Who Cologne fits
Applicants who want a large NRW city, media/culture jobs, and slightly lower rent than Munich/Frankfurt.
All student cities
North Rhine-Westphalia · Köln
Cost of living in Cologne
Cologne (Köln) student costs: Uni Köln, TH Köln, carnival-city housing, and NRW vs Munich rent.
Summary
Cologne is moderate-to-softer (~€1,035, rent ~€500). Universität zu Köln and TH Köln create a large student population. Rooms exist but quality varies by district (Ehrenfeld vs inner ring). Blocked account stays €11,904.
Monthly student budget
Planning figures from the cost of living tool. Rent is the swing factor.
Estimated total
€1035
per month
- Rent
- €500
- Food
- €230
- Transport
- €35
- Insurance
- €120
- Misc
- €150
The 2026 visa blocked account stays €11,904 (€992/month) in every city — including Cologne.
Living in Cologne
Housing
Kölner Studierendenwerk is the hall route. Many internationals use WG-Gesucht; expect competition before 1 October intakes.
Watch-outs
Semester ticket / Deutschlandsemesterticket rules sit in the semester contribution. Confirm what your contribution actually includes this year.
Universities
Names students search with Cologne. Live course pages appear when YourWeg has published them.
- University of Cologne
- TH Köln
Compare cost levels
FAQ
Map reference 50.94° N, 6.96° E. Confirm live rent and visa amounts on official sites.