Why Stuttgart? The engineering capital
Stuttgart, the capital of Baden-Württemberg (around 606,000 residents, roughly 28% of them foreign nationals), is Germany's automotive and engineering heartland. Mercedes-Benz is headquartered in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim, Porsche in Zuffenhausen, and Bosch just outside the city in Gerlingen — alongside Daimler Truck and a dense Mittelstand of suppliers and IT firms. If you're moving for a skilled-worker or EU Blue Card role, this is one of Germany's strongest labour markets.
Where to live
Areas popular with expats and families:
- Stuttgart-West and Stuttgart-Süd — central, walkable, with a lively café scene;
- Bad Cannstatt — larger and more affordable, by the river and the Wilhelma zoo;
- Degerloch — leafy, quiet and family-friendly, up on the hill;
- Vaihingen — near the University of Stuttgart and major employers, good for students and professionals.
Finding housing
Stuttgart's rental market is tight and among the pricier in Germany, though cheaper than Munich. The official 2025/26 Mietspiegel averages around €16.70/m²; a one-bedroom flat typically runs €900–€1,300/month in central areas, less further out. You'll need a strong application — see our apartment hunting guide.
Registering your address (Anmeldung)
Within two weeks of moving in you must register at a Bürgerbüro (Bürgerservice). Stuttgart books appointments online through its city service portal (service.stuttgart.de), and slots go quickly — book as soon as you have a move-in date. See the Anmeldung guide for the document plan.
Getting around
Public transport is run by the VVS — seven S-Bahn lines, a Stadtbahn (light-rail) network and buses across the region. The nationwide Deutschlandticket (€63/month in 2026) is valid on all of it, usually the cheapest way to commute.
Cost of living and salaries
Stuttgart is one of Germany's higher-cost cities but noticeably cheaper than Munich. Salaries are also among the country's highest: the StepStone Gehaltsreport puts Stuttgart's median pay second only to Munich (around €54,400, as reported). Build your Stuttgart plan to line up the registration, housing and insurance steps in the right order.