🙂A single person spends $1,949 per month in Bielefeld vs $2,095 in Owen Sound, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,002 per month in Bielefeld vs $3,157 in Owen Sound, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,056 per month in Bielefeld vs $4,218 in Owen Sound, rent included.
🙂Bielefeld is about 7% cheaper than Owen Sound, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Bielefeld and Owen Sound sit above the global median – Bielefeld by 45%, Owen Sound by 56%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bielefeld
Owen Sound
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.00€12.06
$14.85CA$20.63
-5.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.4€66.7
$54.7CA$76.0
41.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.68€10.92
$10.17CA$14.14
24.68%
Cappuccino
$3.87€3.33
$3.13CA$4.34
23.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91€2.50
$2.12CA$2.94
37.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.94
$1.65CA$2.29
36.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.15€4.43
$4.38CA$6.08
17.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.24€4.51
$5.84CA$8.12
-10.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bielefeld
Owen Sound
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.30€1.12
$1.73CA$2.40
-24.86%
White Bread(500g)
$2.25€1.93
$2.87CA$3.98
-21.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.35€2.88
$4.69CA$6.51
-28.57%
Eggs
$3.78€3.25
$3.39CA$4.71
11.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.75€12.70
$6.82CA$9.48
116.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.01€12.92
$16.95CA$23.55
-11.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.60€16.87
$20.96CA$29.12
-6.49%
Apples(1kg)
$3.09€2.66
$4.12CA$5.73
-25.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$1.74CA$2.42
3.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.26€1.94
$2.85CA$3.96
-20.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.41€4.66
$4.12CA$5.73
31.31%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55€1.33
$2.41CA$3.35
-35.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54€1.33
$2.91CA$4.04
-47.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.99€1.71
$3.05CA$4.23
-34.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04€0.90
$1.34CA$1.86
-22.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.03€8.64
$13.49CA$18.74
-25.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.84€5.03
$16.68CA$23.17
-64.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07€0.92
$5.01CA$6.95
-78.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71€1.47
$2.26CA$3.14
-24.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Bielefeld
Owen Sound
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.67€3.16
$2.24CA$3.11
63.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.2€49.29
$50.3CA$69.9
13.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.26€6.25
$4.76CA$6.61
52.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.12€1.82
$2.19CA$3.05
-3.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$50.3€43.29
$14.70CA$20.43
241.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.71
$1.09CA$1.51
82.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8K€26.6K
$28.0KCA$39.0K
10.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.3K€31.3K
$22.4KCA$31.2K
61.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bielefeld
Owen Sound
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$320€276
$144CA$200
122.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.79€31.68
$43.61CA$60.6
-15.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.3€47.62
$59.7CA$82.9
-7.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bielefeld
Owen Sound
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.61€34.97
$84.7CA$118
-52.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.78€19.62
$59.6CA$82.8
-61.76%
Cinema Ticket
$15.14€13.04
$8.82CA$12.25
71.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bielefeld
Owen Sound
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$687€591
$587CA$815
17.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.3K€8,858
$18.1KCA$25.2K
-43.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bielefeld
Owen Sound
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.8€71.3
$43.40CA$60.3
90.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.63€29.82
$40.02CA$55.6
-13.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113€97.5
$80.2CA$111
41.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149€129
$113CA$157
31.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bielefeld
Owen Sound
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$587€506
$1,062CA$1,476
-44.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$614€529
$869CA$1,207
-29.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,051€905
$1,642CA$2,281
-35.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,179€1,015
$1,593CA$2,214
-26.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,822€4,152
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,359€2,032
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bielefeld
Owen Sound
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,980€2,566
$3,068CA$4,263
-2.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.96
6.83
-42.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bielefeld: May 31, 2026
Last update for Owen Sound: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $587 in Bielefeld versus $1,062 in Owen Sound. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 3% higher in Owen Sound, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Bielefeld versus $55.0 in Owen Sound. Groceries tell a different story – $353 in Bielefeld vs $414 in Owen Sound – so Bielefeld wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Bielefeld vs Owen Sound: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Owen Sound cheaper than Bielefeld?
Yes – Owen Sound is pricier by about 8%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,923 per month in Bielefeld and $3,143 in Owen Sound. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bielefeld, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Bielefeld and Owen Sound?
Groceries cost about 17% more in Owen Sound, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Bielefeld or Owen Sound?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Bielefeld and $55.0 in Owen Sound. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Bielefeld or Owen Sound?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Bielefeld, where all-in costs run around $1,949, than in Owen Sound at $2,095. In Bielefeld it covers expenses comfortably, while in Owen Sound it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Bielefeld or Owen Sound more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bielefeld – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Bielefeld or Owen Sound?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Bielefeld. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Owen Sound makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.