Frankfurt, Germany Report of what it's like to live there - 08/04/25
Personal Experiences from Frankfurt, Germany
Background:
1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?
No, this was our sixth post. Other assignments have been in South America, Asia, and Eastern Europe.
2. What is your home city/country? How long is the trip to post from there, with what connections? How easy/difficult is it to travel to this city/country?
We call Fairfax, Virginia home. It is easy to fly back and fourth to Frankfurt. The airport is about the only thing the city has going for it, as it is an easy way out. The flight is 8 hours and direct from the DC metro area.
3. What years did you live here?
2022-2025.
4. How long have you lived here?
2.5 years.
5. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
Consulate Frankfurt.
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
The housing is the worst we have had in all our years of service. The Siedlung is about 80 years old. Almost all of the consulate is housed in one compact collection of old walk up apartments. Most of the aging housing is under construction, but we have to live in these units while they are covered in scaffolding. We have to suffer the dust, noise and lack of privacy.
Even the units that have already been renovated offer little privacy. We can hear our neighbors through the walls and ceiling. Many folks have strife due to the overall lack of consideration that the residents have for one another, from dogs barking and pooping everywhere to kids that run around and leave toys and litter. There are also loud barbecues that go late into the night.
There is a community building, the field house, and the CSA struggles with teenagers using it to loiter. I do not think the apartments themselves have no personality or charm and the walls have a popcorn finish. There is no air conditioning, which is unbearable in the summer. The compound and the apartments themselves are, in my opinion, deplorable.
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
Everyone drives the 45 minutes to the military post to buy things at the commissary.
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
None, most of the Siedlung can be found at the commissary or the food court on the weekends. This is especially true on Sundays as all shops in Germany are closed.
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
Papa Johns, Dominoes, McDonalds, all of it is here. Maybe the only perk of this post is that there is a Chipotle.
5. Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
Wasp nests are on most of the roofs in the housing. It is illegal to destroy their nests or spray so we have a lot of wasps flying into the apartments, especially the third and second floor apartments in the spring and summer. A lot of people also have to store their pasta, rice, flour, etc in their fridges as pantry moths are everywhere.
Daily Life:
1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?
DPO.
2. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
This isn't a post for household help unless you are willing to pay rates that are equivalent to or higher than the US.
3. Do you feel that it is safe to walk, run or hike outside? Are there areas where bike riding is possible? What is the availability and safety of outdoor space for exercising? Are these easily accessible?
Frankfurt feels safe during the day. Stay out of Gruneburg park at night and don't go near the train station.
4. What kinds of gyms or other sports/workout facilities are available? Are they expensive?
There is a gym here if you join the CSA. It is run down and expensive for what you get. The lack of consideration is apparent here too, people don't clean up after themselves, plan to spend the first part of you work out putting weights away or wiping down equipment (if it works).
5. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
Germany is still a cash economy, but more and more places are accepting credit card; always ask before you order in a restaurant and keep cash on you.
6. What English-language religious services are available locally?
We aren't churchgoers, but everyone seems to find services in English. There is always the military post just under an hour away that folks go to for church.
7. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
I don't know about local language classes, but would suspect that tutoring is pricey. You don't really need much German for daily living, everyone speaks English.
8. Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?
While the Germans are trying to make things more accessible most shops have a step or two at the entrance. If you have mobility issues, this isn't the city for you.
Transportation:
1. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
Public transit is plentiful but pricey; a bus or U-bahn ride is 3.80 euros each way. You can get a job pass from the consulate if you want to invest several hundred per year in the local transit system. We just drive everywhere and pray for parking.
2. What kind of vehicle(s) including electric ones do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, infrastructure, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car or vehicles do you advise not to bring?
Everything is safe and there aren't any risks. The famous autobahn is notorious for traffic jams. We have a minivan and would have opted for a smaller vehicle as parking isn't made for minivan sized cars or larger.
Phone & Internet:
1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
Installation can be arranged prior to arrival. Everything is run by the CSA, and for some reason the internet services are only available from one company and for one (higher than normal price) for the Siedlung.
2. Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
We buy pay as you go SIM cards at Aldi.
Pets:
1. Are qualified veterinarians and/or good kennel services available? Do animals need to be quarantined upon entry to the country? Are there other considerations regarding pets that are particular to this country?
Germany is great for pets and the vets are stellar.
Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:
1. What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?
Unless you speak fluent German or are a teacher, don't expect to work on the economy. EFM jobs are highly sought after, even the low-paying escort positions.
2. What volunteer opportunities are available locally?
You can volunteer with Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts, and some churches have opportunities.
3. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
Same as in the US.
Health & Safety:
1. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
No.
2. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
Allergies are awful in the spring. It can reach 90 degrees in the apartments in the summer.
3. What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
We have had worse!
4. What do people who suffer from environmental or food allergies need to know?
If you have environmental allergies, pass on Frankfurt. Food allergies aren't taken as seriously as in other countries, to be on the safe side ask the med unit to prepare a card for you in German to show in restaurants.
5. Are there any particular mental health issues that tend to crop up at post, such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (winter blues)?
Yeah, SAD is a thing here: the winters are very long and grey, think damp and cold.
6. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?
The summers in these old apartments without AC are absolutely unbearable.
Schools & Children:
1. What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?
FIS is great if your kids don't have special needs. Lots of families have not been very happy with their accommodations, or lack of, for kids with special needs, so they tend to go to the DOD school. Our oldest would have benefited from more gifted programming. After 2.5 years both of our kids are picking up a bit of German, which is a required elective.
2. What accommodations do schools make for special-needs kids?
It depends on the needs...we have heard that it can be disappointing if you aren't at a DOD school, but that school is 45 minutes away.
3. Are preschools available? Day care? Are these expensive? What has been your experience with them, if any? Do the schools provide before- and/or after-school care?
The CSA has a preschool, but it is expensive. It also shuts down with little notice as they are chronically understaffed; there are better postings for families with preschool-aged kids.
4. Are local sports classes and/or activities available for kids?
At the military base there are. The schools have activities, but there isn't always a bus home. Everything else is in German.
Expat Life:
1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
The Siedlung must have at least 300 families. The morale is really low, mostly due to the housing and everyone living on top of each other in what is the worst housing we have had in our many years of service. The atmosphere is cliquey and reminiscent of adolescence. There is a very different atmosphere that isn't welcoming or warm.
2. What are some typical ways to socialize, either with local people or with other expatriates? Are there groups or clubs that you can recommend?
There is an American Women's association, and we made connections with non-consulate expatriates through the schools.
3. Is this a good city for single people? For couples? For families? Why or why not?
This may be a better posting for singles or couples as they have an entire two-bedroom apartment to themselves. Families tend to be in three-bedroom apartments if they have two children. There are four and even five-bedroom apartments, but these are rarely given to families with fewer than four children.
4. Is it easy to make friends with locals here? Are there any prejudices or any ethnic groups who might feel uncomfortable here?
I don't really know, I haven't had a lot of connections with locals outside of the school, as we are sort of isolated in our little compound/consulate bubble.
5. Is this a good city for LGBT expatriates? Why or why not?
Probably!
6. Are there problems with ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious prejudices? Gender equality?
I don't think so.
7. What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
Travel is great and the airport is a hub for all of Europe.
8. What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?
Frankfurt has a cute old town and Germany is full of cute villages.
9. Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?
People like to buy things at the Christmas markets.
10. What are the particular advantages of living in this city?
The airport is an advantage. Honestly with the low morale at the Consulate, the weird vibe at the compound and the state of the housing...any other posting in Germany or Europe would be preferable.
Words of Wisdom:
1. What do you wish you had known about this particular city/country before moving there?
About the Siedlung housing. I read other real post reports...but until you are here, you don't really understand what sort of living "situation" we have here.
2. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?
No.
3. If you move here, you can leave behind your:
privacy, air conditioning, expectations of a pleasant community to work and live in.
4. But don't forget your:
patience, fans, and a couple hundred for a plug in air conditioner.
