🙂A single person spends $1,980 per month in Bochum vs $2,063 in Montreal, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,052 per month in Bochum vs $3,159 in Montreal, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,123 per month in Bochum vs $4,255 in Montreal, rent included.
🙂Bochum is about 4% cheaper than Montreal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Bochum and Montreal sit above the global median – Bochum by 48%, Montreal by 54%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bochum
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.16€14.77
$15.92CA$22.12
7.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.7€65.2
$73.1CA$102
3.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.74€10.11
$11.15CA$15.49
5.29%
Cappuccino
$3.71€3.20
$3.80CA$5.28
-2.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.43
$2.18CA$3.03
29.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74€2.36
$1.46CA$2.03
87.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.94€5.12
$6.12CA$8.51
-2.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02€3.46
$6.78CA$9.41
-40.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bochum
Montreal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21€1.04
$2.33CA$3.23
-48.07%
White Bread(500g)
$2.14€1.84
$3.39CA$4.71
-36.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.31€2.85
$3.73CA$5.18
-11.26%
Eggs
$3.88€3.34
$3.38CA$4.70
14.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.95€12.87
$16.25CA$22.58
-8.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.63€12.60
$11.54CA$16.04
26.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.79€17.90
$15.24CA$21.17
36.42%
Apples(1kg)
$3.42€2.95
$3.74CA$5.20
-8.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73€1.49
$1.70CA$2.37
1.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.23€1.92
$4.11CA$5.70
-45.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.07€4.37
$4.35CA$6.05
16.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.69€1.46
$2.71CA$3.76
-37.64%
Onion(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$2.62CA$3.63
-35.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.03€1.75
$2.25CA$3.13
-9.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11€0.96
$1.73CA$2.40
-35.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.66€8.31
$13.31CA$18.49
-27.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.69€4.90
$10.78CA$14.98
-47.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06€0.91
$3.01CA$4.19
-64.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71€1.47
$3.46CA$4.81
-50.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Bochum
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.83€3.30
$2.74CA$3.81
39.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.5€49.51
$72.7CA$101
-20.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.96€5.13
$3.63CA$5.05
64.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.93€1.66
$1.46CA$2.03
32.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.68€29.86
$33.44CA$46.46
3.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.73
$1.21CA$1.68
66.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K€27.0K
$24.6KCA$34.2K
27.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K€27.7K
$21.7KCA$30.1K
48.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bochum
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$416€359
$76.0CA$106
447.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.61€30.66
$35.72CA$49.63
-0.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.3€45.88
$42.86CA$59.6
24.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bochum
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.35€26.13
$42.92CA$59.6
-29.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.26€20.03
$17.23CA$23.94
35.00%
Cinema Ticket
$17.32€14.91
$11.09CA$15.40
56.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bochum
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427€368
$620CA$861
-31.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.4K€12.4K
$5,834CA$8,106
147.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bochum
Montreal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.7€73.8
$62.7CA$87.1
36.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.19€38.91
$44.41CA$61.7
1.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106€91.6
$101CA$140
5.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142€123
$119CA$165
19.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bochum
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$686€591
$1,211CA$1,683
-43.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$499€430
$960CA$1,333
-48.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,298€1,118
$2,035CA$2,828
-36.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,038€894
$1,589CA$2,208
-34.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,090€3,522
$5,181CA$7,198
-21.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,544€3,913
$3,934CA$5,465
15.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bochum
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,777€2,391
$2,960CA$4,113
-6.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.97
5.01
-20.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bochum: June 1, 2026
Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $686 in Bochum versus $1,211 in Montreal. 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 7% higher in Montreal, 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 $76.0 in Bochum versus $73.0 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $354 in Bochum vs $392 in Montreal – so Bochum 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
Bochum vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Bochum and Montreal compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,980 in Bochum, $2,063 in Montreal – roughly 4% apart. Montreal costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Bochum compared to Montreal?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,970 per month in Bochum and $3,094 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Bochum and Montreal?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bochum, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Bochum and $73.0 in Montreal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bochum or Montreal?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,980 in Bochum and $2,063 in Montreal. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Bochum, where all-in costs run around $1,980, than in Montreal at $2,063. In Bochum it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Bochum and Montreal?
It depends on your priorities. Montreal has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,980 in Bochum to $2,063 in Montreal. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Bochum or Montreal safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Bochum and Montreal?
If budget matters most, go with Bochum. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montreal makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.