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"harsh winters" is relative. :) There tends to be less snow accumulation in Berlin than much of the Northeast US, and chances are you won't need a car, nor need to shovel it (plus walkway and driveway) out. And besides, meh-weather helps with productivity.

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Come on! Winters are harsh, particularly the last one... The other thing you want to investigate before making the move is taxes! Income Taxes are high, the marginal rate is 45 pct.

For me, the winters are relatively better; unlike where I grew up (the 51st state), there's less snow on the ground, and walking everywhere keeps me warm. :)

As for taxes: if you're just coming for 3 months, no tax worries. Beyond that: 1) you get a lot more services for the tax money, like health insurance, university; 2) the treatment of capital gains taxes is very favorable for entrepreneurs: http://venturevillage.eu/gmbh-tax-change

Exactly. I come from Greece and haven't had any major problems with the Berlin winter so far.

London's cold was much more bitter, for what it counts.

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