City Comparison
Essen vs Bessemer
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Alabama, USA
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Essen scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Essen
Bessemer
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
| Metric | Essen | Bessemer | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $950 | $0 | 0% |
| Groceries | $380 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $240 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $55 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $1,625 | $0 | 0% |
| Cost Index | 78 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Essen offers similar average salaries.
| Metric | Essen | Bessemer |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $48,000 | $0 |
| Salary Needed | $42,000 | $0 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Essen runs warmer on average — a 53.1°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Essen comes out ahead with 239 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Essen sees 10.8 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Essen | Bessemer |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 53.10°F | °F |
| Summer High | 75.50°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 35.10°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 31.40 in | in |
| Snowfall | 10.80 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 239 | |
| Humidity | 74.00% | % |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Bessemer has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
15,500 minutes (258 hours) per year compared to Essen.
Essen scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Essen leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Essen | Bessemer |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 31 min | min |
| Transit Score | 76.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 68.0/100 | — |
| Traffic Index | 52.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Essen is the larger city
.
From a growth perspective, Essen 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 | Essen | Bessemer |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 586,608 | 0 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.20% | — |
| Median Age | 43.5 | |
| Unemployment | 8.90% | % |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Essen
Advantages
Median housing and rental prices remain significantly more affordable than in neighboring Düsseldorf, Cologne, or Frankfurt.
Extensive green spaces, including Lake Baldeney and Gruga Park, offer exceptional outdoor recreation within an urban setting.
World-class cultural and historic assets, such as the UNESCO Zollverein World Heritage Site and Museum Folkwang.
Excellent public transit connectivity and central positioning within the dense Ruhr metropolitan transport network.
Strong economic foundation anchored by major corporate headquarters in the energy and service sectors.
Drawbacks
Local unemployment rates remain slightly above the national average for Germany due to historical structural shifts.
Traffic congestion during peak commuting hours along major thoroughfares like the A40 autobahn.
Certain inner-city neighborhoods face socioeconomic challenges and localized pockets of urban deprivation.
Industrial heritage legacy requires ongoing urban regeneration and environmental remediation efforts.
Higher local municipal taxes (Gewerbesteuer and Grundsteuer) compared to some surrounding suburban municipalities.
Bessemer
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Essen
#86North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
55.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$48,000
Cost Index
78
Commute
31 min
Transit Score
76.0/100
Walkability
68.0/100
Sunny Days
239/yr
Avg Temp
53.10°F
Pop. Growth
0.20%
Unemployment
8.90%
Livability
75
Business
70
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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