Germany · Visit or make it home

Koeln

Koeln is a city in Germany. Compare its dated local facts and monthly climate before choosing a time to visit or planning a move. Housing references and national earnings describe different populations; verify the costs of your own home and job before deciding.

Koeln — Kranhäuser Cologne, April 2018 -01

Get to know Koeln

A sense of the place

Cologne is the fourth-most populous city of Germany and the largest city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia with over 1.0 million inhabitants in the city proper and over 3.1 million people in the Cologne Bonn urban region. Cologne is also part of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, the second biggest metropolitan region by GDP in the European Union. Centred on the left bank of the Rhine, Cologne is located on the River Rhine , about 35 kilometres southeast of the North Rhine-Westphalia state capital Düsseldorf and 22 kilometres northwest of Bonn, the former capital of West Germany. The city's medieval Cologne Cathedral was the world's tallest building from 1880 to 1890 and is today the third-tallest church and tallest cathedral in the world. It was constructed to house the Shrine of the Three Kings and is a globally recognized landmark and one of the most visited sights and pilgrimage destinations in Europe. The cityscape is further shaped by the Twelve Romanesque churches of Cologne.

Weather through the year

When to visit Koeln

Temperature

July has the warmest monthly average (19.4°C); January is coolest (1.4°C). These averages include nights, so daytime highs can be considerably warmer.

Rain and outdoor plans

August averages about 79 mm of rain, compared with 44 mm in April. Rainfall alone does not identify a single best month; compare temperatures with the activities you plan.

Planning time outdoors

May, June, July, August, September combine monthly mean temperatures of 12–22°C with less than 100 mm of precipitation. These are useful dates to compare for a walking-focused visit; check daylight, opening times and the forecast for your actual trip.

January, February, December have monthly means below 5°C. For a stay then, compare accommodation heating and keep indoor options in your itinerary. These figures do not establish snow cover or ski conditions.

Monthly climate averages — 2001-2020
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average °C1.42.15.39.613.417.119.418.915.110.55.92.4
Rain, mm746259446468757957617177

Source: NASA POWER climatology · Reference period: 2001-2020. Long-term averages for the surrounding grid area. Conditions vary within a city; monthly averages are neither a forecast nor a guarantee of dry days.

Places around Koeln

Build your shortlist for a day out. Distances are straight-line from the city centre; check routes and opening times before setting off.

Average rent in Koeln

What is the average rent in Koeln?

A verified average rent for Koeln is not available in the evidence shown here. Do not substitute another city’s price or a national estimate. Compare current properties for the same home size and neighbourhood, then include utilities, deposits and daily transport when building a budget for a visit or move.

Average salary in Koeln

What is the average salary in Koeln?

4,646.5 USD/month is the gross employee-pay reference dated 2022. It describes Germany, not average salary in Koeln. Gross pay is before deductions; household earnings depend on the household model. Use a current offer and your own tax circumstances for take-home budgeting.

Source: ILO — Average gross monthly earnings of employees · Reference date: 2022 · CC BY 4.0 (ILO datasets published from 3 May 2023)

How should I compare Koeln with another city?

Compare the same dated measures for both cities, keeping local observations separate from national context. Start with rent, your expected income and the journeys you will make regularly. Then adjust the comparison weights to your priorities. Missing measurements do not prove an advantage; verify decisive costs and services with current local sources.

  1. Choose a comparison below and read its sources and dates.
  2. Set priorities for housing, work, transport and climate.
  3. Check current listings and your own income before making a decision.

Data sources, licences & reuse terms

Plan your stay

Budget and everyday decisions

A holiday budget

Compare accommodation for your actual dates in Koeln, then add the journey here, airport transfers, meals and the activities you want. A cheap room outside the centre can cost more overall if it adds daily transport.

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A relocation budget

Use the planner below to compare housing, daily spending and the cost of your move.

Include the deposit, utilities, internet and commuting. Compare those costs with your own expected take-home income.

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Your relocation planning budget

Build a monthly budget for Koeln in euros. Totals are calculated from the amounts below, not live quotes. Enter a housing amount for your chosen home.

Monthly total: Enter all five monthly amounts

First month including move: Enter your moving costs too

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Compare the details

Koeln at a glance

Germany: the wider context

These are country-level figures, not measurements of Koeln. Use them to compare national conditions; neighbourhoods, salaries and individual services can differ substantially.

See 11 national indicators

Other places to compare in Germany

What to check before deciding

Comparable figures are not available here for: Distance to nearest sea / coastline; Annual sunshine hours; Seismic hazard (ordinal 0 very-low to 4 high); Public-transport provision (ordinal proxy); Distance to nearest mountains (>1500 m); Monthly rent, 1-bedroom, city centre. Check the items that affect your plans with local providers. They are not treated as zero or as an advantage in recommendations.

Compare Koeln with other cities

Read the source dates, choose your priorities and keep unavailable values separate from costs you know.

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