🇩🇪 Germany · #112 of 546 cities · 2026

Should I Move to Cologne?

27.3% cheaper than NYC — and purchasing power is strong.

Run the calculator below with your actual salary to get a personalised answer.

-27.3%
vs NYC
EUR 737
Estimated rent in
EUR 2,651
Net take-home
Strong
Purchasing Power

Source: Numbeo · NYC = 100 baseline · Data verified Q1 2026

Personalised Answer

Compare your salary — move to Cologne?

Example: EUR 50,000 gross/year in Germany → EUR 2,651/month net after tax (36.4% effective rate). Full Germany tax breakdown → →

The numbers

Cost breakdown — Cologne

Cost indices vs NYC = 100

Cost of Living
72.7 Moderate
Rent
28.3 Very affordable
Groceries
69.7 Moderate
Restaurants
71.3 Moderate
Purchasing Power
111.3 Strong

Estimated rent in Cologne

1-BR — City centre EUR 737/mo
1-BR — Outside centre EUR 553/mo
3-BR — City centre EUR 1,284/mo
Save by going outside centre ~25% cheaper

Estimated from rent index. Actual prices vary.

Tax reality

Germany take-home pay

EUR 50,000 → EUR 2,651/Net take-home (36.4% effective rate, single filer)

Full Germany tax calculator →

Similar options

Considering alternatives?

Cities in the same country or region with a comparable cost of living.

🇩🇪 Heidelberg
Germany
CoL index 72.6
🇩🇪 Dusseldorf
Germany
CoL index 72.9
🇩🇪 Frankfurt
Germany
CoL index 73.1

Ready to run the numbers?

Enter your salary and current city. Get exact take-home pay in Cologne after tax — in seconds.

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