Germany : Cost of Living by City
- Aachen
- Berlin
- Bonn
- Bremen
- Cologne
- Dresden
- Dusseldorf
- Frankfurt
- Hamburg
- Hanover
- Heidelberg
- Karlsruhe
- Leipzig
- Mannheim
- Munich
- Nuremberg
- Stuttgart
How Much Does It Cost to Live in Cologne?
Being known as the oldest city in Germany which has lots of historical and cultural monuments to be proud of, Cologne attracts people and makes them want to live here.
The city was awful in the times of World War II.
Now it’s a nice European place with numerous museums and galleries, fresh greenery of the parks and water banks.
No doubt, Cologne will serve you the sweetest chocolate and original food.
The restaurants often possess own wineries with nearly hundred of bins.
Also, could you find the original eau de Cologne elsewhere?
Cost of Living Breakdown in Cologne
RESTAURANTS
The city smells with chocolate and perfumes.
But you will definitely love to pass by one of the fragrant restaurants or cafes in the city.
The main dishes in the eateries in Cologne are fish, soups, pastry, and cheesecakes.
Prices are cheaper than in Bonn and Bremen.
| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $11.20 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $3.75 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $2.09 |
MARKETS
The trading rows are ingeniously implemented in the ancient architecture of Cologne.
There is a popular market street in the center of the Old city where locals love buying fresh farmer products.
The prices are rather low which is why they are popular among students and workers with the minimum wages.
| Average Market Prices | |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 Liter) | $0.79 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $1.47 |
| Eggs (12) | $2.03 |
TRANSPORTATION
Getting around the city is most comfortable in a taxi.
Although, an average person in Cologne chooses to travel by other means of transport like a bus which is especially advantageous if buy a monthly pass and have a fixed schedule.
These are a high-speed tram where the metro trains ride on the same rails.
| Average Transport Prices | |
|---|---|
| One Way Ticket | $3.25 |
| Monthly Pass | $103.89 |
| Gasoline | $1.55 |
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
The utility providers in Cologne, Germany charge an average sum of $222.58 for the basic comforts like electricity, water, garbage and heating along with cooling.
The water is often heat by boilers or electric heaters that is why the electricity costs more.
The Internet is more expensive than in the other cities in Germany, but the mobile connection is cheaper.
| Average Utilities Prices | |
|---|---|
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $222.58 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.10 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $34.53 |
SPORTS & LEISURE
The official sports websites in Cologne read about a wide range of activities for sports and recreation in the oldest city in Germany.
Among the most popular we can name football, bike tours, golf, or horse-riding.
Traditional fitness clubs are also available at $29.98 per monthly subscription.
| Average Leisure Prices | |
|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $29.98 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $13.26 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $11.20 |
CLOTHING & SHOES
What can you buy in Cologne?
First and foremost, there is an original perfume factory that has more than 200 years of history behind.
All the shops are concentrated in the central streets where you can buy the brands you are accustomed to like Zero, Mango, H&M and the like.
| Average Clothing Prices | |
|---|---|
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $81.53 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $31.26 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $87.43 |
RENT PER MONTH
Most of the landlords post the advertisements for their accommodation for rent on some popular web platforms.
This is really convenient since you can see the photos, furniture, and prices.
A three-bedroom apartment in the urban area is three times more expensive than one bedroom outside the center so this is up to you to decide.
| Average Rent Prices | |
|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $805.44 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $585.84 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $1561.37 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Cologne?
Markets and monthly rent take the most earnings from the citizens.
Sure, you buy the products to cook and you use electricity and water to prepare meals.
An average person in Cologne is also accommodated to spending some time outside the house.
They meet their friends or watch football at the bars, and these expenditures are included in the statistics like 14.3% of money spent on the restaurants.
Dresses and snickers seem to interest the Cologne citizens the less.
They tend to spend much more on tennis clubs, cinema, theatre, hiking, and biking then they do on their outer image.
Average Costs Breakdown
Cologne: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
Cologne offers a low-interest rate for the families who have decided to take a housing loan and settle down in this city or rent it out to pay the taxes.
Thus, the rate is equal to 1.85% which is less than in the smaller cities like Bremen or Bonn.
The average salary does not allow people to buy accommodation often, but this is surely a larger sum of money than the minimum wage of $1782.8.
With this money in the pocket which are left after paying taxes to the treasury of Cologne, people can still rent an apartment, buy foods, enjoy leisure time and travel the world.
Cologne Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Cologne Safety Review
| OVERALL RISK | LOW |
|---|---|
| TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK | LOW |
| PICKPOCKETS RISK | MEDIUM |
| NATURAL DISASTERS RISK | LOW |
| MUGGING RISK | LOW |
| TERRORISM RISK | MEDIUM |
| SCAMS RISK | LOW |
| WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK | LOW |
| TAP WATER RISK | LOW |
Cost of Living by City in Germany
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Aachen |
67.33 |
| Berlin |
67.75 |
| Bonn |
69.14 |
| Bremen |
68.93 |
| Dresden |
65.92 |
| Dusseldorf |
73 |
| Frankfurt |
71.64 |
| Hamburg |
72.15 |
| Hanover |
64.57 |
| Heidelberg |
70.82 |
| Karlsruhe |
69.26 |
| Leipzig |
66.04 |
| Mannheim |
68.35 |
| Munich |
73.79 |
| Nuremberg |
66.44 |
| Stuttgart |
67.46 |
Did you happen to check out the prices at those wineries? I can only imagine how pricey some of those original dishes and wines must be, especially in such a historically rich city. What’s your favorite spot for trying local food without breaking the bank?
Sounds great until you see the prices on those restaurant menus. Who knew appreciating history and culture came at such a steep cost? Guess I’ll stick to my homemade chocolate for now.
Looks lovely for a visit, but my wallet would protest if I moved there. Between museum fees, those upscale restaurant wine lists, and tourist prices everywhere, the costs must be brutal.