Relocating to Saxony (Sachsen)
Saxony (Sachsen) is home to around 4.0 million people across 13 districts, from Leipzig to its quieter rural areas. This guide explains what living here is actually like and lets you drill into the 2 places covered so far for the detailed figures.
What to expect
Saxony (Sachsen) is home to about 4.0 million people across 13 districts (3 urban and 10 rural). The local economy supports roughly 1.6 million jobs and a population-weighted unemployment rate of 6.9%, around the 6.3% national figure. Income averages €25,748 per resident, about 10% below the German average of €28,453.
Where you land changes daily life. Across the districts covered here, income ranges from €23,683 in Leipzig to €25,679 in Dresden. Housing is the main trade-off: net cold rent runs from €6.44/m² in Leipzig to €6.92/m² in Dresden. At about 219 people per km² the cities are dense and well connected while many rural districts are sparse enough that a car is closer to essential. The state saw a net gain of 20,636 residents from migration in a single year. Pick a district below for the full breakdown.
At a glance
Priciest rent€6.92/m²Dresden · highest of the guides here
Highest income€25,679Dresden · per resident
Best fibre coverage33%Dresden · FTTB/H
Choose your district
Pick a district for its full breakdown: jobs, income, housing costs, taxes and who lives there. Listed largest to smallest by population.
City guides (2)
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FAQ: relocating to Saxony
Is Saxony expensive to live in?
Incomes average about €25,748 per resident (10% below the national average), and net cold rent ranges from €6.44/m² in Leipzig to €6.92/m² in Dresden.
Where in Saxony is the cheapest place to live?
On the 2022 census rents, Leipzig has the lowest net cold rent of the districts covered on this site, at about €6.44/m².
What is the job market like in Saxony?
There are roughly 1.6 million jobs at workplaces across the state and a population-weighted unemployment rate of 6.9%, around the 6.3% national figure.
How many districts does Saxony have?
13 in total: 3 urban districts (kreisfreie Städte) and 10 rural districts (Landkreise).
Which Saxony district has the best internet?
For true fibre (FTTB/H), Dresden leads of the districts covered here at about 33% household coverage.
Source: Regionaldatenbank Deutschland (regionalstatistik.de), Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder, Zensus 2022 and the Breitbandatlas. Population 2024; income 2023; unemployment 2025; rent 2022; broadband end of 2025. · How we built this ›