Canceling the lease or selling the apartment, packing the moving boxes and starting fresh in a foreign country: This dream is apparently a realistic possibility for many people right now. In a new survey, more than half of the participants from Germany stated that they expect to live abroad at some point.
For the survey, the market research company 3Gem spoke with a total of 2,000 people between June 24 and July 1, 2026. 500 people each were surveyed from Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom. The results do not predict how many people will actually move in the end, rather they reflect a general sentiment. When considering the results, it should also be noted that the survey was commissioned by the insurance company Feather, which specializes in services for people who want to live abroad.
The problem with high cost of living
52 percent of the people surveyed in Germany stated that they expect to move abroad at some point in their lives. However, this does not automatically mean that they will emigrate forever. In France, it was even 57 percent, in Italy still 49 percent and in the United Kingdom 48 percent.
One in ten people in Germany is already actively planning the move, and in the United Kingdom it is said to be as many as 28 percent who are actually already pursuing corresponding plans or thinking about it seriously. Accordingly, only about one in ten people surveyed in the entire survey categorically ruled out living abroad.
The decision is not purely about sun, beach or a thirst for adventure. In all four countries mentioned, rising cost of living in recent years has been the most common reason for people to consider living in another country more seriously.
Among people in Germany, 43 percent cited cost developments as a decisive factor. When asked what they specifically hoped to gain from a move, lower costs and better quality of life were tied at 34 percent each.
In the other three countries, priorities are weighted somewhat differently. Participants from France place greater emphasis on higher quality of life (40 percent), while for people in the United Kingdom, a more affordable life (45 percent) is particularly important. For people from Italy, career opportunities (20 percent) and a good work-life balance (18 percent) play a comparatively large role.
The most popular destination for Germans
Those who want to move away from Germany are apparently not necessarily seeking adventure in the wider world. With 17 percent, Austria ranks first as the preferred destination in the survey. Spain and Switzerland follow with 12 percent each.
The preferences stated in the survey thus roughly match actual population movements. According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) from June 1, 2026, Switzerland, Austria and Spain were the most frequent destinations for German citizens last year. Around 23,000 departures went to Switzerland, about 14,000 to Austria and over 10,000 to Spain.
