- Andrey Vasilyev
Thanks to InterNations, I joined an after-work soccer team of other expatriates even before moving to Hamburg.
InterNations - A Place for Canadians in Hamburg
Are you a Canadian expat in Hamburg — or considering moving here? Then you might want to hear some advice from those who’ve done it before. Whether you’d like to meet someone to watch the Grey Cup with, want to celebrate Thanksgiving together, or are looking for restaurant recommendations that serve poutine, the Canadians members in the InterNations Hamburg Community can help you with all that. Allow us to make your transition easier!
Why you'll love InterNations in Hamburg
and countless possibilities for fun and friendship!
Meet Canadian expats at our events in Hamburg
Making friends and building a network in a new city can be hard. At our events, everyone is from somewhere else and it’s completely normal to introduce yourself to people and ask them about their own expat journey. You’ll get to know a bunch of international people in no time and get first-hand information about your new home.
Check out our upcoming events and become part of Hamburg's large expat family. Our Newcomers’ Events are specially geared towards people that are new to the city: you’ll be greeted with open arms by our Ambassadors and introduced to other newbies or more experienced expats living in Hamburg.
Want to meet other Canadians at our events?
Why Canadians move abroad (& how they like it)
Every year, we run one of the biggest global surveys among expats and ask them about various aspects of their life. Learn what motivates our Canadian members to move abroad, what keeps them there, and what they struggle with or miss about home.
The pros & cons of expat life in Hamburg
Nowhere is perfect. There’s always the good, the bad and the ugly. Find out what our Canadian members love about their life abroad— but also the challenges they face in Hamburg.
Pros of living in Hamburg
Ease of travel: Our Canadian members appreciate how easy and affordable traveling is here — unsurprisingly, considering the far distances between major cities or different provinces in Canada. In Germany, everything’s much closer together, and public transportation is both accessible and convenient. So you can easily get around Hamburg or travel across Europe.
Free education: Education in Hamburg and all of Germany is free at public institutions; you only need to pay a small semester fee. Students and Canadians with kids really appreciate this system, since tuition fees can be very expensive in Canada.
Active lifestyle: Germans love to go out for a walk, run, or cycle, especially when the weather is nice. Canadians find this active lifestyle a positive aspect of living here.
Good healthcare: It’s mandatory for every resident in Germany to have health insurance. In general, medical care here is of good quality, affordable, and accessible.
Cons of living in Hamburg
Taxes: The tax system in Germany is a nightmare. The income tax burden here is 18% higher than in Canada, ranking as the second highest in the OECD.
Bureaucracy: Paperwork in Germany can be very frustrating — not only for Canadians. Most things are still done old-school, refusing to use online methods. And getting an appointment at the immigration office, for example, may take a long time.
Language barrier: Not knowing German can make it difficult to make friends with locals. Official appointments like going to the doctor, city registration, or finding accommodation are often also a struggle without local language skills.
Cash dependency: There are still many places in Hamburg that only accept cash payments. The pandemic may have sped up the acceptance of cashless payment options, but you shouldn’t bet on your credit card being accepted everywhere, for example. Many expats find this quite frustrating, because they must carry cash every time they go out.
Frequent questions about living in Hamburg
If you love cocktails, you can check out Whiskyplaza, a cocktail bar that serves various types of drinks, including Canadian whiskey. Or if you’re into sports, the American sports bar Old MacDonald broadcasts various types of sports games, including the CFL and Grey Cup. Spending the night there gives you the chance to bump into other Canadians, but it’s just a matter of luck. An easier way is to attend specific events for Canadians and other English-speaking expats. Our InterNations events are a great opportunity to meet international people. The Newcomers’ Events are specially geared toward those new to the community, helping you make your first friends in no time.
Of course, the income you’ll need to cover costs depends on your individual situation and lifestyle —whether you’re a student, a single person with a full-time job, have a family with kids, etc. The average salary for jobs in Hamburg is 4,500 EUR per month. If you’re making at least this amount, you should be able to live comfortably here. However, if you have a family and kids to support, you might want to aim higher. Between 5,000 and 6,000 EUR is considered a good household income for a family.
To give you some idea, here’s an overview of the cost of living in Hamburg:
| CAD per month | Local currency per month | |
Utilities (power, water, etc.) | 460 CAD | 310 EUR |
Rent for a studio apartment | 1,115-1,530 CAD | 750-1,030 EUR |
Rent for a small family home | 2,080-3,000 CAD | 1,400-2,000 EUR |
Public transportation | 75 CAD | 50 EUR |
Mobile phone & internet | 90 CAD | 60 EUR |
Meal at a restaurant (per person) | 20-45 CAD | 15-30 EUR |
Groceries (per person) | 300-520 CAD | 200-300 EUR |
Basic health insurance (public) | min. 14.6% of gross salary | min. 14.6% of gross salary |
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Hamburg is a very international city, with 20% of its residents having foreign roots. Many people speak English, so getting around or handling basic interactions won’t be too hard. But you’re bound to hit the language barrier now and then, which can be frustrating.
So ideally, you use your time in Hamburg to learn at least some basic German. There are various language courses available, or you can learn for free using language apps or websites.
The most challenging moments usually occur when you have to handle official paperwork or appointments, are looking for a flat, or need to see a doctor. To help you avoid some of these struggles, we’ve collected some services that cater to English speakers (these services are not affiliated with or endorsed by InterNations):
General practitioner (GP) | Avi Medical Hamburg A full-service clinic (Hausarzt) which caters to English speakers. |
Dentist | Zahnarzt Hamburg – Dental 21 The dentists and staffs speak good English; available in many different locations in Hamburg. |
Urgent care | University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) One of the largest and most modern hospitals in Europe, with multilingual staff. |
Immigration assistance | Immigration-Germany.co Relocation and visa support with a full-service approach. |
Tax advisor | GTK Wirtschaftsprüfer, Steuerberater, Rechtsanwälte Tax consultancy firm with experience in both the UK and the German tax system. GeTEx Certified English-speaking tax experts. |
Instant interpreting service | DayInterpreting Get connected to a native German speaker on your phone and have an instant interpreter with you. |
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Meet other Canadians in Hamburg
Our Global Partners
Find friends to pursue your passions with
Do you want to continue with your hobbies — or discover new ones — while living in Hamburg? There are a variety of InterNations Groups you can join based on your interests.
These groups are run by dedicated Consuls who hold at least one activity each month. They organize everything from dinners in Hamburg restaurants to sightseeing activities and excursions. For example, you can join a walk around the city or a trek into nature with the Hiking and Walking Group, see a movie with the Cinema Group, or go to clubs or bars with the Nightlife Group. We have something for everyone!
Find other Canadians to share your hobbies with
Enjoy the international experience with InterNations
We’re not just active in Hamburg — InterNations offers lively communities in most of Germany’s major cities. If you’re traveling or moving elsewhere in the country, check out our Canadian communities in Munich, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Berlin, Stuttgart, Essen, Bonn, Regensburg, or Heidelberg.
But that’s not all! If you’re in the mood for a nice night out while traveling further abroad, InterNations has got you covered. We have communities in over 420 cities worldwide, and you’re welcome to join in on their events, too. [Browse all InterNations Communities.]( https://www.internations.org/all-internations-cities/ d)
- Look through our Members Network to connect with Hamburg’s Canadian expats.
- Become active in our Expat Forums in order to find insider tips and suggestions from fellow Canadian expats in Hamburg.
- Make full use of the Expat Guide for Hamburg to obtain important information on your temporary home abroad.
Mix and Mingle with Canadians in Hamburg at Our Events
Our Hamburg community is also lively and welcoming offline. The InterNations Ambassadors host regular get-togethers and a range of expat activities, e.g. a chic dining experience in Hamburg’s trendiest restaurant or a get-away with fellow Canadian expats to discover beautiful Bavaria. These activities make it easy for you to get to know other expats from Canada in your local community and meet Canadians in Germany in a comfortable setting. If this sounds interesting to you, simply sign up for membership – we are looking forward to welcoming you among our Canadians living in Hamburg!
- Andrey Vasilyev
Thanks to InterNations, I joined an after-work soccer team of other expatriates even before moving to Hamburg.
- Hannah Steele
During my first week in Hamburg, I went to an InterNations event and immediately felt connected. Many members are now close friends of mine.
