City Comparison
Cologne vs Bessemer
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Alabama, USA
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Cologne scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Cologne
Bessemer
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
| Metric | Cologne | Bessemer | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,203 | $0 | 0% |
| Groceries | $450 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $180 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $120 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,203 | $0 | 0% |
| Cost Index | 87 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Cologne offers similar average salaries.
| Metric | Cologne | Bessemer |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $70,200 | $0 |
| Salary Needed | $55,000 | $0 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Cologne runs warmer on average — a 53.8°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Cologne comes out ahead with 248 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Cologne sees 9.3 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Cologne | Bessemer |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 53.80°F | °F |
| Summer High | 76.90°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 34.90°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 31.60 in | in |
| Snowfall | 9.30 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 248 | |
| Humidity | 65.00% | % |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Bessemer has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
18,500 minutes (308 hours) per year compared to Cologne.
Cologne scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Cologne leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Cologne | Bessemer |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 37 min | min |
| Transit Score | 85.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 92.0/100 | — |
| Traffic Index | 135.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Cologne is the larger city
.
From a growth perspective, Cologne is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Bessemer has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Cologne | Bessemer |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,031,939 | 0 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.22% | — |
| Median Age | ||
| Unemployment | 4.00% | % |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Cologne
Advantages
Excellent public transportation system with a transit score of 85/100, making car ownership optional for many residents [2, 3, 8, 14, 24, 39].
High walkability score of 92/100, with extensive pedestrian zones and sidewalks, especially in the city center and along the Rhine [3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9].
Cologne is a major cultural and media hub with a vibrant arts scene, renowned universities, and a famously tolerant and welcoming atmosphere [10, 14].
Robust healthcare system with numerous hospitals and specialized clinics, positioning Cologne as a leading medical center in Europe [10, 20, 34, 41, 47].
Cost of living is 12.6% lower than in the US, offering a good balance between urban amenities and affordability [15].
Drawbacks
High rental prices, especially in central locations, with a significant difference between the most and least expensive districts [21, 25, 29].
Moderate risk of pickpocketing in crowded tourist areas and around the main train station, requiring vigilance [7, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15].
The city's appearance is noted as less traditionally picturesque than some German towns, with much of the architecture being plain postwar construction [18].
No specific median household income or median age data found for Cologne, making precise demographic and financial comparisons difficult [11, 21, 25, 42, 43, 46].
Some anecdotal evidence suggests public transport can be unreliable at times, with platform changes and delays, though generally considered good [26, 32].
Bessemer
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Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Cologne
#25North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
64.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,203
Avg Salary
$70,200
Cost Index
87
Commute
37 min
Transit Score
85.0/100
Walkability
92.0/100
Sunny Days
248/yr
Avg Temp
53.80°F
Pop. Growth
0.22%
Unemployment
4.00%
Livability
74
Business
68
Bessemer
Alabama, USA
0.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$0
Avg Salary
$0
Cost Index
Commute
min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
%
Livability
0
Business
0
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