{"id":3069,"date":"2025-10-08T06:22:41","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T06:22:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/?p=3069"},"modified":"2026-04-28T15:07:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T15:07:00","slug":"emigrating-to-the-czech-republic-my-way-my-reasons-my-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/2025\/10\/emigrating-to-the-czech-republic-my-way-my-reasons-my-plans\/","title":{"rendered":"Emigrating to the Czech Republic: My path, my reasons, my plans"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Some decisions are made overnight - others grow slowly. In my case, it was the latter. The idea of leaving Germany and starting a new chapter abroad has been with me for years. But as life goes, something kept getting in the way: Commitments, projects, personal ties - and last but not least, the comfortable familiarity of what you know. But at some point, the moment comes when you feel it:<\/p>\n<p>Now is the time. Now is the time to act.<!--more--><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"display-post-types\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#dpt-wrapper-370 { --dpt-text-align: left;--dpt-image-crop: center;--dpt-border-radius: 5px;--dpt-small-grid-column: 33.33%;--dpt-large-grid-column: 33.3333333333%;--dpt-h-gutter: 12.5px;--dpt-v-gutter: 10px; }\t\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">#dpt-wrapper-370 { --dpt-title-font-style:normal;--dpt-title-font-weight:600;--dpt-title-line-height:1.5;--dpt-title-text-decoration:none;--dpt-title-text-transform:none;--dpt-excerpt-font-style:normal;--dpt-excerpt-font-weight:400;--dpt-excerpt-line-height:1.5;--dpt-excerpt-text-decoration:none;--dpt-excerpt-text-transform:none;--dpt-meta1-font-style:normal;--dpt-meta1-font-weight:400;--dpt-meta1-line-height:1.9;--dpt-meta1-text-decoration:none;--dpt-meta1-text-transform:none;--dpt-meta2-font-style:normal;--dpt-meta2-font-weight:400;--dpt-meta2-line-height:1.9;--dpt-meta2-text-decoration:none;--dpt-meta2-text-transform:none; }<\/style><div class=\"dpt-main-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dpt-main-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"dpt-main-title-text\">Current social issues<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"dpt-wrapper-370\" class=\"dpt-wrapper dpt-grid1 multi-col dpt-mason-wrap\" >\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dpt-entry has-thumbnail\" data-title=\"der zwei-plus-vier-vertrag, die nato und die bundeswehr: was gilt heute noch?\" data-id=\"4740\"  data-category=\"allgemein gesellschaft\" data-post_tag=\"deutschland europa geopolitik krisen sicherheitspolitik spieltheorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dpt-entry-wrapper\"><div class=\"dpt-featured-content\"><div class=\"dpt-permalink\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/2026\/02\/the-two-plus-four-treaty-the-nato-and-the-bundeswehr-what-still-applies-today\/\" class=\"dpt-permalink\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">The Two Plus Four Treaty, NATO and the Bundeswehr: What still applies today?<\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"dpt-thumbnail\"><div class=\"dpt-thumbnail-inner\"><img width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" context=\"dpt\" data-dpt-src=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Zwei-Plus-Vier-Vertrag.jpg\" data-dpt-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" data-dpt-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Zwei-Plus-Vier-Vertrag.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Zwei-Plus-Vier-Vertrag-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Zwei-Plus-Vier-Vertrag-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Zwei-Plus-Vier-Vertrag-18x12.jpg 18w\" \/><\/div><span class=\"dpt-thumbnail-aspect-ratio\" style=\"padding-top: 67%\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"sub-entry\"><h3 class=\"dpt-title\"><a class=\"dpt-title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/2026\/02\/the-two-plus-four-treaty-the-nato-and-the-bundeswehr-what-still-applies-today\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">The Two Plus Four Treaty, NATO and the Bundeswehr: What still applies today?<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .dpt-entry -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dpt-entry has-thumbnail\" data-title=\"beruf, weltbild, zukunft: entscheidungen im schatten des umbruchs\" data-id=\"3197\"  data-category=\"allgemein gesellschaft kunst &amp; kultur tipps &amp; anleitungen\" data-post_tag=\"erfahrungen krisen pers\u00f6nlichkeitsentwicklung ratgeber\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dpt-entry-wrapper\"><div class=\"dpt-featured-content\"><div class=\"dpt-permalink\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/2025\/10\/career-world-view-future-decisions-in-the-shadow-of-upheaval\/\" class=\"dpt-permalink\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Career, world view, future: Decisions in the shadow of upheaval<\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"dpt-thumbnail\"><div class=\"dpt-thumbnail-inner\"><img width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Decisions in the shadow of upheaval\" context=\"dpt\" data-dpt-src=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Entscheidungen-im-Schatten-Umbruch.jpg\" data-dpt-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" data-dpt-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Entscheidungen-im-Schatten-Umbruch.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Entscheidungen-im-Schatten-Umbruch-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Entscheidungen-im-Schatten-Umbruch-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Entscheidungen-im-Schatten-Umbruch-18x12.jpg 18w\" \/><\/div><span class=\"dpt-thumbnail-aspect-ratio\" style=\"padding-top: 67%\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"sub-entry\"><h3 class=\"dpt-title\"><a class=\"dpt-title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/2025\/10\/career-world-view-future-decisions-in-the-shadow-of-upheaval\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Career, world view, future: Decisions in the shadow of upheaval<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .dpt-entry -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dpt-entry has-thumbnail\" data-title=\"digitale abh\u00e4ngigkeit: wie wir unsere selbstbestimmung an die cloud verloren haben\" data-id=\"2986\"  data-category=\"apple iphone &amp; ipad apple macos filemaker &amp; erp gesellschaft ki-systeme tipps &amp; anleitungen\" data-post_tag=\"apple datenlogik datenschutz digitales eigentum erfahrungen erp-software gfm-business\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dpt-entry-wrapper\"><div class=\"dpt-featured-content\"><div class=\"dpt-permalink\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/2025\/10\/digital-dependency-how-we-lost-our-self-determination-to-the-cloud\/\" class=\"dpt-permalink\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Digital dependency: how we have lost our self-determination to the cloud<\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"dpt-thumbnail\"><div class=\"dpt-thumbnail-inner\"><img width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Digital dependency with cloud systems\" context=\"dpt\" data-dpt-src=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/digitale-abhaengigkeit-cloud.jpg\" data-dpt-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" data-dpt-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/digitale-abhaengigkeit-cloud.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/digitale-abhaengigkeit-cloud-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/digitale-abhaengigkeit-cloud-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/digitale-abhaengigkeit-cloud-18x12.jpg 18w\" \/><\/div><span class=\"dpt-thumbnail-aspect-ratio\" style=\"padding-top: 67%\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"sub-entry\"><h3 class=\"dpt-title\"><a class=\"dpt-title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/2025\/10\/digital-dependency-how-we-lost-our-self-determination-to-the-cloud\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Digital dependency: how we have lost our self-determination to the cloud<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .dpt-entry -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Latest news on the topic<\/h2>\n<p><strong>27.04.2026<\/strong>: A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fr.de\/verbraucher\/deutschland-den-ruecken-unternehmer-nennt-vier-hauptfaktoren-fuers-auswandern-familien-kehren-zr-94266073.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>current report in the Frankfurter Rundschau<\/strong><\/a> shows that more and more people are turning their backs on Germany - and not just for one reason. According to an entrepreneur who has emigrated himself, four factors in particular play a central role: rising tax burdens, increasing bureaucracy, the high cost of living and the desire for more personal freedom and predictability. What is particularly interesting here is not so much the individual reasons, but the overall picture: it is often not \u201ethe one trigger\u201c, but a gradual development over a period of years. Many report that framework conditions are increasingly shifting - and that at some point the question arises as to whether a new start abroad is not the more logical consequence.<\/p>\n<p>Countries such as the Czech Republic in particular are increasingly coming into focus because they are geographically close, lie within the EU and at the same time offer noticeably different conditions. The article thus confirms much of what is also repeatedly echoed in personal experience reports - only this time from a more sober external perspective.<\/p>\n<p><strong>18.02.2026<\/strong>: My personal situation has changed since the original article. My planned move to Liberec initially fell through because there were simply no suitable properties on the market at the time. This delayed the whole project and currently a move to the Czech Republic is no longer on the immediate agenda. At the moment, it remains to be seen whether I will move there at all - there are personal factors that I want to sort out first.<\/p>\n<p>However, I will continue to actively support the Facebook group I founded as an admin and moderator, as the topic still concerns many people and I think it is important to exchange ideas there.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Why emigrate at all?<\/h2>\n<p>It's not that I despise my country. I grew up in Germany, worked here, paid taxes, took on responsibility - and continue to do so. But as you get older and gain more life experience, you see things differently.<\/p>\n<p>What has increasingly preoccupied me is a combination of several factors:<\/p>\n<h3>High tax burden<\/h3>\n<p>As a self-employed person, I find myself asking myself more and more often: is it all still worth it? The tax burden is enormous - and the perceived value in return gets smaller year after year, which at some point gnaws at the meaning of life and you ask yourself what you're still doing it all for. In the Czech Republic, I have the opportunity to scale my company much better than in Germany.<\/p>\n<h3>Social change:<\/h3>\n<p>I am observing an increasing narrow-mindedness. Public discourse has become narrower, critical thoughts are often reflexively dismissed. There is little room for nuance, little genuine listening. Instead of dialog, we see the formation of camps. And that is tiring. When people in this country now talk openly about the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/2025\/10\/what-does-the-tension-in-germany-mean-and-what-concrete-consequences-would-it-have\/\"><strong>state tension<\/strong><\/a> is spoken - and without contradiction - then I have reached the point where I seriously consider emigration.<\/p>\n<h3>Isolation &amp; withdrawal<\/h3>\n<p>Everyone just seems to be doing \u201etheir own thing\u201c here. I notice that many people are withdrawing - out of fear, because they are overwhelmed or simply because they no longer want to bend themselves into rigid systems.<\/p>\n<h2>Why the Czech Republic of all countries?<\/h2>\n<p>For me, the Czech Republic is not a place of escape, but a conscious decision. A country that seems pragmatic, clear and down-to-earth to me on many levels. The people seem freer in their minds.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The tax system is structured more fairly and rewards personal responsibility more than in Germany.<\/li>\n<li>Less bureaucracy, more clarity - at least from the perspective of a self-employed person.<\/li>\n<li>And when it comes to social issues, people there are often more sober and less ideological.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>What I also like:<\/h3>\n<p>The Czech Republic is not far from Germany. If, like me, you have family in Germany, you can be back with your loved ones in just a few hours after a move. This provides security and takes a lot of the anxiety out of the move.<\/p>\n<h3>The famous \"kick in the ass\" that is sometimes needed<\/h3>\n<p>As life goes, sometimes it takes an external event to catapult you out of your comfort zone. In my case, it was a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/2025\/09\/mcs-when-life-forces-you-to-move-for-the-third-time\/\"><strong>Construction site right next to my house<\/strong><\/a> was opened in Oldenburg - with concrete dust, noise and chaotic conditions. The measure was full. I felt it was now or never. Now is the time to finally put old ideas into practice.<\/p>\n<p>And so the decision was made to take concrete steps towards emigration in the coming months. The current goal is to make a new start in the Czech Republic - preferably at the beginning of 2026, perhaps even a little earlier.<\/p>\n<div class=\"lyte-wrapper\" style=\"width:640px;max-width:100%;margin:5px;\"><div class=\"lyMe\" id=\"WYL_ficYVhR-I2Q\"><div id=\"lyte_ficYVhR-I2Q\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-youtube-lyte\/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FficYVhR-I2Q%2Fhqdefault.jpg\" class=\"pL\"><div class=\"tC\"><div class=\"tT\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"play\"><\/div><div class=\"ctrl\"><div class=\"Lctrl\"><\/div><div class=\"Rctrl\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><noscript><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/ficYVhR-I2Q\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-youtube-lyte\/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FficYVhR-I2Q%2F0.jpg\" alt=\"YouTube video thumbnail\" width=\"640\" height=\"340\" \/><br \/>Watch this video on YouTube<\/a><\/noscript><\/div><\/div><div class=\"lL\" style=\"max-width:100%;width:640px;margin:5px;\"><\/div><\/p>\n<p class=\"style-scope ytd-watch-metadata\">Emigrating to the Czech Republic \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddff | Advantages, interview and procedure | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@auswandernweltweit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Emigrate worldwide<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>New Facebook group - public &amp; open for exchange<\/h2>\n<p>I recently set up a new Facebook group to sort out my thoughts and talk to others:<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udc49 \"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/1323034562776241\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Emigrating to the Czech Republic<\/strong><\/a>\u201c - a public group for anyone who has similar plans or simply wants to find out more.<\/p>\n<p>The idea behind it is quite simple:<\/p>\n<p>I am currently in the active planning phase of my emigration and have realized how few central German-speaking contact points there are for this topic - at least for people who are not immediately switching to an international startup in Prague, but are rather looking for a new center of life in a down-to-earth and realistic way. This group is about exactly that:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Share experiences<\/li>\n<li>Being able to ask questions without being immediately judged<\/li>\n<li>Information on locations, apartments, authorities, forms, tripping hazards<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>And maybe just a few very honest thoughts on personal motivation<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/1323034562776241\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3070 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/auswandern-tschechien-facebook-1024x720.jpg\" alt=\"Emigrating to the Czech Republic - Facebook Group\" width=\"1024\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/auswandern-tschechien-facebook-1024x720.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/auswandern-tschechien-facebook-300x211.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/auswandern-tschechien-facebook-768x540.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/auswandern-tschechien-facebook-1536x1080.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/auswandern-tschechien-facebook-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/auswandern-tschechien-facebook.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Join in - or simply take a look<\/h3>\n<p>The group is public - anyone can find it and read along. If YOU are considering the Czech Republic as a possible country to emigrate to, or if you already live there and would like to share your experiences:<\/p>\n<p><strong>You are very welcome.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>You don't have to buy or sell anything, you don't have to have a mission - it's enough if you are honest and are looking for an exchange. I'm sure that this group will lead to exciting contacts and real help - perhaps even for things that you wouldn't have thought of on your own:<\/p>\n<p>Estate agents, tax consultants, language partners, translators, lawyers - or simply people who are already there and know how things work. I would be delighted if something developed from this - not as a project, but as an open space for exchange and orientation.<\/p>\n<h2>\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddff Popular emigration destinations in the Czech Republic - at a glance<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Prague (Praha)<\/strong><br \/>\nThe capital and economic hub of the Czech Republic - ideal for anyone who appreciates urban life. Prague offers international schools, modern infrastructure, diverse cultural offerings and a large international community. Disadvantage: high rents and sometimes heavily touristy. Advantage: well suited for jobs, start-ups, expats and digital nomads.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Brno (Brno)<\/strong><br \/>\nThe second largest city in the country, university location and technology hub. Many international companies (e.g. IBM, Red Hat) have branches here. The city is younger, more student-oriented and more relaxed than Prague - with a very pleasant attitude to life. Ideal for digital freelancers, developers or creatives looking for an active but not overcrowded city.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pilsen (Plze\u0148)<\/strong><br \/>\nThe fourth largest city in the country, known for its beer, but also for its industry and solid infrastructure. Well connected, lots of shopping opportunities, culturally interesting. But also lots of cars and quite a lot of traffic. Ideal for some - for others (like me) perhaps a little too big or restless.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Liberec<\/strong><br \/>\nCompact, green city in the north near the German and Polish borders. A good mix of urbanity and nature - perfect for those who want to live quietly but not isolated. Housing is affordable and the cost of living is moderate. Particularly attractive for people who want to live close to the border, but deliberately not in Prague.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Karlovy Vary<\/strong><br \/>\nHistoric spa town with lots of charm, thermal springs and a cultivated atmosphere. Rather quiet, but with good basic services. A very pleasant place for the self-employed, creative people or people in the \u201esecond phase of life\u201c. Many properties have been renovated, but there are also affordable rental opportunities. A bit old-fashioned - in the best sense of the word.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ostrava<\/strong><br \/>\nIn the east of the country, formerly an industrial city, now in transition. Plenty of space, affordable living space, slowly increasing modernization. Ideal for people who want to get to know a completely different Czech Republic - off the beaten tourist track, but with potential. Still rather raw and down-to-earth, but that is precisely why it is so appealing to some.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u010cesk\u00e9 Bud\u011bjovice (Budweis)<\/strong><br \/>\nFamous for its original Budweiser beer, but also a charming, medium-sized town in South Bohemia. Less hectic, very well-kept, with good access to nature (e.g. Lipno reservoir). Attractive for people looking for proximity to Austria or southern Germany.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Teplice<\/strong><br \/>\nSpa town with interesting German-Czech history. Close to the German border, quiet, somewhat outdated, but with potential. Property prices are low and access to Saxony is easy. An interesting option for those seeking peace and quiet or people on a tight budget.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00dast\u00ed nad Labem (\u00dast\u00ed nad Labem)<\/strong><br \/>\nNot necessarily beautiful in the classic sense, but very cheap and with good connections to Dresden. Definitely worth considering for emigrants who are primarily concerned with costs and proximity to Germany and can keep themselves busy.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Cheb (Eger)<\/strong><br \/>\nSmall border town, close to Hof (Bavaria). Very German in character, low cost of living, many real estate offers. Not a hotspot for city dwellers, but perhaps just right for people who simply want peace and quiet - with a short journey to Germany.<\/p>\n<h2>My stay in Pilsen - nice, but too big for me<\/h2>\n<p>Some time ago I was in Pilsen (Plze\u0148), one of the largest cities in the Czech Republic. And to get straight to the point: I really enjoyed it there. The city seems lively, well-kept, open - with many well-restored old buildings, a functioning infrastructure and a pleasant mix of past and present. Everything you need was there and I had the feeling that it was a good place to live.<\/p>\n<p>But for me personally, Pilsen ended up being too big and too hectic. The city has around 180,000 inhabitants, and you can tell: lots of traffic, lots of cars, a dense rhythm - there is a certain restlessness that I find rather stressful in everyday life. Not dramatic - but enough to make me think.<\/p>\n<h3>Better a little smaller and clearer<\/h3>\n<p>I'm not a big city person; I prefer a quiet, structured life where I can work, create and feel good - without feeling like I have to fight my way through heavy traffic or noise every day. That's why two cities in particular have stood out for me over time:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Liberec and Karlovy Vary<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Both are much smaller, clearer, scenically attractive - and yet not isolated or structurally weak. In my opinion, this is an ideal compromise between tranquillity and accessibility.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-3075\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/auswandern-tschechien-pilsen-1024x623.jpg\" alt=\"Emigrate Pilsen\" width=\"1024\" height=\"623\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/auswandern-tschechien-pilsen-1024x623.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/auswandern-tschechien-pilsen-300x183.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/auswandern-tschechien-pilsen-768x468.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/auswandern-tschechien-pilsen-1536x935.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/auswandern-tschechien-pilsen-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/auswandern-tschechien-pilsen.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>The attitude to life in the Czech Republic - like Germany 30 years ago<\/h2>\n<p>What particularly touched me in Pilsen and in the Czech Republic in general was the attitude to life. It reminded me a lot of Germany in the 1980s or early 1990s - before everything became more and more synchronized, politicized and standardized. People seemed more relaxed and friendly to me, not as stressed as in Germany.<\/p>\n<p>There is still a certain down-to-earthness, a calm matter-of-factness in everyday life that I found very pleasant. You can tell that people don't live here to prove anything to anyone - but to get on with their everyday lives. There's something reassuring about that.<\/p>\n<h3>Cost of living - not as cheap as many think, but fair<\/h3>\n<p>A word about costs, as this is a crucial point for many people: food prices are roughly on a par with German prices - at least as far as branded products and supermarkets are concerned. However, if you buy locally and don't pay attention to organic labels, you can definitely get away with it for less.<\/p>\n<p>Energy prices are noticeably lower. This applies to electricity, gas and also district heating - a clear advantage, especially in winter. Fuel prices were significantly cheaper during my stay. I paid around 1.10 euros per liter for super - around 30-40 cents less than what is usual in Germany.<\/p>\n<p>Rents are on average around 10 % below the German level, although this of course depends heavily on location and condition. In cities such as Prague, prices are now comparable to major cities in western Germany. In Liberec or Karlovy Vary, on the other hand, with a little patience you can still find well-preserved apartments at moderate prices.<\/p>\n<p>All in all, I would say that the Czech Republic is not a cheap country - but a country with fair conditions. And that's what matters to me.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Current survey on trust in politics<\/h3>\n<div class='bootstrap-yop yop-poll-mc'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"basic-yop-poll-container\" style=\"background-color:#ffffff; border:0px; border-style:solid; border-color:#000000; border-radius:5px; padding:0px 5px;\" data-id=\"1\" data-temp=\"basic-pretty\" data-skin=\"square\" data-cscheme=\"blue\" data-cap=\"0\" data-access=\"guest\" data-tid=\"\" data-uid=\"d78870ea0803ee4236293a7117933404\" data-pid=\"2986\" data-resdet=\"votes-number,percentages\" data-show-results-to=\"guest\" data-show-results-moment=\"after-vote\" data-show-results-only=\"false\" data-show-message=\"true\" data-show-results-as=\"bar\" data-sort-results-by=\"as-defined\" data-sort-results-rule=\"asc\"data-is-ended=\"0\" data-percentages-decimals=\"2\" data-gdpr=\"no\" data-gdpr-sol=\"consent\" data-css=\"\" data-counter=\"0\" data-load-with=\"1\" data-notification-section=\"top\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-md-12\"><div class=\"basic-inner\"><div class=\"basic-message hide\" style=\"border-left: 10px solid #008000; padding: 0px 10px;\" data-error=\"#ff0000\" data-success=\"#008000\"><p class=\"basic-message-text\" style=\"color:#000000; font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;\"><\/p><\/div><div class=\"basic-overlay hide\"><div class=\"basic-vote-options\"><\/div><div class=\"basic-preloader\"><div class=\"basic-windows8\"><div class=\"basic-wBall basic-wBall_1\"><div class=\"basic-wInnerBall\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"basic-wBall basic-wBall_2\"><div class=\"basic-wInnerBall\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"basic-wBall basic-wBall_3\"><div class=\"basic-wInnerBall\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"basic-wBall basic-wBall_4\"><div class=\"basic-wInnerBall\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"basic-wBall basic-wBall_5\"><div class=\"basic-wInnerBall\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><form class=\"basic-form\" action=\"\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_token\" value=\"6e8d6b7144\" autocomplete=\"off\"><div class=\"basic-elements\"><div class=\"basic-element basic-question basic-question-text-vertical\" data-id=\"1\" data-uid=\"97cb51527a5bb276e82b56a480a13820\" data-type=\"question\" data-question-type=\"text\" data-required=\"yes\" data-allow-multiple=\"no\" data-min=\"1\" data-max=\"1\" data-display=\"vertical\" data-colnum=\"\" data-display-others=\"no\" data-others-color=\"\" data-others=\"\" data-others-max-chars=\"0\"><div class=\"basic-question-title\"><h5 style=\"color:#000000; font-size:16px; font-weight:normal; text-align:left;\">How much trust do you have in politics and the media in Germany?<\/h5><\/div><ul class=\"basic-answers\"><li class=\"basic-answer\" style=\"padding:0px 0px;\" data-id=\"1\" data-type=\"text\" data-vn=\"12\" data-color=\"#000000\" data-make-link=\"no\" data-link=\"\"><div class=\"basic-answer-content basic-text-vertical\"><label for=\"answer[1]\" class=\"basic-answer-label\"><input type=\"radio\" id=\"answer[1]\" name=\"answer[1]\" value=\"1\"><span class=\"basic-text\" style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal;\">Very high - I fully trust the official bodies<\/span><\/label><\/div><\/li><li class=\"basic-answer\" style=\"padding:0px 0px;\" data-id=\"2\" data-type=\"text\" data-vn=\"30\" data-color=\"#000000\" data-make-link=\"no\" data-link=\"\"><div class=\"basic-answer-content basic-text-vertical\"><label for=\"answer[2]\" class=\"basic-answer-label\"><input type=\"radio\" id=\"answer[2]\" name=\"answer[1]\" value=\"2\"><span class=\"basic-text\" style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal;\">Medium - I am cautious, but not fundamentally suspicious<\/span><\/label><\/div><\/li><li class=\"basic-answer\" style=\"padding:0px 0px;\" data-id=\"3\" data-type=\"text\" data-vn=\"59\" data-color=\"#000000\" data-make-link=\"no\" data-link=\"\"><div class=\"basic-answer-content basic-text-vertical\"><label for=\"answer[3]\" class=\"basic-answer-label\"><input type=\"radio\" id=\"answer[3]\" name=\"answer[1]\" value=\"3\"><span class=\"basic-text\" style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal;\">Low - I check a lot of things myself<\/span><\/label><\/div><\/li><li class=\"basic-answer\" style=\"padding:0px 0px;\" data-id=\"4\" data-type=\"text\" data-vn=\"264\" data-color=\"#000000\" data-make-link=\"no\" data-link=\"\"><div class=\"basic-answer-content basic-text-vertical\"><label for=\"answer[4]\" class=\"basic-answer-label\"><input type=\"radio\" id=\"answer[4]\" name=\"answer[1]\" value=\"4\"><span class=\"basic-text\" style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal;\">Hardly present - I believe that a lot of things are disguised or staged<\/span><\/label><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"basic-vote\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"button basic-vote-button\" role=\"button\" style=\"background:#027bb8; border:0px; border-style: solid; border-color:#1636f0; border-radius:5px; padding:10px 10px; color:#ffffff; font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;\">Vote<\/a><\/div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"trp-form-language\" value=\"en\"\/><\/form><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>I have also considered other countries<\/h2>\n<p>Of course, I also looked at other options. Once you start thinking seriously about emigrating, you quickly come up with a whole list of potential countries. My first choice was <strong>Cyprus<\/strong> quite high up - both the Republic of Cyprus in the south and the Turkish-influenced north, which is also considered an insider tip in certain circles.<\/p>\n<p>Tax advantages, sunshine, EU connection - it all sounded tempting at first. But the longer I thought about it, the clearer it became: Cyprus is simply too far away. Not just geographically, but also culturally. And: I'm not a beach person. Sounds banal, but that was a real point for me. This idea of sun, palm trees and beaches every day - that's a dream for many people. For me, it's more of a state that wears off after a short time.<\/p>\n<p>I don't need 30 degrees in December. I need clarity, structure - and proximity to reality. Turkey was also briefly on my radar - as a transition country because of the low cost of living. But the political uncertainties, the constant threat of earthquakes and the economic fluctuations made me refrain from going there.<\/p>\n<p>I don't want to have to think every day about whether what I'm building will still last tomorrow. And that's how I ended up back in the Czech Republic. A country that has always appealed to me - not only because of the language (which I don't speak at the moment, but am certainly willing to learn), but above all because of the mentality of the people.<\/p>\n<p>Pragmatic, reserved, unagitated. And therefore very close to what I value myself.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"display-post-types\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#dpt-wrapper-371 { --dpt-text-align: left;--dpt-image-crop: center;--dpt-border-radius: 5px;--dpt-h-gutter: 10px;--dpt-v-gutter: 10px; }\t\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">#dpt-wrapper-371 { --dpt-title-font-style:normal;--dpt-title-font-weight:600;--dpt-title-line-height:1.5;--dpt-title-text-decoration:none;--dpt-title-text-transform:none;--dpt-excerpt-font-style:normal;--dpt-excerpt-font-weight:400;--dpt-excerpt-line-height:1.5;--dpt-excerpt-text-decoration:none;--dpt-excerpt-text-transform:none;--dpt-meta1-font-style:normal;--dpt-meta1-font-weight:400;--dpt-meta1-line-height:1.9;--dpt-meta1-text-decoration:none;--dpt-meta1-text-transform:none;--dpt-meta2-font-style:normal;--dpt-meta2-font-weight:400;--dpt-meta2-line-height:1.9;--dpt-meta2-text-decoration:none;--dpt-meta2-text-transform:none; }<\/style><div class=\"dpt-main-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dpt-main-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"dpt-main-title-text\">Current articles on artificial intelligence<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"dpt-wrapper-371\" class=\"dpt-wrapper dpt-mag1 land1 dpt-cropped dpt-flex-wrap\" >\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dpt-entry has-thumbnail\" data-title=\"was ist der sinn des lebens? religionen, philosophen und helmut thielicke im vergleich\" data-id=\"6071\"  data-category=\"allgemein gesellschaft ki-systeme kunst &amp; kultur stories &amp; humor\" data-post_tag=\"denkmodelle erfahrungen gesundheit krisen k\u00fcnstliche intelligenz meinungsfreiheit pers\u00f6nlichkeitsentwicklung portrait\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dpt-entry-wrapper\"><div class=\"dpt-featured-content\"><div class=\"dpt-permalink\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/2026\/05\/what-is-the-meaning-of-life-religions-philosophers-and-helmut-thielicke-in-comparison\/\" class=\"dpt-permalink\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">What is the meaning of life? A comparison of religions, philosophers and Helmut Thielicke<\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"dpt-thumbnail\"><div class=\"dpt-thumbnail-inner\"><img width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"The question of the meaning of life\" context=\"dpt\" data-dpt-src=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Sinn-des-Lebens.jpg\" data-dpt-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" data-dpt-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Sinn-des-Lebens.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Sinn-des-Lebens-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Sinn-des-Lebens-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Sinn-des-Lebens-18x12.jpg 18w\" \/><\/div><span class=\"dpt-thumbnail-aspect-ratio\" style=\"padding-top: 75%\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"sub-entry\"><h3 class=\"dpt-title\"><a class=\"dpt-title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/2026\/05\/what-is-the-meaning-of-life-religions-philosophers-and-helmut-thielicke-in-comparison\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">What is the meaning of life? A comparison of religions, philosophers and Helmut Thielicke<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .dpt-entry -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dpt-entry has-thumbnail\" data-title=\"wie k\u00fcnstliche intelligenz die softwareentwicklung und filemaker ver\u00e4ndert\" data-id=\"6029\"  data-category=\"apple iphone &amp; ipad apple macos filemaker &amp; erp ki-systeme\" data-post_tag=\"datenbanken datenlogik denkmodelle erp-software filemaker gfm-business k\u00fcnstliche intelligenz llm prozesse sprachmodell\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dpt-entry-wrapper\"><div class=\"dpt-featured-content\"><div class=\"dpt-permalink\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/2026\/05\/how-artificial-intelligence-is-changing-software-development-and-filemaker\/\" class=\"dpt-permalink\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">How artificial intelligence is changing software development and FileMaker<\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"dpt-thumbnail\"><div class=\"dpt-thumbnail-inner\"><img width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"AI evolution in the development of FileMaker databases\" context=\"dpt\" data-dpt-src=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/KI-Evolution-Entwickler.jpg\" data-dpt-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" data-dpt-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/KI-Evolution-Entwickler.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/KI-Evolution-Entwickler-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/KI-Evolution-Entwickler-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/KI-Evolution-Entwickler-18x12.jpg 18w\" \/><\/div><span class=\"dpt-thumbnail-aspect-ratio\" style=\"padding-top: 75%\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"sub-entry\"><h3 class=\"dpt-title\"><a class=\"dpt-title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/2026\/05\/how-artificial-intelligence-is-changing-software-development-and-filemaker\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">How artificial intelligence is changing software development and FileMaker<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .dpt-entry -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dpt-entry has-thumbnail\" data-title=\"vom content zur substanz: wie digitale systeme entstehen, die nicht kopierbar sind\" data-id=\"5899\"  data-category=\"allgemein b\u00fccher gesellschaft tipps &amp; anleitungen\" data-post_tag=\"buch datenlogik denkmodelle digitales eigentum erfahrungen k\u00fcnstliche intelligenz prozesse publishing ratgeber\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dpt-entry-wrapper\"><div class=\"dpt-featured-content\"><div class=\"dpt-permalink\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/2026\/04\/from-content-to-substance-how-digital-systems-are-created-that-cannot-be-copied\/\" class=\"dpt-permalink\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">From content to substance: how digital systems are created that cannot be copied<\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"dpt-thumbnail\"><div class=\"dpt-thumbnail-inner\"><img width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"System instead of individual content\" context=\"dpt\" data-dpt-src=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Organische-Reichweite.jpg\" data-dpt-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" data-dpt-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Organische-Reichweite.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Organische-Reichweite-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Organische-Reichweite-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Organische-Reichweite-18x12.jpg 18w\" \/><\/div><span class=\"dpt-thumbnail-aspect-ratio\" style=\"padding-top: 75%\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"sub-entry\"><h3 class=\"dpt-title\"><a class=\"dpt-title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/2026\/04\/from-content-to-substance-how-digital-systems-are-created-that-cannot-be-copied\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">From content to substance: how digital systems are created that cannot be copied<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .dpt-entry -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dpt-entry has-thumbnail\" data-title=\"vom chatgpt-datenexport zur eigenen wissens-ki: schritt-f\u00fcr-schritt mit ollama und qdrant\" data-id=\"5306\"  data-category=\"apple macos ki-systeme tipps &amp; anleitungen\" data-post_tag=\"datenbanken denkmodelle digitales eigentum docker k\u00fcnstliche intelligenz llama llm mlx ollama prozesse sprachmodell\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dpt-entry-wrapper\"><div class=\"dpt-featured-content\"><div class=\"dpt-permalink\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/2026\/03\/from-chatgpt-data-export-to-your-own-knowledge-ki-step-by-step-with-ollama-and-qdrant\/\" class=\"dpt-permalink\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">From ChatGPT data export to your own knowledge AI: step-by-step with Ollama and Qdrant<\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"dpt-thumbnail\"><div class=\"dpt-thumbnail-inner\"><img width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"The path to your own AI memory\" context=\"dpt\" data-dpt-src=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChatGPT-Datenexport-Computerhirn.jpg\" data-dpt-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" data-dpt-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChatGPT-Datenexport-Computerhirn.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChatGPT-Datenexport-Computerhirn-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChatGPT-Datenexport-Computerhirn-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChatGPT-Datenexport-Computerhirn-18x12.jpg 18w\" \/><\/div><span class=\"dpt-thumbnail-aspect-ratio\" style=\"padding-top: 75%\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"sub-entry\"><h3 class=\"dpt-title\"><a class=\"dpt-title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/2026\/03\/from-chatgpt-data-export-to-your-own-knowledge-ki-step-by-step-with-ollama-and-qdrant\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">From ChatGPT data export to your own knowledge AI: step-by-step with Ollama and Qdrant<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .dpt-entry -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Why do you want to leave Germany at all?<\/strong><br \/>\nI thought about it for a long time - and in the end it's a mixture of different factors. On the one hand, I feel that the tax burden on the self-employed in Germany is disproportionately high, without you getting any tangible value in return in all areas. Secondly, the social climate has changed: Public discourse has become narrower, many topics can hardly be discussed objectively without being pigeonholed. I long for an environment that is a little calmer, more open and more pragmatic - and the Czech Republic feels that way in many respects.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Why the Czech Republic of all countries?<\/strong><br \/>\nThe Czech Republic is close, stable and pleasantly calm. It offers many advantages: a manageable bureaucracy, a fairly structured tax system, a lower cost of living in some areas - and a certain mental closeness to what I remember from Germany. For me, it feels like Germany in the 80s or 90s: clear, calm, down-to-earth.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Why not Spain, Portugal or Cyprus like many other emigrants?<\/strong><br \/>\nI thought about all these countries. But a lot of them didn't suit me: Cyprus is too far away and too hot for me, and I'm not a beach person. Spain and Portugal are too touristy for me, and I would probably have to learn Spanish or Portuguese there. I'm not looking for a stage for a new life, but a quiet place where I can work and live - without having to bend all the time.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Have you ever been to the Czech Republic?<\/strong><br \/>\nYes, I was in Pilsen - a large city with around 180,000 inhabitants. I liked it, but overall I found it too big, too loud and too hectic. That's why I'm now looking more specifically at smaller cities, such as Liberec or Karlovy Vary, which suit my lifestyle better.<\/li>\n<li><strong>How do you rate the attitude to life in the Czech Republic?<\/strong><br \/>\nSurprisingly pleasant. I had the feeling that people are less stressed than in Germany. Everything seems a bit more down-to-earth and relaxed - without being backward. It really reminded me of the attitude to life in Germany in the 80s or early 90s.<\/li>\n<li><strong>How do prices in the Czech Republic compare to Germany?<\/strong><br \/>\nFood is often just as expensive as in Germany - especially branded products. But energy and fuel are much cheaper. For example, I filled up with premium gasoline for around 1.10 euros per liter. Rents are about 10 % lower, at least outside Prague. Overall, I would say: not a cheap country, but a fairly priced country.<\/li>\n<li><strong>What specifically attracts you to Liberec or Karlovy Vary?<\/strong><br \/>\nBoth cities are manageable, well-kept and scenic. Liberec is located in the north near the German border, has a beautiful old town and a solid infrastructure. Karlovy Vary has a completely different character - rather quiet, historic, with spa flair. I can well imagine both because they combine tranquillity and accessibility in a pleasant way.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Do you speak Czech?<\/strong><br \/>\nNot yet. But I'm willing to learn the language bit by bit - not least out of respect for the country. However, English or even German is often enough to get me started, especially in regions close to the border or with authorities that are geared towards foreigners. But my website is already <a href=\"https:\/\/markus-schall.de\/cs\/\"><strong>in Czech<\/strong><\/a> available.<\/li>\n<li><strong>How do you plan to make a living in the Czech Republic?<\/strong><br \/>\nI am self-employed and work remotely - in the areas of software development (FileMaker), publishing and AI projects, among others. That's why it's not absolutely necessary for me to look for a job on site. However, I need a functioning infrastructure and a certain amount of peace and quiet to work in - and that's exactly what I find there.<\/li>\n<li><strong>How far along are you with your emigration plans?<\/strong><br \/>\nI'm about to make the concrete leap. I am currently expecting to move on 01.01.2026 - possibly a little earlier. The preparations are underway: Apartment search, formalities, making contacts. At the same time, I'm building up structures to gain a better foothold locally - e.g. via a Facebook group.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Why did you set up a Facebook group?<\/strong><br \/>\nBecause I realized myself how difficult it is to find reliable information about emigrating to the Czech Republic, at least in German. The group should be a platform for exchange and mutual help - for all those who have similar considerations or already live in the Czech Republic. Without advertising, without dogmas - simply a place to ask questions and network.<\/li>\n<li><strong>What can I expect in the \"Emigration to the Czech Republic\" group?<\/strong><br \/>\nHonest experience reports, practical tips, discussions at eye level. It's about everyday topics such as finding accommodation, authorities, insurance, cultural differences, but also about personal motivations and strategies. Anyone can read along, ask questions or simply observe - without any obligation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>How do you deal with the topic of the healthcare system?<\/strong><br \/>\nI am currently researching the Czech health insurance options for foreigners. There are both private and state models, often depending on residence status. Different rules apply for self-employed people resident in the Czech Republic than for cross-border commuters. I will clarify this properly as part of my emigration - and then share the findings in the group.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Are you not afraid of bureaucracy or rejection abroad?<\/strong><br \/>\nOf course you think about things like that. But I believe that the Czech Republic is a country that treats you with respect if you behave sensibly and don't act arrogantly. From everything I've experienced so far, the bureaucracy there is clearer and more pragmatic than in Germany. And even if there is a hitch - you grow with it.<\/li>\n<li><strong>What do you hope to gain from this step in the long term?<\/strong><br \/>\nMore peace, more personal responsibility, more freedom. I don't want to get rich - I want to lead a life that feels like life again, not like administration, control and constant adaptation. I want to create, write, work - and decide for myself how I want to live. That is my goal.<\/li>\n<li><strong>What do you recommend to others who have similar thoughts?<\/strong><br \/>\nStart early, be honest with yourself - and don't wait forever. You don't need a \u201eperfect setup\u201c to get started. But you do need an inner decision. And sometimes it helps to talk to others - simply so you don't have to think everything through on your own. That's exactly what my group is for.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr \/>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"display-post-types\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#dpt-wrapper-372 { --dpt-text-align: left;--dpt-image-crop: center;--dpt-border-radius: 5px;--dpt-h-gutter: 10px;--dpt-v-gutter: 9px; }\t\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">#dpt-wrapper-372 { --dpt-title-font-style:normal;--dpt-title-font-weight:600;--dpt-title-line-height:1.5;--dpt-title-text-decoration:none;--dpt-title-text-transform:none;--dpt-excerpt-font-style:normal;--dpt-excerpt-font-weight:400;--dpt-excerpt-line-height:1.5;--dpt-excerpt-text-decoration:none;--dpt-excerpt-text-transform:none;--dpt-meta1-font-style:normal;--dpt-meta1-font-weight:400;--dpt-meta1-line-height:1.9;--dpt-meta1-text-decoration:none;--dpt-meta1-text-transform:none;--dpt-meta2-font-style:normal;--dpt-meta2-font-weight:400;--dpt-meta2-line-height:1.9;--dpt-meta2-text-decoration:none;--dpt-meta2-text-transform:none; }<\/style><div class=\"dpt-main-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dpt-main-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"dpt-main-title-text\">Current articles on art &amp; culture<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"dpt-wrapper-372\" class=\"dpt-wrapper dpt-mag1 land1 dpt-cropped dpt-flex-wrap\" >\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dpt-entry has-thumbnail\" data-title=\"beruf, weltbild, zukunft: entscheidungen im schatten des umbruchs\" data-id=\"3197\"  data-category=\"allgemein gesellschaft kunst &amp; kultur tipps &amp; anleitungen\" data-post_tag=\"erfahrungen krisen pers\u00f6nlichkeitsentwicklung ratgeber\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dpt-entry-wrapper\"><div class=\"dpt-featured-content\"><div class=\"dpt-permalink\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/2025\/10\/career-world-view-future-decisions-in-the-shadow-of-upheaval\/\" class=\"dpt-permalink\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Career, world view, future: Decisions in the shadow of upheaval<\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"dpt-thumbnail\"><div class=\"dpt-thumbnail-inner\"><img width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Decisions in the shadow of upheaval\" context=\"dpt\" data-dpt-src=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Entscheidungen-im-Schatten-Umbruch.jpg\" data-dpt-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" data-dpt-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Entscheidungen-im-Schatten-Umbruch.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Entscheidungen-im-Schatten-Umbruch-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Entscheidungen-im-Schatten-Umbruch-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Entscheidungen-im-Schatten-Umbruch-18x12.jpg 18w\" \/><\/div><span class=\"dpt-thumbnail-aspect-ratio\" style=\"padding-top: 75%\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"sub-entry\"><h3 class=\"dpt-title\"><a class=\"dpt-title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/2025\/10\/career-world-view-future-decisions-in-the-shadow-of-upheaval\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Career, world view, future: Decisions in the shadow of upheaval<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .dpt-entry -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dpt-entry has-thumbnail\" data-title=\"was ist der sinn des lebens? religionen, philosophen und helmut thielicke im vergleich\" data-id=\"6071\"  data-category=\"allgemein gesellschaft ki-systeme kunst &amp; kultur stories &amp; humor\" data-post_tag=\"denkmodelle erfahrungen gesundheit krisen k\u00fcnstliche intelligenz meinungsfreiheit pers\u00f6nlichkeitsentwicklung portrait\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dpt-entry-wrapper\"><div class=\"dpt-featured-content\"><div class=\"dpt-permalink\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/2026\/05\/what-is-the-meaning-of-life-religions-philosophers-and-helmut-thielicke-in-comparison\/\" class=\"dpt-permalink\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">What is the meaning of life? 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In meinem Fall war es Letzteres. Die Idee, Deutschland zu verlassen und ein neues Kapitel im Ausland aufzuschlagen, begleitet mich schon seit Jahren. Aber wie das Leben eben so spielt, kam immer wieder etwas dazwischen: Verpflichtungen, Projekte, pers\u00f6nliche Bindungen &#8211; und nicht zuletzt auch die bequeme &#8230; <a title=\"Reach is not ownership - Why visibility is no longer enough today\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/2025\/12\/reach-is-not-ownership-why-visibility-is-no-longer-enough-today\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Reach is not ownership - Why visibility is no longer enough today\">Read more<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3073,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":823,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,466],"tags":[467,458,426,429,448],"class_list":["post-3069","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-allgemein","category-gesellschaft","tag-auswandern","tag-erfahrungen","tag-krisen","tag-persoenlichkeitsentwicklung","tag-ratgeber"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3069","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3069"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3069\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5934,"href":"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3069\/revisions\/5934"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3073"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3069"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3069"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.markus-schall.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3069"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}