'Germany''s Safest Cities: How to Read Rankings and Which Cities Most

Rankings of “the safest cities in Germany” are useful as a first reference point for relocation, but they should not be read as a guarantee of personal safety. Such lists are usually based on police statistics for registered crimes per 100,000 residents. They show the crime burden within the officially recorded field, but they do not reflect every unreported case, differences between neighborhoods, or the subjective feeling of safety.

Why an old 2021 ranking needs to be updated

The original list described Munich, Bielefeld, Augsburg, Nuremberg, and Mainz as safe. This format becomes outdated quickly: the statistics change every year, comparison methods differ, and a city can look different in a ranking for “over 100,000 residents” and a ranking for “over 200,000 residents.”

For a practical city choice, it is better to look not only at a place in the list, but at three things:

• the rate of registered crimes per 100,000 residents;
• the trend over several years, not just one year;
• the neighborhood, transport, housing, schools, work, and your personal daily route.

Cities that are often described as safe

Below is not a universal final ranking, but a set of reference points for cities that regularly appear in discussions of safety and quality of life in Germany.

Munich

Munich is often described as one of the safest large cities in Germany among cities with more than 200,000 residents. For relocation, this is a strong advantage: the city has many jobs, universities, international companies, and a good transport network.

The main drawback of Munich is the cost of living. Safety in a neighborhood and everyday convenience need to be assessed together with rent, commuting distance, and housing availability.

Augsburg

Augsburg often looks like a strong compromise for people who want to live in Bavaria but are not ready for Munich prices. It is a fairly large city with a university environment, industry, a historic center, and quick access to Munich.

For families and newcomers to Germany, Augsburg is interesting because it combines the infrastructure of a big city with a calmer pace of life.

Nuremberg

Nuremberg is Bavaria’s second-largest city and the center of Franconia. In safety rankings, its position can change from year to year, so it is better to assess it not by one line in a list, but by specific neighborhoods and local police data.

The city suits people who care about the labor market, transport, cultural life, and more affordable rent compared with Munich.

Bielefeld

Bielefeld is located in North Rhine-Westphalia and is often seen as a calm mid-sized university and industrial city. It can be convenient for people who are looking not for a tourist city, but for a practical place for study, work, and family life.

When choosing a neighborhood, it is worth checking fresh police reports for North Rhine-Westphalia and city statistics, because the citywide average does not show differences between districts.

Mainz

Mainz is the capital of Rhineland-Palatinate, a university city, and a media city on the Rhine. It is smaller than Munich and Nuremberg, but it has good connections to the Frankfurt am Main region, which makes it convenient for work and study.

To assess safety in Mainz, it is important to consider not only the overall statistics, but also the neighborhood, proximity to the train station, night transport, and your personal schedule.

How to check a city’s safety yourself before relocating

1. Open the latest Polizeiliche Kriminalstatistik for the federal state or city.
2. Look at the figure per 100,000 residents, not only the absolute number of crimes.
3. Check individual categories: theft, violent crimes, burglaries, and crimes in public places.
4. Compare several years in a row: one spike does not always mean a lasting problem.
5. Look for neighborhood-level data if it is published.
6. Compare the statistics with everyday reality: the route home in the evening, transport, street lighting, schools, and the surrounding area.

What is important to remember

• “The safest city” does not mean that all neighborhoods are equally safe.
• A small city is not always safer than a large one: much depends on the structure of crime and the number of newcomers.
• Police statistics show registered cases, not every event that actually happened.
• For families, students, and expats, safety should be assessed together with housing, schools, healthcare, work, and transport.

FAQ

Can you use a 2021 ranking for relocation in 2026?

As a historical reference point, yes; as a current decision, no. For choosing a city, it is better to look at fresh police reports and data over several years.

Which indicator matters most?

For comparing cities, the number of crimes per 100,000 residents is usually more useful, because absolute numbers are almost always higher in large cities.

Why is Munich often described as safe even though it is a big city?

In rankings of large cities, Munich often shows a low crime burden relative to the size of the city. But high housing costs and differences between neighborhoods remain important factors for relocation.

Should you choose a city based only on safety?

No. Safety matters, but a relocation decision is better made together with work, budget, schools, healthcare, transport, and the language environment.