I'm leaving Germany | Brutally Honest Review

Overview

A long-time resident of Germany announces he has permanently left (with periodic visits) and explains why he believes Germany’s quality of life is declining. He plans to spend most of his time in Japan, travel frequently in Southern Europe, and have stays in Cyprus. He urges people to choose a country that matches their values and the future they want.

“Pick a country that matches your values.” — the speaker’s central recommendation.

Key reasons for leaving

Economy & jobs

• Stagnant or recessionary economy with frequent large layoffs across major firms.
• High energy/electricity costs; the transition from nuclear to renewables is cited as poorly managed.
• AI and automation reducing job opportunities.

Taxes & social-insurance burden

• High effective taxes and social contributions; high earners may keep only around 30% of income after deductions.
• VAT at 19% increases the cost of living.
• Self-employed people face heavy burdens: high health-insurance costs and proposed mandatory pension contributions (~18–18.5%).

Bureaucracy & anti-entrepreneur climate

• Growing regulation and bureaucracy making entrepreneurship harder.
• Many freelancers and entrepreneurs are relocating abroad for a friendlier business climate.

Welfare system & social incentives

• Generous welfare perceived as discouraging work; examples of people preferring benefits over low-wage jobs.
• Family benefits and housing support can make welfare financially comparable to minimum-wage work.

Safety, social cohesion & child-friendliness

• Increasing petty crime in some urban areas (e.g., product theft, locked items in stores).
• Public spaces and transport described as less child-friendly compared with places like Japan (fewer nursing rooms, diaper stations, etc.).
• Concerns about women’s safety in public transport and on streets.

Infrastructure & public services

• Declining reliability of trains and other public infrastructure.
• Cited examples include canceled events (Christmas markets) and a collapsed bridge (subtitle mentioned “Greyston” — may be an auto-generated error).

Politics, free speech & democracy

• Deep political polarization and the exclusion of certain parties (AfD) from mainstream discourse.
• Concerns about censorship, arrests over online speech, and lasting post-COVID changes to permitted public discourse.

Cultural / value mismatch

• Perception that German society rewards laziness and penalizes hard work.
• The speaker feels Germany has lost values that matter to him personally.

Practical takeaways / lifestyle tips

• Entrepreneurs, freelancers, or high earners should consider relocating to more business-friendly countries.
• Compare health-insurance options carefully: the speaker cites paying ~€1,000/month in Germany versus ~€130/month for an international plan he now uses.
• When choosing where to live, prioritize places whose values and public safety match the future you want—especially important when raising children.
• Expect housing in many German cities to be unaffordable for young people; homeownership is increasingly out of reach.
• If you value reliable infrastructure and low petty crime, research destinations carefully (Japan is recommended for orderliness and safety).

Travel & relocation highlights

• Cyprus: many German entrepreneurs have relocated there; used as an example of a relocation destination.
• Southern Europe: appreciated for people and food; will be a frequent travel destination.
• Japan: preferred country for safety, orderliness, public facilities (nursing rooms, diaper stations), low theft, child-friendliness, and social manners. The only noted downside is Japan’s work culture, which is not a problem for the speaker’s self-employed lifestyle.

Recommended reading

• The Fourth Turning — suggested for historical perspective on societal cycles.

Notable locations, products, parties, figures mentioned

• Locations: Berlin, southern Germany, Munich, Cyprus, Japan, Southern Europe (bridge collapse subtitle referenced “Greyston” — may be in error).
• Stores / products: DM drugstore, Red Bull (as examples of shoplifting / locked items).
• Numbers / figures cited:
  • VAT: 19%
  • Health insurance example: ~€1,000/month in Germany vs. ~€130/month for an international plan
  • Proposed self-employed pension contribution: ~18–18.5%
• Political parties: CDU, SPD, AfD (AfD discussed as excluded from mainstream discourse).
• Speaker: the video creator / vlogger (personal perspective).

Final note

This summary reflects the personal perspective and experiences of the speaker. It highlights perceived systemic shifts in economics, public services, and culture that influenced his decision to relocate.