Comparison

Dresden vs Cologne

Side-by-side data for relocation, travel, hiring, and investment decisions. Values are shown with source-backed metric definitions so trade-offs are easy to compare.

Dresdencity Colognecity

Compare different places

Normalized comparison chart

Bars and radar use 0-100 better scores. Tooltips keep the raw source values visible.

cost

Cost of Living Index

0-100

Dresden53.5 / 100

Cologne70.2 / 0

safety

Safety Index

0-100

Dresden67 / 100

Cologne63.7 / 0

housing

Median Monthly Rent

0-100

Dresden$1,655 / 100

Cologne$2,277 / 0

housing

House Price to Income

0-100

Dresden9.0x / 0

Cologne5.7x / 100

jobs

Average Salary

0-100

Dresden$4,842/mo / 0

Cologne$5,147/mo / 100

jobs

Unemployment Rate

0-100

Dresden5.7% / 0

Cologne2.9% / 100

health

Healthcare Access Index

0-100

Dresden56.6 / 0

Cologne71.4 / 100

health

Life Expectancy

0-100

Dresden82.1 years / 100

Cologne79.9 years / 0

cost

safety

housing

jobs

health

Winner

No clear winner across 22 metrics.

Top trade-offs

Dresden leads cost, safety, and rent; Cologne leads housing, salary, and jobs.

cost

Cost of Living Index

Lower is better

Dresden

53.5

TypecitySourceworld-bank-open-dataYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

Cologne

70.2

TypecitySourceworld-bank-open-dataYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

safety

Safety Index

Higher is better

Dresden

TypecitySourceun-dataYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

Cologne

63.7

TypecitySourceun-dataYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

housing

Median Monthly Rent

Lower is better

Dresden

$1,655

TypecitySourceworld-bank-open-dataYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

Cologne

$2,277

TypecitySourceworld-bank-open-dataYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

housing

House Price to Income

Lower is better

Dresden

9.0x

TypecitySourceworld-bank-open-dataYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

Cologne

5.7x

TypecitySourceworld-bank-open-dataYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

jobs

Average Salary

Higher is better

Dresden

$4,842/mo

TypecitySourceworld-bank-open-dataYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

Cologne

$5,147/mo

TypecitySourceworld-bank-open-dataYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

jobs

Unemployment Rate

Lower is better

Dresden

5.7%

TypecitySourceworld-bank-open-dataYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

Cologne

2.9%

TypecitySourceworld-bank-open-dataYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

health

Healthcare Access Index

Higher is better

Dresden

56.6

TypecitySourcewho-ghoYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

Cologne

71.4

TypecitySourcewho-ghoYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

health

Life Expectancy

Higher is better

Dresden

82.1 years

TypecitySourcewho-ghoYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

Cologne

79.9 years

TypecitySourcewho-ghoYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

environment

Air Quality PM2.5

Lower is better

Dresden

17.9 ug/m3

TypecitySourceopenaqYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

Cologne

22.7 ug/m3

TypecitySourceopenaqYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

environment

Climate Comfort

Higher is better

Dresden

64.5

TypecitySourcewikidataYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

Cologne

78.1

TypecitySourcewikidataYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

infrastructure

Internet Speed

Higher is better

Dresden

172 Mbps

TypecitySourcewikidataYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

Cologne

182 Mbps

TypecitySourcewikidataYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

demographics

Population Growth

Higher is better

Dresden

1.3%

TypecitySourceun-dataYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

Cologne

1.0%

TypecitySourceun-dataYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

education

Education Access Index

Higher is better

Dresden

78.9

TypecitySourceopenstreetmapYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

Cologne

89.6

TypecitySourceopenstreetmapYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

transport

Transit Connectivity

Higher is better

Dresden

65.3

TypecitySourceopenstreetmapYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

Cologne

68.5

TypecitySourceopenstreetmapYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

safety

Murder Rate

Lower is better

Dresden

15.9 per 100k

TypecitySourceunodcYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

Cologne

20.0 per 100k

TypecitySourceunodcYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

safety

Rape Rate

Lower is better

Dresden

64.8 per 100k

TypecitySourceun-dataYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

Cologne

44.2 per 100k

TypecitySourceun-dataYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

health

Obesity Rate

Lower is better

Dresden

27.7%

TypecitySourcewho-ghoYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

Cologne

20.7%

TypecitySourcewho-ghoYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

quality

Happiness Score

Higher is better

Dresden

4.1

TypecitySourceworld-happiness-reportYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

Cologne

3.5

TypecitySourceworld-happiness-reportYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

housing

Price Per Square Meter

Lower is better

Dresden

$7,920/sqm

TypecitySourceworld-bank-open-dataYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

Cologne

$9,709/sqm

TypecitySourceworld-bank-open-dataYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

religion

Catholic Population Share

Higher is better

Dresden

18.2%

TypecitySourcepew-religionYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

Cologne

52.7%

TypecitySourcepew-religionYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

religion

Muslim Population Share

Higher is better

Dresden

64.5%

TypecitySourcepew-religionYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

Cologne

41.6%

TypecitySourcepew-religionYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

religion

Unaffiliated Population Share

Higher is better

Dresden

34.9%

TypecitySourcepew-religionYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

Cologne

29.8%

TypecitySourcepew-religionYear2026RefreshedLast refreshed: May 2026ConfidenceModeled estimate

Some city-level values are modeled estimates when official city-level data is unavailable.

Each metric keeps its source, year, last refreshed date, and confidence label visible. Review methodology or Data Sources.

Metric

Dresden

Cologne

Better

Cost of Living Indexcost

53.5world-bank-open-data / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

70.2world-bank-open-data / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

Dresden

Safety Indexsafety

67un-data / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

63.7un-data / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

Dresden

Median Monthly Renthousing

$1,655world-bank-open-data / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

$2,277world-bank-open-data / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

Dresden

House Price to Incomehousing

9.0xworld-bank-open-data / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

5.7xworld-bank-open-data / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

Cologne

Average Salaryjobs

$4,842/moworld-bank-open-data / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

$5,147/moworld-bank-open-data / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

Cologne

Unemployment Ratejobs

5.7%world-bank-open-data / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

2.9%world-bank-open-data / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

Cologne

Healthcare Access Indexhealth

56.6who-gho / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

71.4who-gho / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

Cologne

Life Expectancyhealth

82.1 yearswho-gho / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

79.9 yearswho-gho / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

Dresden

Air Quality PM2.5environment

17.9 ug/m3openaq / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

22.7 ug/m3openaq / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

Dresden

Climate Comfortenvironment

64.5wikidata / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

78.1wikidata / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

Cologne

Internet Speedinfrastructure

172 Mbpswikidata / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

182 Mbpswikidata / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

Cologne

Population Growthdemographics

1.3%un-data / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

1.0%un-data / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

Dresden

Education Access Indexeducation

78.9openstreetmap / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

89.6openstreetmap / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

Cologne

Transit Connectivitytransport

65.3openstreetmap / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

68.5openstreetmap / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

Cologne

Murder Ratesafety

15.9 per 100kunodc / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

20.0 per 100kunodc / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

Dresden

Rape Ratesafety

64.8 per 100kun-data / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

44.2 per 100kun-data / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

Cologne

Obesity Ratehealth

27.7%who-gho / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

20.7%who-gho / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

Cologne

Happiness Scorequality

4.1world-happiness-report / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

3.5world-happiness-report / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

Dresden

Price Per Square Meterhousing

$7,920/sqmworld-bank-open-data / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

$9,709/sqmworld-bank-open-data / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

Dresden

Catholic Population Sharereligion

18.2%pew-religion / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

52.7%pew-religion / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

Cologne

Muslim Population Sharereligion

64.5%pew-religion / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

41.6%pew-religion / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

Dresden

Unaffiliated Population Sharereligion

34.9%pew-religion / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

29.8%pew-religion / 2026Last refreshed: May 2026Modeled estimate

Dresden