An analysis of 22 German cities reveals that it's not the major metropolises but Stuttgart and Nuremberg that offer the best conditions for freelancers. Nine categories were evaluated — including income, rent, job availability, coworking spaces, networking opportunities, and quality of life.
Despite topping the charts for salaries and digitalization (ranking first in the Smart City Index), Munich only comes in third — held back by sky-high rents. Berlin, often seen as a freelancer hotspot, drops to 19th place due to high living costs and lower earnings. Bielefeld brings up the rear.
Ruhr Valley cities score points for affordable housing but lag behind on job opportunities and networking. For remote and digital work, Nuremberg, Munich, and Bochum stand out. When it comes to networking, Düsseldorf, Berlin, and Cologne lead the way thanks to their strong trade fair scenes.
The full city comparison with all data and categories is available here.
Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Berlin and Brussels, Accountable is on a mission to make taxes effortless for the self-employed — giving every freelancer and independent professional the tools to manage their taxes and finances with confidence, regardless of their tax knowledge. As the first provider to market with an AI Tax Advisor, Accountable automatically handles receipt categorization, tax filing, and business finances. Since launch, more than 175,000 tax returns have been processed through the app. Today, Accountable serves over 40,000 users in Germany and more than 80,000 across Europe.
