Cologne ranks 4th of 10 priced cities in Germany on cost — $1,889 a month in essentials, 23% above Dresden, the cheapest. The average net salary of $3,389 covers that 1.8×. 95.1 men per 100 women aged 20–39, measured at district level. PM2.5 averages 10.5 µg/m³ a year, 2× the WHO guideline of 5. Jan averages 4°C, Aug 20°C.
Monthly cost breakdown
Rent outside centre plus utilities, groceries, dining and local transport make up the essentials figure. Not a full lifestyle budget.
| Item | Monthly USD |
|---|---|
| Rent, 1-bed outside centre | $826 |
| Rent, 1-bed city centre | $1,158 |
| Groceries | $174 |
| Dining out | $392 |
| Utilities | $425 |
| Local transport | $72 |
| Essentials / mo | $1,889 |
| Avg net salary | $3,389 |
| Rent, 3-bed outside centre | $1,656 |
| Rent, 3-bed city centre | $2,288 |
Single person, USD. Data updated July 27, 2026.
Everyday prices
What single items cost in Cologne, in USD. The monthly figures above are built from these.
Eating out
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | $17.06 |
| Meal for 2, mid-range, three courses | $91.00 |
| McMeal at McDonald's | $11.94 |
| Cappuccino, regular | $4.12 |
| Domestic beer, 0.5 L draught | $5.69 |
| Imported beer, 0.33 L bottle | $5.12 |
| Coke/Pepsi, 0.33 L | $3.73 |
| Water, 0.33 L bottle | $3.34 |
Groceries
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Milk, 1 L | $1.34 |
| White bread, 500 g | $2.29 |
| White rice, 1 kg | $3.62 |
| Eggs, 12 | $3.76 |
| Local cheese, 1 kg | $13.78 |
| Chicken fillets, 1 kg | $11.13 |
| Apples, 1 kg | $2.99 |
| Bananas, 1 kg | $2.11 |
| Tomatoes, 1 kg | $4.04 |
| Potatoes, 1 kg | $1.30 |
| Onions, 1 kg | $1.19 |
| Water, 1.5 L bottle | $1.03 |
Transport & bills
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| One-way ticket, local transport | $4.07 |
| Monthly transit pass | $71.66 |
| Taxi start | $5.57 |
| Taxi, 1 km | $2.73 |
| Gasoline, 1 L | $2.16 |
| Basic utilities, 85 m² flat | $383.86 |
| Internet, 60 Mbps+ | $41.00 |
| Mobile plan, monthly | $14.88 |
Leisure
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Gym, monthly | $46.76 |
| Cinema, one seat | $15.36 |
Dating-age sex ratio
Cologne has 95.1 men per 100 women aged 20–39 (district level). That is the 9th-highest of 10 Germany cities we track. Germany's national figure is 107.5, so Cologne runs 12 below the country as a whole.
A supply figure, 20–39. The dating-pool model is in Pro.
Climate & air
Ten-year monthly means, 2015–2024 — a climate profile, not a forecast.
| Month | Avg | Feels | Humidity | Cloud | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.8°C | -0.1°C | 86% | 77% | 105 mm |
| Feb | 5.2°C | 1.3°C | 80% | 68% | 89 mm |
| Mar | 7.3°C | 3.8°C | 74% | 66% | 82 mm |
| Apr | 10.3°C | 7.4°C | 68% | 59% | 54 mm |
| May | 14.6°C | 12.9°C | 69% | 63% | 68 mm |
| Jun | 18.9°C | 18.4°C | 68% | 61% | 68 mm |
| Jul | 19.9°C | 19.5°C | 67% | 62% | 81 mm |
| Aug | 20°C | 19.9°C | 71% | 59% | 81 mm |
| Sep | 16.2°C | 15.2°C | 76% | 59% | 69 mm |
| Oct | 12.1°C | 10.1°C | 83% | 72% | 86 mm |
| Nov | 7.5°C | 4.5°C | 86% | 75% | 88 mm |
| Dec | 5.5°C | 2°C | 87% | 80% | 108 mm |
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