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Living in Bochum

Bochum had 375,625 residents at the end of 2025 and is a city in Germany. Gigabit broadband availability was 94.7% in 2025. Car density was 554 vehicles per 1,000 residents in 2026. For Bochum, monthly mean temperatures were 3.1°C in January and 18.9°C in July. Population density was 2,462.4 people per km² in 2024.

Higher unemployment than 96% of German cities that publish it, less recorded crime than 66% of German cities that publish it and cleaner air than 64% of German cities that publish it.

Which Germany-wide rules apply when you move to Bochum?

National rules stay on the country page instead of being relabelled as city data.

Visa and entry rulesPassport-specific entry and national residence context.BenefitsCountry-wide eligibility and official application routes.Taxes in GermanyNational rates and thresholds that apply in Bochum.Healthcare eligibilityCountry-wide insurance and residence conditions.

Housing and cost

A city-level estimate placed average net cold rent at €9.69 per m² per month in May 2026.

How much does it cost to rent in Bochum?

Average net cold rent is 9.69 EUR/m² per month (May 2026), excluding heating and operating charges.

Published average over existing tenancies; a specific flat can sit either side of it. Asking-rent series, where present, are separate rows in the table.

  • Average net rent (nettokalt): 9.69 EUR/m²/month · wohnungsboerse Mietspiegel Bochum35
What recurs every month6 published recurring costs, € per month
Bochum recurring monthly costs, € per month

€ / month

Utilities, 85 m² flat€203
Private kindergarten€141
Transport pass€80
Mobile plan, 10 GB€31
Internet, 60 Mbps€30
Fitness club€21

Supplemental estimate lane; these items are not official statistics.

Net rent across major citiesBochum highlighted among comparable cities
Net rent across major cities with Bochum highlighted

net rent, € / m² / month

Hamburg€9.94
Stuttgart€9.72
Augsburg€9.10
Mannheim€9.09
Dortmund€6.00
Halle (Saale)€5.99
Show the other 6 cities
Berlin€7.71
Dresden€7.20
Braunschweig€6.79
Bielefeld€6.72
Duisburg€6.66
Leipzig€6.27
MetricValuePeriodSource
Fitness club membership, monthly20.9 EUR/month31 Dec 2022Global Cost of Living — Kaggle snapshot v234Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Internet, 60 Mbps unlimited29.61 EUR/month31 Dec 2022Global Cost of Living — Kaggle snapshot v234Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Private kindergarten, monthly140.8 EUR/month31 Dec 2022Global Cost of Living — Kaggle snapshot v234Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Meal at an inexpensive restaurant12.44 EUR31 Dec 2022Global Cost of Living — Kaggle snapshot v234Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Mobile plan, 10 GB30.6 EUR/month31 Jul 2026Cost of Living in Bochum. Jun 2026. Prices in Bochum33Commercial estimate · Supplemental context
Monthly transport pass79.61 EUR/month31 Dec 2022Global Cost of Living — Kaggle snapshot v234Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Basic utilities, 85 m² home202.8 EUR/month31 Dec 2022Global Cost of Living — Kaggle snapshot v234Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
G02 Vacancy Rate Pct3.59 %31 Dec 2022Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) / Statistical Offices of the Länder28Official
Dwellings197,473 dwellings31 Dec 2022Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) / Statistical Offices of the Länder28Official
Housing Vacancy Rate Percent3.59 %31 Dec 2022Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) / Statistical Offices of the Länder28Official
Average net rent (nettokalt)9.69 EUR/m²/month1 May 2026wohnungsboerse Mietspiegel Bochum35Commercial estimate · Supplemental context

Cost of living

Fixed monthly costs for one person in an 85 m² flat were about €1,166 in the latest published figures. From a median gross salary of €4,400, that leaves €3,234 before income tax and social contributions.

Where a Bochum salary goesfixed monthly costs, share of the €1,166 basket · median gross salary €4,400/month
€3,234left of €4,400
  • Net rent, 85 m² · 71%€824
  • Utilities, 85 m² · 17%€203
  • Transport pass · 7%€80
  • Internet and mobile · 5%€60

One person, 85 m² flat; the ring splits the €1,166 fixed basket before income tax and social contributions, latest published figures (checked 2026-08-04).

Worked out from these numbers

What does a 60 m² flat cost?

About 581 EUR a month in cold rent at the published average of 9.69 EUR/m² per month, before heating and operating charges.

Heating, water and operating charges come on top, and a specific flat can sit either side of an average.

Source period: May 2026

Is rent affordable on a local salary?

A 60 m² flat at the published average rent is about 581 EUR a month, which is 13% of the published median gross salary of 4,400 (2024). Gross, not take-home, and before heating and operating charges.

Source period: May 2026

Work and income

The unemployment rate was 9% in 2024.

What is the typical salary in Bochum?

The median gross salary is 4,400 EUR/month (2024). The regional series (home-region basis, 2024) is a separate labelled row in the table.

City-scope median, gross, before tax and social contributions. the regional series (home-region basis, {period}) is a separate labelled row in the table — shown in the table below.

  • Median gross salary: 4,400 EUR/month · Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit27
  • Median gross salary (regional): 4,150 EUR/month · 2026-07-29 · BA Entgelte im regionalen Vergleich — Medianentgelt Kreise Wohnort 20243

What is the unemployment rate in Bochum?

The unemployment rate is 9 % (2024). Source: Arbeitslosenquoten — Länder, Kreise und Gemeinden, Gesamt, 2024 annual average2

Unemployment across cities in GermanyUnemployment in Bochum is 9.0%. Of 2,973 cities with data, 1,290 have unemployment of 4 to under 6%.
unemployment rate, % · measured cities in Germany per band801 cities: 2% to under 4%8012–41290 cities: 4% to under 6%12904–6624 cities: 6% to under 8%6246–8228 cities: 8% to under 10%2288–10Bochum 9.0%24 cities: 10% to under 12%2410–124 cities: 12% to under 14%412–142 cities: 14% to under 16%214–16

Unemployment rate (%)

MetricValuePeriodSource
Fibre-to-the-building availability53.38 %31 Dec 2025data.bundesnetzagentur.de8Official
Gigabit broadband availability94.72 %31 Dec 2025Bundesnetzagentur / BMDV — Breitbandatlas7Official
People in employment168,040 people31 Dec 2022Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) / Statistical Offices of the Länder29Official
Median gross salary4,400 EUR/month31 Dec 2024Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit27Official
Median gross salary (regional)4,150 EUR/month31 Dec 2024BA Entgelte im regionalen Vergleich — Medianentgelt Kreise Wohnort 20243Official · regional context
Unemployment rate9 %country median 5.1%31 Dec 2024Arbeitslosenquoten — Länder, Kreise und Gemeinden, Gesamt, 2024 annual average2Official
Unemployment rate over time11 published observations, 2015–2025
Unemployment rate in Bochum by year, %4.0%5.8%7.6%9.5%2015201720192021202320259.1%%

Unemployment rate rose 34.4% between 2015 and 2025, from 6.8% to 9.1%.

Public employment service

No exact public employment office is currently linked to Bochum. The verified national service may still offer online registration, job search or an official office finder.

Country-level information

Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Public employment service

Bundesagentur für Arbeit

Job Search
Search jobs
Open the Germany service overview

Country-level service information is not treated as proof of a physical office in Bochum. Sources checked through 10 Aug 2026.

Healthcare

MetricValuePeriodSource
Hospital Beds Per 100k731.1 beds per 100,00031 Dec 2024Bundesministerium für Gesundheit (Bundesklinik-Atlas)6Official

Yes — migrants receive medical care in Bochum through valid health insurance.

Healthcare access follows the country-wide insurance rules; local capacity facts remain city data and are not used as proof of eligibility.

Open the official coverage guide
Hospital Beds Per 100k731.1 beds per 100,000Verified 2026-08-03
Country rule verified 2026-08-03.

Safety

How safe is Bochum?

Police recorded 8,381 incidents per 100,000 (2024). This counts all offences, so it is not comparable with a violent-crime-only rate from another source. Source: PKS 2024 T01 Grundtabelle - Fälle mit Häufigkeitszahl (HZ) - Städte22

Recorded crime across major citiesBochum highlighted among comparable cities
Recorded crime across major cities with Bochum highlighted15,424Bremen14,600Frankfurt am Main13,900Berlin13,192Hanover12,343Cologne12,283Dortmund12,172Dusseldorf11,129Leipzig9,619Essen8,853Dresden8,552Stuttgart8,381Bochumrecorded incidents per 100k residents
MetricValuePeriodSource
Recorded incidents per 100,000 residents8,381 incidents per 100,000country median 9,27531 Dec 2024PKS 2024 T01 Grundtabelle - Fälle mit Häufigkeitszahl (HZ) - Städte22Official
Recorded incidents per 100,000 residentsAlternative estimate8,581 incidents per 100,0002022All recorded crimes per 100,000 residents in the BBSR/PKS Kreis indicator.1Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · district-level figure
Safety City Crime Reporting Coverage12 months/year31 Dec 2025BKA PKS T01 Staedte-Falltabelle5Official

Mobility and administration

MetricValuePeriodSource
Destinations from nearest airport28 count13 Jun 2026OpenFlights — routes.dat20Official
Nearest airportDTM13 Jun 2026OurAirports — airports.csv21Official
Distance to nearest airport27.4 km13 Jun 2026OurAirports — airports.csv21Official

Language courses and integration in Bochum

42 exact course-location records are linked to this city. Check the linked source for dates, availability and enrolment.

Verified locally
42verified local records

IFAK e.V. - Verein für multikulturelle Kinder- und Jugendhilfe - Migrationsarbeit

Essener Str. 57, 44793 Bochum

View official record
Check courses in BochumHow the country programme works
Exact city-linked records checked 2026-08-09. Showing 3 representative locations from 42 verified records. Provider-supplied records are supplemental and are not presented as official accreditation.

Climate and air quality

Monthly precipitation was 74 mm in January and 84 mm in July.

Is the air quality good in Bochum?

The annual PM2.5 mean is 8 µg/m³ (2024) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³. Source: EEA air quality statistics — DE PM2.5 annual mean 2024 (station Hattingen-Blankenstein)16

Annual mean at the measuring site(s) serving the city; current-day readings differ.

Temperature through the yearAverage daytime high and night-time low, °C
Bochum average monthly daytime high and night-time low temperature, °C0°10°20°30°JFMAMJJASOND24°1°Daytime highNight-time low
Rainfall through the yearAverage monthly precipitation, mm
Bochum average monthly precipitation, mm0255075100746559446174848374717181JFMAMJJASONDmm
Sunshine through the yearAverage monthly sunshine, hours
Bochum average monthly sunshine, hours05511016522052711211711971942021931451055742JFMAMJJASONDhours
Air quality vs health guidelinesAnnual means against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limits
Bochum annual air pollutant levels against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limitsCity valueWHO guidelineEU limit5258.0PM2.5154012.0PM10104025.0NO₂µg/m³

City values from the published air-quality observations. WHO 2021 guidelines and EU limit values are published constants.

PM2.5 across cities in GermanyAnnual PM2.5 in Bochum is 8.0 µg/m³. Of 444 cities with data, 155 have annual PM2.5 of 8 to under 9 µg/m³.
annual PM2.5, µg/m³ · measured cities in Germany per band1 city: 3 µg/m³ to under 4 µg/m³13–410 cities: 4 µg/m³ to under 5 µg/m³104–54 cities: 5 µg/m³ to under 6 µg/m³45–643 cities: 6 µg/m³ to under 7 µg/m³436–7102 cities: 7 µg/m³ to under 8 µg/m³1027–8155 cities: 8 µg/m³ to under 9 µg/m³1558–9Bochum 8.090 cities: 9 µg/m³ to under 10 µg/m³909–1030 cities: 10 µg/m³ to under 11 µg/m³3010–115 cities: 11 µg/m³ to under 12 µg/m³511–122 cities: 12 µg/m³ to under 13 µg/m³212–132 cities: 13 µg/m³ to under 14 µg/m³213–14

Annual PM2.5 (µg/m³)

MetricValuePeriodSource
NO₂ — annual mean25 µg/m³31 Dec 2024EEA air quality statistics — DE NO2 annual mean 2024 (station Bochum Dorstener Straße)14Official · nearest-station reading
PM10 — annual mean12 µg/m³31 Dec 2024EEA air quality statistics — DE PM10 annual mean 2024 (station Hattingen-Blankenstein)15Official · nearest-station reading
PM2.5 — annual mean8 µg/m³31 Dec 2024EEA air quality statistics — DE PM2.5 annual mean 2024 (station Hattingen-Blankenstein)16Official · nearest-station reading
Average daytime high by monthJan 5.1 · Feb 6.1 · Mar 10 · Apr 14.5 · May 18.2 · Jun 21.1 · Jul 23.5 · Aug 23 · Sep 19 · Oct 14.2 · Nov 9.1 · Dec 5.7 °C1991–2020WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 — station Essen-Bredeney30Official · nearest-station reading
Average night-time low by monthJan 0.6 · Feb 0.8 · Mar 3.1 · Apr 5.9 · May 9.2 · Jun 12 · Jul 14.3 · Aug 14.2 · Sep 11.3 · Oct 7.9 · Nov 4.3 · Dec 1.6 °C1991–2020WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 — station Essen-Bredeney30Official · nearest-station reading
Average temperature by monthJan 3.1 · Feb 3.5 · Mar 6.4 · Apr 10.1 · May 13.9 · Jun 16.9 · Jul 18.9 · Aug 18.3 · Sep 14.6 · Oct 10.7 · Nov 6.7 · Dec 3.8 °C31 Dec 1991DWD multi-annual station means 1991-2020 (temperature)13Official
Average precipitation by monthJan 74 · Feb 65 · Mar 59 · Apr 44 · May 61 · Jun 74 · Jul 84 · Aug 83 · Sep 74 · Oct 71 · Nov 71 · Dec 81 mm31 Dec 1991DWD multi-annual station means 1991-2020 (precipitation)11Official
Average sunshine by monthJan 52 · Feb 71 · Mar 121 · Apr 171 · May 197 · Jun 194 · Jul 202 · Aug 193 · Sep 145 · Oct 105 · Nov 57 · Dec 42 hours31 Dec 1991DWD multi-annual station means 1991-2020 (sunshine)12Official
Annual mean temperature9.8 °C31 Dec 2020DWD Climate Data Center — Klimanormal 1991-2020, Jahresmittel Lufttemperatur 2m (1×1 km Raster)10Official · land

Alternatives with a better balance

same official-source families, comparable grain — left of gross salary after the same fixed costs
Bochum€3,234this cityStuttgart€3,924+€690Mannheim€3,431+€197Dortmund€3,273+€40Bielefeld€3,192−€42

Nearby is not always better: the greyed row leaves less than Bochum at the same fixed-cost basket. Every alternative publishes the same metric families, each with its own source and date.

Cities of a similar size in Germany

Closest published populations, for a like-for-like comparison.

All Germany cities
Wuppertal364,609 residentsBielefeld343,507 residentsBonn338,224 residentsMannheim329,998 residentsMuenster319,295 residentsAugsburg308,407 residents

Population and city profile

How many people live in Bochum?

The published population was 375,625 people in 2025. Source: Stadt Bochum population press release24

Who lives hereResidents by nationality, % of population
Bochum residents by nationalityBy nationalityNational passport86.5%Foreign residents13.5%

Calculated from the population and foreign-resident facts on this page.

MetricValuePeriodSource
Cars per 1,000 residents554 cars/1000 residents1 Jan 2026Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt — FZ 3 vehicle stock by municipality18Official
City area145.7 km²31 Dec 2022Stadt Bochum budget data23Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context
Foreign-resident share15.4 %31 Dec 2024Eurostat17Official
Foreign residents50,525 people15 May 2022Zensus 2022 regional tables — Germany municipalities32Official
Population density2,462 people/km²31 Dec 2024Official municipality population divided by official municipality area from the same Destatis row.19Official
Population Female180,442 people31 Dec 2022Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) / Statistical Offices of the Länder32Official
Population Male173,844 people31 Dec 2022Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) / Statistical Offices of the Länder32Official
Population375,625 people31 Dec 2025Stadt Bochum population press release24Official
Safety City Crime Covered Population358,676 people31 Dec 2025BKA PKS Bevölkerungsdaten (04-KR-BV-insg, Quelle Statistisches Bundesamt)4Official
Population over time14 published observations, 2012–2025
Population in Bochum by year, residents355,536362,728369,921377,113201220182025375,625residents

Population rose 3.6% between 2012 and 2025, from 362,585 to 375,625.

Foreign residents over time10 published observations, 2016–2025
Foreign residents in Bochum by year, residents38,11844,61751,11757,6162016201820202022202556,271residents

Foreign residents rose 42.6% between 2016 and 2025, from 39,463 to 56,271.

People and communities

MetricValuePeriodSource
Catholic residents95,140 people31 Dec 2022Destatis9Official
Catholic share26.9 %31 Dec 2022Destatis9Official
No religion or other167,456 people31 Dec 2022Destatis9Official
No religion or other, share47.3 %31 Dec 2022Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis)9Official
Protestant residents91,691 people31 Dec 2022Destatis9Official
Protestant share25.9 %31 Dec 2022Destatis9Official

International community in Bochum

Named groups from exact city-grain official distributions. Citizenship, birthplace, language and ancestry answer different questions and stay separate.

Country of birth

Persons · 2022-05-15

Published groupPeopleShare
Total354,288100.0%
Germany279,43278.9%
Poland15,3814.3%
Turkey9,5322.7%
Syrian Arab Republic9,1562.6%
Russian Federation3,1000.9%
Iran, Islamic Republic of2,2420.6%
Ukraine2,0830.6%
Romania2,0010.6%
Kazakhstan1,8360.5%
Iraq1,8340.5%
Show 152 more groups
Published groupPeopleShare
Serbia1,3720.4%
Morocco1,3270.4%
Italy1,3220.4%
Kosovo1,2610.4%
Afghanistan1,0570.3%
Bulgaria9490.3%
Bosnia and Herzegovina8680.2%
Greece8670.2%
China8540.2%
India8210.2%
Lebanon7990.2%
Not stated6910.2%
Spain6090.2%
Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of5930.2%
Czech Republic5380.2%
Viet Nam5090.1%
Croatia4970.1%
France4960.1%
Pakistan4630.1%
Sri Lanka4290.1%
Netherlands4080.1%
Cameroon4080.1%
Ghana4020.1%
Albania3870.1%
Austria3860.1%
Korea, Republic of3350.1%
United Kingdom3230.1%
Tunisia3210.1%
Guinea3130.1%
Nigeria3020.1%
United States3010.1%
Brazil2900.1%
Egypt2860.1%
Hungary2800.1%
Thailand2590.1%
Portugal2430.1%
Philippines2320.1%
Moldova, Republic of2190.1%
Uzbekistan2050.1%
Lithuania2010.1%
Belarus1900.1%
Switzerland1720.0%
Algeria1650.0%
Jordan1650.0%
Georgia1510.0%
Azerbaijan1480.0%
Palestinian territories1340.0%
Kyrgyzstan1320.0%
Belgium1260.0%
Tajikistan1240.0%
Latvia1140.0%
Bangladesh1140.0%
Slovakia1130.0%
Armenia1110.0%
Slovenia1100.0%
Eritrea1040.0%
Saudi Arabia1040.0%
Colombia1030.0%
Indonesia1000.0%
Israel990.0%
Somalia970.0%
Libya920.0%
Chile890.0%
Montenegro880.0%
Mexico790.0%
Argentina740.0%
Japan730.0%
Sweden700.0%
Canada700.0%
United Arab Emirates700.0%
Dominican Republic670.0%
Taiwan, Province of China630.0%
Angola610.0%
Peru580.0%
Yemen550.0%
Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of540.0%
Mongolia540.0%
Finland530.0%
Luxembourg520.0%
Cyprus520.0%
Congo, the Democratic Republic of the520.0%
South Africa520.0%
Kuwait520.0%
Togo510.0%
Ireland500.0%
Australia500.0%
Denmark490.0%
Nepal470.0%
Estonia460.0%
Cuba460.0%
Côte D'Ivoire400.0%
Gambia390.0%
Kenya390.0%
Ethiopia380.0%
Sudan370.0%
Senegal300.0%
Norway270.0%
Bolivia, Plurinational State of270.0%
Malaysia270.0%
Liberia240.0%
Mali230.0%
Paraguay220.0%
Ecuador210.0%
Cambodia190.0%
Turkmenistan190.0%
Madagascar170.0%
Mauritius160.0%
Rwanda160.0%
Tanzania, United Republic of160.0%
Mauritania150.0%
Congo150.0%
Sierra Leone150.0%
Zimbabwe140.0%
Malta130.0%
Uganda130.0%
Benin120.0%
Costa Rica120.0%
Mozambique110.0%
Namibia110.0%
Uruguay110.0%
Oman110.0%
New Zealand110.0%
Niger100.0%
Burundi100.0%
Lao People'S Democratic Republic100.0%
Honduras90.0%
Jamaica90.0%
Myanmar80.0%
Qatar80.0%
Singapore80.0%
Burkina Faso70.0%
Chad70.0%
Guatemala60.0%
Nicaragua60.0%
Suriname60.0%
Bahrain60.0%
El Salvador50.0%
Haiti50.0%
Gabon40.0%
Zambia40.0%
Guinea-Bissau40.0%
Korea, Democratic People'S Republic of40.0%
Papua New Guinea40.0%
Iceland30.0%
Lesotho30.0%
Seychelles30.0%
Equatorial Guinea30.0%
Swaziland30.0%
Barbados30.0%
Trinidad and Tobago30.0%
Timor-Leste30.0%
Vanuatu30.0%

Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source26

Citizenship

Persons · 2022-05-15

Published groupPeopleShare
Total354,288100.0%
Germany303,76185.7%
Syrian Arab Republic10,0102.8%
Turkey7,6842.2%
Poland3,1860.9%
Romania1,9230.5%
Italy1,6600.5%
Ukraine1,5980.5%
Iraq1,4130.4%
Serbia1,3630.4%
Iran, Islamic Republic of1,2010.3%
Show 140 more groups
Published groupPeopleShare
Kosovo1,0840.3%
Greece9970.3%
Bulgaria9520.3%
Russian Federation9360.3%
Bosnia and Herzegovina8180.2%
Afghanistan7810.2%
China7440.2%
Morocco7220.2%
India6950.2%
Croatia6630.2%
Spain6520.2%
Uncertain6030.2%
Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of6000.2%
Netherlands5110.1%
Lebanon4610.1%
Viet Nam4120.1%
Nigeria3720.1%
Albania3530.1%
France3470.1%
Ghana3460.1%
Guinea3250.1%
Portugal3240.1%
Pakistan3240.1%
Korea, Republic of2970.1%
Cameroon2900.1%
Austria2820.1%
Tunisia2450.1%
Egypt2410.1%
Hungary2250.1%
Sri Lanka2100.1%
United States1960.1%
Thailand1790.1%
United Kingdom1550.0%
Brazil1510.0%
Lithuania1500.0%
Kazakhstan1480.0%
Azerbaijan1400.0%
Belarus1340.0%
Jordan1310.0%
Eritrea1200.0%
Somalia1200.0%
Stateless1130.0%
Armenia1110.0%
Belgium1100.0%
Bangladesh1060.0%
Switzerland1020.0%
Montenegro1000.0%
Georgia1000.0%
Tajikistan920.0%
Slovakia790.0%
Latvia760.0%
Sweden710.0%
Algeria700.0%
Philippines700.0%
Uzbekistan700.0%
Czech Republic660.0%
Colombia660.0%
Indonesia650.0%
Israel590.0%
Japan590.0%
Moldova, Republic of580.0%
Slovenia510.0%
Mongolia510.0%
Canada490.0%
Palestinian territories480.0%
Mexico470.0%
Libya460.0%
Ireland450.0%
Cyprus450.0%
Taiwan, Province of China410.0%
Angola400.0%
Togo400.0%
Sudan390.0%
Luxembourg380.0%
Yemen380.0%
Nepal370.0%
Chile350.0%
Congo, the Democratic Republic of the340.0%
Dominican Republic340.0%
Peru330.0%
Kyrgyzstan310.0%
Gambia290.0%
Norway280.0%
Finland250.0%
Argentina240.0%
Malaysia240.0%
Cuba230.0%
Côte D'Ivoire190.0%
Kenya190.0%
Denmark170.0%
Mali160.0%
Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of160.0%
Sierra Leone140.0%
Ecuador140.0%
Ethiopia130.0%
Rwanda130.0%
Senegal130.0%
Australia130.0%
South Africa120.0%
Madagascar110.0%
Tanzania, United Republic of110.0%
Saudi Arabia110.0%
Benin100.0%
Mauritius100.0%
Mozambique100.0%
Not stated100.0%
Estonia90.0%
Uganda80.0%
Uruguay80.0%
Myanmar80.0%
New Zealand80.0%
Mauritania70.0%
Namibia70.0%
Zimbabwe60.0%
Niger60.0%
Guinea-Bissau60.0%
Bolivia, Plurinational State of60.0%
Honduras60.0%
Congo50.0%
Burkina Faso50.0%
Burundi50.0%
Bahrain50.0%
Iceland40.0%
Costa Rica40.0%
Turkmenistan40.0%
Gabon30.0%
Malawi30.0%
Zambia30.0%
Swaziland30.0%
Barbados30.0%
Guyana30.0%
Jamaica30.0%
Paraguay30.0%
China (Hong Kong)30.0%
Qatar30.0%
Kuwait30.0%
Lao People'S Democratic Republic30.0%
Oman30.0%
Singapore30.0%
Papua New Guinea30.0%

Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source25

Is Bochum a good place to live?

There is no universal answer. The profile scores below show who the available published evidence may suit; they are a decision aid, not a personal recommendation.

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Remote worker59%strong on work, weak on safety · range 49–69%
Skilled employee60%strong on work, weak on education · range 51–69%
Student58%strong on cost, weak on education · range 48–68%
Family45%strong on family, weak on education · range 36–54%
Retirement52%strong on legal route, weak on admin · range 41–63%
Foreign residents50,525 people15 May 2022Official source · Zensus 2022 regional tables — Germany municipalities
Population375,625 people31 Dec 2025Official source · Stadt Bochum population press release
Average net rent (nettokalt)9.69 EUR/m²/month1 May 2026Commercial source · wohnungsboerse Mietspiegel Bochum
Dwellings197,473 dwellings31 Dec 2022Official source · Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) / Statistical Offices of the Länder
Fibre-to-the-building availability53.38 %31 Dec 2025Official source · data.bundesnetzagentur.de
Gigabit broadband availability94.72 %31 Dec 2025Official source · Bundesnetzagentur / BMDV — Breitbandatlas
Every value keeps its source, geographic scope and verification date · Last checked 2026-09-05

Additional context

MetricValuePeriodSource
Owner-occupied homes28.49 %31 Dec 2022Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) / Statistical Offices of the Länder28Official
Labour Supply Count182,300 people31 Dec 2022Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) / Statistical Offices of the Länder29Official
Local business-tax multiplier495 %31 Dec 2022www.statistikportal.de31Official
Local property-tax multiplier645 %31 Dec 2022www.statistikportal.de31Official

Common questions

Answered from the published values on this page, each with its source and date.

Is Bochum expensive?

Fixed monthly costs for one person in an 85 m² flat — net rent, utilities, a transport pass, internet and mobile — came to about €1,166 against a median gross salary of €4,400 (figures), leaving about €3,234 before income tax. Sources: the rent, recurring-cost and salary series published on this page, each with its own source and date.

How many people live in Bochum?

The published population was 375,625 people in 2025. Source: Stadt Bochum population press release.

How much does it cost to rent in Bochum?

Average net cold rent is 9.69 EUR/m² per month (May 2026), excluding heating and operating charges. For a 70 m² flat that is about 678 EUR a month before utilities. Source: wohnungsboerse Mietspiegel Bochum.

Is the air quality good in Bochum?

The annual PM2.5 mean is 8 µg/m³ (2024) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³. Source: EEA air quality statistics — DE PM2.5 annual mean 2024 (station Hattingen-Blankenstein).

How safe is Bochum?

Police recorded 8,381 incidents per 100,000 (2024). This counts all offences, so it is not comparable with a violent-crime-only rate from another source. Source: PKS 2024 T01 Grundtabelle - Fälle mit Häufigkeitszahl (HZ) - Städte.

What is the typical salary in Bochum?

The median gross salary is 4,400 EUR/month (2024). The regional series (home-region basis, 2024) is a separate labelled row in the table. Source: Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit.

What is the unemployment rate in Bochum?

The unemployment rate is 9 % (2024). Source: Arbeitslosenquoten — Länder, Kreise und Gemeinden, Gesamt, 2024 annual average.

Is Bochum a good place to live?

Bochum may suit different people for different reasons. The page's profile scores compare published cost, work, housing, safety, healthcare and other available factors; they are a decision aid, not a universal recommendation.

How many people born in Total live in Bochum?

The official country of birth distribution records 354,288 people (100.0%) in the source-defined population for 2022-05-15. This is a country of birth measure, not a general estimate of ethnicity or migration status.

Cite this page

Open a format to select or copy this ImmigrationDB compilation citation. The native disclosure and text fallback work without JavaScript.

APA citation
ImmigrationDB. (2026, September 12). Bochum, Germany: cost of living, rent and salaries [ImmigrationDB compilation; snapshot approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; version approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0]. ImmigrationDB. https://immigrationdb.com/cities/de/bochum/ Retrieved 2026-09-12. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
BibTeX citation
@misc{immigrationdb_immigrationdb_bochum-germany-cost-of-living-rent-and-salaries_adea2d4033a7,
  author = {ImmigrationDB},
  title = {Bochum, Germany: cost of living, rent and salaries},
  publisher = {ImmigrationDB},
  year = {2026},
  date = {2026-09-12},
  version = {approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0},
  snapshot = {approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0},
  url = {https://immigrationdb.com/cities/de/bochum/},
  note = {Retrieved 2026-09-12. ImmigrationDB compilation. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/},
}
Markdown citation
[Bochum, Germany: cost of living, rent and salaries](https://immigrationdb.com/cities/de/bochum/) — ImmigrationDB; ImmigrationDB; snapshot approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; version approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; retrieved 2026-09-12; built 2026-09-12.

This citation identifies the ImmigrationDB compilation/page. Underlying source publishers and datasets retain their own terms; inspect the Sources section and cite those records separately. View the underlying source records.

Sources

JSON Markdown
  1. All recorded crimes per 100,000 residents in the BBSR/PKS Kreis indicator. inkar.de · checked 2026-07-16
  2. Arbeitslosenquoten — Länder, Kreise und Gemeinden, Gesamt, 2024 annual average Arbeitslosenquoten · statistik.arbeitsagentur.de · checked 2026-07-26
  3. BA Entgelte im regionalen Vergleich — Medianentgelt Kreise Wohnort 2024 BA Entgelte im regionalen Vergleich · statistik.arbeitsagentur.de · checked 2026-07-29
  4. BKA PKS Bevölkerungsdaten (04-KR-BV-insg, Quelle Statistisches Bundesamt) bka.de · checked 2026-09-05
  5. BKA PKS T01 Staedte-Falltabelle polizei.de · checked 2026-09-05
  6. Bundesministerium für Gesundheit (Bundesklinik-Atlas) bundes-klinik-atlas.de · checked 2026-08-03
  7. Bundesnetzagentur / BMDV — Breitbandatlas Bundesnetzagentur / BMDV · gigabitgrundbuch.bund.de · checked 2026-07-14
  8. data.bundesnetzagentur.de data.bundesnetzagentur.de · checked 2026-08-08
  9. Destatis destatis.de · checked 2026-08-08
  10. DWD Climate Data Center — Klimanormal 1991-2020, Jahresmittel Lufttemperatur 2m (1×1 km Raster) DWD Climate Data Center · opendata.dwd.de · checked 2026-06-05
Show 25 more sources
  1. DWD multi-annual station means 1991-2020 (precipitation) opendata.dwd.de · checked 2026-07-26
  2. DWD multi-annual station means 1991-2020 (sunshine) opendata.dwd.de · checked 2026-07-26
  3. DWD multi-annual station means 1991-2020 (temperature) opendata.dwd.de · checked 2026-07-26
  4. EEA air quality statistics — DE NO2 annual mean 2024 (station Bochum Dorstener Straße) EEA air quality statistics · air.discomap.eea.europa.eu · checked 2026-07-31
  5. EEA air quality statistics — DE PM10 annual mean 2024 (station Hattingen-Blankenstein) EEA air quality statistics · air.discomap.eea.europa.eu · checked 2026-07-31
  6. EEA air quality statistics — DE PM2.5 annual mean 2024 (station Hattingen-Blankenstein) EEA air quality statistics · air.discomap.eea.europa.eu · checked 2026-07-31
  7. Eurostat ec.europa.eu · checked 2026-08-02
  8. Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt — FZ 3 vehicle stock by municipality Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt · kba.de · checked 2026-07-14
  9. Official municipality population divided by official municipality area from the same Destatis row. destatis.de · checked 2024-12-31
  10. OpenFlights — routes.dat OpenFlights · raw.githubusercontent.com · checked 2026-07-14
  11. OurAirports — airports.csv OurAirports · davidmegginson.github.io · checked 2026-07-14
  12. PKS 2024 T01 Grundtabelle - Fälle mit Häufigkeitszahl (HZ) - Städte bka.de · checked 2026-07-16
  13. Stadt Bochum budget data bochum.de · checked 2026-07-14
  14. Stadt Bochum population press release bochum.de · checked 2026-07-14
  15. Statistical Offices of the Federation and the Länder, Germany citizenship distribution ergebnisse.zensus2022.de · checked 2026-08-28
  16. Statistical Offices of the Federation and the Länder, Germany country_of_birth distribution ergebnisse.zensus2022.de · checked 2026-08-28
  17. Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit statistik.arbeitsagentur.de · checked 2026-08-04
  18. Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) / Statistical Offices of the Länder destatis.de · checked 2026-08-07
  19. Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) / Statistical Offices of the Länder destatis.de · checked 2026-08-07
  20. WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 — station Essen-Bredeney WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 · ncei.noaa.gov · checked 2026-07-31
  21. www.statistikportal.de statistikportal.de · checked 2026-08-08
  22. Zensus 2022 regional tables — Germany municipalities Zensus 2022 regional tables · destatis.de · checked 2026-07-26
  23. Cost of Living in Bochum. Jun 2026. Prices in Bochum numbeo.com · checked 2026-07-27
  24. Global Cost of Living — Kaggle snapshot v2 Global Cost of Living · kaggle.com · checked 2026-07-27
  25. wohnungsboerse Mietspiegel Bochum wohnungsboerse.net · checked 2026-06-04

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