City in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Cost of living in Cologne
How much a month costs in Cologne
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $2,700–3,600 (€2,400–3,200).
Prices in Cologne
Typical 2026 ranges in EUR, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | EUR | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | €1,100–1,800 | $1,240–2,030 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | €800–1,300 | $900–1,460 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | €22–45 | $25–51 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | €90–170 | $101–191 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | €6–12 | $6.8–13.5 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | €17–30 | $19–34 |
| Cappuccino | €3.3–4.5 | $3.7–5.1 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | €3.5–5.5 | $3.9–6.2 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | €3–3.8 | $3.4–4.3 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | €10–17 | $11.3–19.1 |
| Work and life | ||
| Coworking day pass | €18–30 | $20–34 |
| Gym membership (month) | €25–55 | $28–62 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | €10–25 | $11–28 |
Value for money: 21/100
A value score of 21/100 means Cologne gives more quality of life per dollar than 20% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 75/100. It's the 6th most affordable of 16 places we cover in Germany.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across Germany
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Dresden | $2,250–3,040 | 29/100 |
| Leipzig | $2,250–3,040 | 31/100 |
| Black Forest | $2,250–3,260 | — |
| Nuremberg | $2,480–3,380 | 30/100 |
| Bremen | $2,480–3,380 | 33/100 |
| Cologne | $2,700–3,600 | 21/100 |
| Heidelberg | $2,700–3,600 | 28/100 |
| Freiburg | $2,700–3,600 | 28/100 |
| Rothenburg ob der Tauber | $2,700–3,600 | 28/100 |
| Düsseldorf | $2,810–3,830 | 16/100 |
| Berlin | $2,930–3,940 | 14/100 |
| Stuttgart | $2,930–3,940 | 20/100 |
| Garmisch-Partenkirchen | $2,930–3,940 | 20/100 |
| Hamburg | $3,150–4,160 | 11/100 |
| Frankfurt | $3,150–4,280 | 12/100 |
| Munich | $3,380–4,500 | 13/100 |
Cheaper alternatives to Cologne
Similar safety, lower cost, in Europe.
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Cologne?
About $1,580–2,140 on a lean budget, $2,700–3,600 for a comfortable month and $4,730–7,310 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Cologne?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs €1,100–1,800 ($1,240–2,030) a month in the center and €800–1,300 ($900–1,460) outside it.
How much does food cost in Cologne?
A local meal is €6–12 ($6.8–13.5); a mid-range restaurant is €17–30 ($19–34) per person.
Is Germany expensive?
Prices in Germany are about 80% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Cologne
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- KVB Cologne transport
- Cologne Bonn Airport
- Cologne tourism
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.