 90,000 € |
| Law (Associate, top-tier firm) | 80,000 to 140,000 € |
| Pharma / Life sciences | 55,000 to 85,000 € |
| Trade fairs / Events / Marketing | 42,000 to 65,000 € |
| Logistics / Supply chain | 45,000 to 70,000 € |
Major employers. ECB (5,000+ staff), Deutsche Bank (global HQ), Commerzbank, KfW (~7,000), Deutsche Börse (Eschborn), DZ Bank, Helaba, Bundesbank. All Big Four, top strategy firms (McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Oliver Wyman, Roland Berger). International law firms: Clifford Chance, Freshfields, Linklaters, Latham & Watkins, Hogan Lovells.
Co-working spaces. WeWork (Neue Mainzer Straße), Mindspace (Rathenauplatz), Design Offices (OpernTurm, Westend, Europaviertel), Regus (various locations). Day passes from ~25 €, monthly flex desks from ~250 €.
LIFESTYLE AND CULTURE
Museumsufer. Over 13 museums along the south bank of the Main, including the Städel Museum (one of Europe's foremost art collections), the German Film Museum and the Liebieghaus. The annual Museumsuferfest in August is one of Germany's largest cultural festivals.
Food and drink. Apfelwein (apple wine) in Sachsenhausen, international dining in Bornheim and the Bahnhofsviertel (Münchener Straße), fine dining in Westend and Nordend. The Kleinmarkthalle is Frankfurt's oldest and best market hall.
Green spaces. Grüneburgpark, Palmengarten, Bethmannpark, Nizza embankment on the Main, Frankfurter Stadtwald (one of Germany's largest urban forests). The Taunus mountains begin 20 minutes north of the city.
Sport. Eintracht Frankfurt (football), Frankfurt Marathon (October), Ironman European Championship, Löwen Frankfurt (ice hockey). Numerous running paths along the Main.
PRACTICAL TIPS FOR GETTING STARTED
Bank account. N26, Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank and Sparkasse offer English-language banking. You need your passport, Anmeldung confirmation and residence permit (if applicable).
Tax ID. Arrives automatically by post after registration (2 to 4 weeks).
Broadcast fee (Rundfunkbeitrag). 18.36 €/month per household. Included in all-inclusive rent at FARAWAYHOME apartments.
Recycling. Germany separates strictly: general waste (grey), paper (blue), packaging (yellow bag), organic (brown), glass (by colour at public containers). FES (Frankfurter Entsorgungs- und Service GmbH) is the local waste service.
Sunday closing. Shops are closed on Sundays. Exceptions: train station and airport shops, petrol stations, bakeries (mornings). REWE, Edeka and Aldi at Hauptbahnhof are open on Sundays.
Mobile phone. Telekom, Vodafone, o2 as network operators. Prepaid SIM from Aldi Talk, Lidl Connect or Congstar from ~8 €/month. Video identification available.
CITIZENS REGISTRATION OFFICES IN FRANKFURT
| Office | Address |
|---|---|
| Central Registration Office | Zeil 3, 60313 Frankfurt am Main |
| Sachsenhausen | Große Rittergasse 103, 60594 Frankfurt am Main |
| Dornbusch | Eschersheimer Landstraße 248, 60320 Frankfurt am Main |
| Höchst | Dalbergstraße 14, 65929 Frankfurt am Main |
| Bergen-Enkheim | Marktstraße 30, 60388 Frankfurt am Main |
| Nordwest | Nidaforum 5, 60439 Frankfurt am Main |
| Fechenheim | Pfortenstraße 1, 60386 Frankfurt am Main |
| Nieder-Eschbach | Deuil-La-Barre-Straße 26, 60437 Frankfurt am Main |
| Kalbach | Kalbacher Hauptstraße 36, 60437 Frankfurt am Main |
| Harheim | Philipp-Schnell-Straße 52, 60437 Frankfurt am Main |
| Nieder-Erlenbach | Alt-Erlenbach 42, 60437 Frankfurt am Main |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: EXPATS IN FRANKFURT
DO I NEED GERMAN TO LIVE IN FRANKFURT?
Frankfurt is one of Germany's most English-friendly cities, especially in finance. Government offices (Bürgeramt, Ausländerbehörde) operate in German, but many international employers provide relocation support. Basic German makes daily life significantly easier and accelerates your path to permanent residence.
HOW DO I FIND AN APARTMENT WITHOUT A SCHUFA?
Furnished apartments through FARAWAYHOME are the easiest route. Most landlords accept international credit references, employer letters or advance rent payment instead of a Schufa.
HOW HIGH ARE THE LIVING COSTS?
Frankfurt is Germany's second most expensive city after Munich. Budget approximately 2,500 to 3,500 €/month for a single person (including rent) and 4,500 to 6,500 € for a family of four (excluding school fees).
IS FRANKFURT FAMILY-FRIENDLY?
Yes. International schools (FIS, ISF, European School, Phorms, Fintosch), family-friendly neighbourhoods (Nordend, Westend, Oberursel, Kronberg), the Taunus for weekend trips and a compact city with short commutes.
HOW DO I GET FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE CITY?
S-Bahn S8 or S9 to Hauptbahnhof in 11 to 14 minutes. DeutschlandTicket valid. Taxi approximately 35 to 45 €.
WHAT IS THE ANMELDUNG AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT?
The Anmeldung is the mandatory address registration within 14 days of moving in. It is a prerequisite for a bank account, tax ID, health insurance, residence permit and virtually every official process in Germany. In Frankfurt, it has been available fully online since August 2024.
USEFUL LINKS
⇒ Furnished Apartments in Frankfurt
⇒ Serviced Apartments in Frankfurt
⇒ Corporate Housing in Frankfurt