Cologne, Germany 🇩🇪
#490
,
Nomad Score:
67%
Essentials
| 🏙️ City | Cologne is a vibrant city known for its impressive cathedral, cultural scene, and rich history. |
| 👥 Population | Approx. 1,100,000 |
| 💻 Internet Speed | Average of 100 Mbps in urban areas |
| 💸 Currency & Banking | 1 EUR ≈ 1.07 USD. Major banks include Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank. |
| 🚰 Tap Water | Drinkable |
| 🔌 Power | 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/E sockets |
| 📶 SIM Card | Providers include Telekom, Vodafone, O2. |
| 💳 Banking for Expats | Revolut and N26 are popular for expats. |
| 🛌 Accommodation | Options include Airbnb, local rental agencies, and long-term leases. |
| 💳 Cashless Friendly | Yes, cards widely accepted. |
| 🏠 Short Term Rentals | Airbnb and Booking.com are popular for short stays. |
| 🛏️ Budget Accommodation | Hostel Köln is an affordable lodging option. |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists | Altstadt (Old Town) is recommended for tourists. |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads | The Belgian Quarter and Ehrenfeld are popular among digital nomads. |
Working and Networking
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space | STARTPLATZ in Deutz is a top coworking space. |
| ☕ Best Cafe for Work | Cafe Rico in the Belgian Quarter offers great coffee and a relaxed atmosphere. |
| 💼 Networking Events | Meetup.com has various events, including tech and startup meetups. |
| 🥂 Social Events for Expats | Cologne Expats Facebook Group hosts regular meetups. |
Transportation
| 🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App | Free Now (previously MyTaxi) is popular. |
| 🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental | Cappuccino and Lime offer bike and scooter rentals. |
| 🏖️ Best Beach Nearby | The closest beach is in Widdig, about 30 mins away by car. |
| ✈️ Top Regional Airline | Eurowings is the main regional airline. |
| ✈️ Top International Airline | Lufthansa and KLM operate major international flights. |
| 🛣️ Highway Access | Connected to the A1 and A3 highways. |
| 🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub | Cologne Central Station (Kölner Hauptbahnhof) connects to many regional and international lines. |
| 🚍 Public Transport Passes | Monthly pass for €98 covering KVB services. |
| ✈️ Regional Travel | Trains (DB and RE) and buses provide access to nearby cities like Bonn and Düsseldorf. |
Health and Wellness
| 🏥 Best Hospital | Universitätsklinikum Köln is the main university hospital. |
| 🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers | Yogatribe offers various yoga styles and wellness classes. |
| 🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers | Fitness First and McFIT have multiple locations. |
| 🧺 Laundry Services | Wäscheteufel provides laundry services across the city. |
Food and Drink
| 📱 Best Food Delivery App | Lieferando is widely used for food delivery. |
| 🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try | Try Himmel un Ääd (Heaven and Earth), a traditional dish. |
| 🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options | Restaurants like The Vegan Eagle offer diverse plant-based menus. |
| 🍫 Best Dessert Spots | Brot und Butter is famous for its pastries. |
| 🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots | Markets like Markt auf dem Rudolfplatz provide local produce. |
| 🛒 E-commerce/Online Store | Amazon and local stores like MediaMarkt are popular. |
| 🛒 Grocery Delivery | Bringmeister and Rewe provide grocery delivery services. |
| 🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area | The Agincourt area is popular for nightlife. |
| 🍻 Local Brewery | Kölsch breweries like Gaffel are known for their pilsner. |
| 🍷 Wine Bars | Weinhaus Ehlen offers a wide selection of wines. |
| 🍲 Street Food Stalls | Try the food stalls at the Cologne Street Food Festival. |
| 🍕 Popular International Cuisine | Restaurants like Damas offer Syrian cuisine. |
Culture and Attractions
| 🎟️ Must-See Landmarks | Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) is a UNESCO World Heritage site. |
| 🏛️ Museums & Art Venues | Museum Ludwig showcases modern art and photography. |
| 🏰 Historical Sites | The Roman-Germanic Museum features artifacts from Roman times. |
| 🕍 Religious Sites | St. Gereon's Basilica is one of the oldest churches in Cologne. |
| 🎉 Annual Events | Karneval is a major annual festival celebrated in February. |
| 🎨 Cultural Districts | The Belgian Quarter is known for its vibrant cultural scene. |
| 🎭 Theater Venues | Kölner Philharmonie is famous for its classical music concerts. |
| 🛍️ Local Markets | Cologne Christmas Market is famous for local crafts and foods in winter. |
| 🎼 Music Scene | Live music can be found at venues like Club Bahnhof Ehrenfeld. |
| 🎨 Street Art | Stolzes Köln showcases local graffiti and street artists. |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes | Kochschule Köln offers various culinary classes. |
| 👩🎨 Art Galleries | Galerie Karsten Greve presents contemporary art exhibitions. |
| 🕰️ Historic Buildings | The Old Market Square features historical architecture. |
| 🏴 Local Heritage | Cologne's history dates back to Roman times, evidenced by remnants around the city. |
Nature and Outdoor Activities
| 🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes | The Forstbotanischer Garten offers serene green spaces. |
| 🏞️ National Parks Nearby | Eifel National Park is approximately 1 hour drive from Cologne. |
| 🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths | The Rhine promenade offers scenic views and paths for walking and cycling. |
| 🌄 Scenic Viewpoints | The Hohenzollern Bridge provides stunning river and city views. |
| 🦉 Birdwatching Locations | The flora and fauna around the Fühlinger See are great for birdwatching. |
| 🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots | Designated areas in parks like Rheinpark allow bonfires. |
Other Services and Amenities
| 📦 Parcel Delivery Service | DHL and Hermes offer reliable delivery services. |
| 🛠️ Tech Repair Services | MediaMarkt provides electronic repair services. |
| 🏓 Table Tennis Spots | Various parks like Auenweg have public table tennis tables. |
| 🧑🏫 Language Classes | Goethe-Institut offers German language courses. |
| 📚 Libraries & Study Spots | Kölner Stadtbibliothek is a popular public library for studying. |
| 🏘️ Community Centers | Haus der Jugend provides various community services. |
| 🕹️ Gaming Lounges | Epic Lounge offers a great space for gamers. |
| 🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls | Casino Köln is a well-known gaming venue. |
Business
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. €3,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €140,000) |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. €2,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €112,000) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. €3,200 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €192,000) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. €2,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €150,000) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. €3,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €240,000) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. €2,300 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €184,000) |
| 💼 Corporate Tax | 15% standard corporate tax rate. |
| 💵 Dividend Withholding Tax | 26.375% on dividend distributions. |
| 🏦 Tax System | Progressive tax system based on worldwide income. |
| 📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket | 45% for high earners. |
| 🧾 VAT | 19% standard VAT rate. |
| 🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules | Yes, strict rules apply for foreign subsidiaries. |
| 🏠 Property Tax | Annual property tax based on local valuation. |
| 🏠 Property Transaction Tax | 6.5% property transaction tax. |
| 💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads | Digital nomads can benefit from a favorable flat tax rate scheme for foreign income applicants. |