City Comparison
Cologne vs Grants Pass
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Cologne scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Cologne
Grants Pass
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Cologne is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
14% lower than in Grants Pass.
Housing costs are a major driver: Cologne's average rent is
17% lower than Grants Pass's.
| Metric | Cologne | Grants Pass | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,203 | $1,450 | -17% |
| Groceries | $450 | $450 | 0% |
| Utilities | $180 | $400 | -55% |
| Transport | $120 | $120 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $150 | +67% |
| Monthly Total | $2,203 | $2,570 | -14% |
| Cost Index | 87 | 112 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Cologne offers 9% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Cologne delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Cologne is estimated at
$55,000 vs $58,000 in Grants Pass.
| Metric | Cologne | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $70,200 | $64,331 |
| Salary Needed | $55,000 | $58,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 80,690 idx | 57,438 idx |
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 | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| 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% | 74.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Grants Pass has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
9,500 minutes (158 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 | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 37 min | 18 min |
| Transit Score | 85.0/100 | 27.0/100 |
| Walkability | 92.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 135.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Cologne is the larger city
— approximately 25.8x the population of Grants Pass.
From a growth perspective, Grants Pass is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Cologne has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Cologne | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,031,939 | 40,051 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.22% | 0.90% |
| Median Age | 40.8 | |
| Unemployment | 4.00% | 5.60% |
| 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].
Grants Pass
Advantages
Access to world-class outdoor recreation on the Rogue River, including rafting and fishing.
More sunny days and a warmer, drier climate compared to much of western Oregon.
Housing is comparatively more affordable than larger West Coast cities and some other Oregon metros.
A growing arts and food scene in a walkable, historic downtown.
Friendly community atmosphere appealing to families and retirees.
Drawbacks
Overall crime rate is significantly higher than the national average, particularly due to property crime.
Limited high-wage job opportunities compared to larger economic centers.
Air quality can be impacted by wildfire smoke during certain seasons.
Presence of a significant homeless population in the downtown core.
High car dependency due to minimal public transportation options.
Explore
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
Grants Pass
#584Oregon, USA
45.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$64,331
Cost Index
112
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
27.0/100
Walkability
40.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
5.60%
Livability
70
Business
60
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