United States Chicago, IL vs Germany Cologne
United States Chicago, IL — Pick the United States Chicago, IL — it leads these groups: Climate 4 Economy 1
Tap a group name to see the proof · The scoring method is public
The short answer
United States Chicago, IL wins this comparison with a score of 60/100, ahead of Germany Cologne (57).
The main differences: GDP per capita (country) (82587 USD vs 54777 USD) · Cost of living index (75.8 vs 71.2) · Rent index (54.8 vs 28.1).
Scores are computed from 27 public spec attributes; missing values stay marked unknown in tables and are imputed at the category median, never passed off as measured.
At a glance
0–100 per group, normalized within the category · Tap a group for details
| United States Chicago, IL | Germany Cologne | |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | 53 | 32 |
| Cost of living | 76 | 83 |
| Safety | 61 | 55 |
| Climate | 49 | 43 |
| People & place | 34 | 34 |
| Education & connectivity | 75 | 79 |
How to choose
Pick the United States Chicago, IL if you care about…
- GDP per capita (country) 82587 USD +27810 USD vs 54777 USD
- Local purchasing power 137.3 +24.8 vs 112.5
- Summer average 22.8 °C +2.1 °C vs 20.7 °C
- Annual precipitation 1031 mm +110 mm vs 1141 mm
Pick the Germany Cologne if you care about…
- Cost of living index 71.2 +4.6 vs 75.8
- Rent index 28.1 +26.7 vs 54.8
- Cost + rent index 51.5 +14.7 vs 66.2
- Groceries index 66.9 +19.2 vs 86.1
Best price now
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Where they differ
13 · Only rows that actually differ, with a verdict per row
| United States Chicago, IL | Germany Cologne | Where they differ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP per capita (country) | 82587 USD | 54777 USD | United States Chicago, IL |
| Cost of living index | 75.8 | 71.2 | Germany Cologne |
| Rent index | 54.8 | 28.1 | Germany Cologne |
| Cost + rent index | 66.2 | 51.5 | Germany Cologne |
| Groceries index | 86.1 | 66.9 | Germany Cologne |
| Restaurant price index | 73.9 | 69.4 | Germany Cologne |
| Local purchasing power | 137.3 | 112.5 | United States Chicago, IL |
| Average temperature | 11.8 °C | 12 °C | Germany Cologne |
| Summer average | 22.8 °C | 20.7 °C | United States Chicago, IL |
| Winter average | -3.6 °C | 3 °C | Germany Cologne |
| Annual precipitation | 1031 mm | 1141 mm | United States Chicago, IL |
| Rain days per year | 118 days | 168 days | United States Chicago, IL |
| Sunshine hours per year | 3295 h | 2617 h | United States Chicago, IL |
The record
Grouped and collapsible · Tap a group to fold
Economy5▾
| United States Chicago, IL | Germany Cologne | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | — | 1.1 M |
| GDP per capita (country) | 82587 USD | 54777 USD |
| Average salary | — | 3198.8 USD |
| Unemployment rate | — | 8.6 % |
| Mortgage interest rate | — | 4.3 % |
Cost of living8▾
| United States Chicago, IL | Germany Cologne | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 75.8 | 71.2 |
| Rent index | 54.8 | 28.1 |
| Cost + rent index | 66.2 | 51.5 |
| Groceries index | 86.1 | 66.9 |
| Restaurant price index | 73.9 | 69.4 |
| Local purchasing power | 137.3 | 112.5 |
| Internet (monthly) | — | 50.2 USD |
| 1-bed apt (city center) | — | 1116.3 USD |
Safety2▾
| United States Chicago, IL | Germany Cologne | |
|---|---|---|
| Safe to walk alone (day) | — | 7.5 /10 |
| Safe to walk alone (night) | — | 4.8 /10 |
Climate6▾
| United States Chicago, IL | Germany Cologne | |
|---|---|---|
| Average temperature | 11.8 °C | 12 °C |
| Summer average | 22.8 °C | 20.7 °C |
| Winter average | -3.6 °C | 3 °C |
| Annual precipitation | 1031 mm | 1141 mm |
| Rain days per year | 118 days | 168 days |
| Sunshine hours per year | 3295 h | 2617 h |
People & place4▾
| United States Chicago, IL | Germany Cologne | |
|---|---|---|
| Population density | — | 2530 /km² |
| Area | — | 405 km² |
| Elevation | — | 59 m |
| Population growth | — | 0.8 % |
Education & connectivity2▾
| United States Chicago, IL | Germany Cologne | |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten (monthly) | — | 802.3 USD |
| International school (year) | — | 16411.5 USD |
Data sources: Numbeo · Open-Meteo · Wikidata · World Bank
FAQ
Which is better, United States Chicago, IL or Germany Cologne?
United States Chicago, IL has the higher overall score (60 vs 57) and leads in Climate, Economy. Choose Germany Cologne instead if Cost of living index matters more to you.
What are the main differences?
The main differences: GDP per capita (country) (82587 USD vs 54777 USD) · Cost of living index (75.8 vs 71.2) · Rent index (54.8 vs 28.1).
How are the scores calculated?
We normalize 27 public spec attributes within the category and weight them by group into a 0–100 score; missing values are inherited from spec-identical twins or imputed at the category median, so a sparse spec sheet never earns an advantage. The methodology is public.