😐A single person spends $2,401 per month in Delft vs $1,967 in Bielefeld, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,663 per month in Delft vs $3,035 in Bielefeld, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,924 per month in Delft vs $4,104 in Bielefeld, rent included.
😐Delft costs about 22% more than Bielefeld, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Delft and Bielefeld sit above the global median – Delft by 80%, Bielefeld by 47%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Delft
Bielefeld
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.06€14.91
$13.85€12.10
23.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.5€72.1
$77.8€68.0
6.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.01€12.24
$12.41€10.85
12.89%
Cappuccino
$3.96€3.46
$3.83€3.34
3.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04€2.66
$2.91€2.54
4.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.10
$2.34€2.05
2.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.99€5.24
$5.26€4.59
13.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.47€4.78
$5.29€4.62
3.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Delft
Bielefeld
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32€1.15
$1.29€1.13
2.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.14€1.87
$2.14€1.87
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.23€2.82
$3.35€2.93
-3.58%
Eggs
$5.01€4.38
$3.80€3.32
31.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.30€12.49
$15.02€13.12
-4.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.68€14.57
$15.00€13.11
11.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.48€15.27
$19.26€16.83
-9.24%
Apples(1kg)
$2.27€1.99
$3.24€2.83
-29.94%
Banana(1kg)
$2.57€2.25
$1.79€1.56
43.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$2.24€1.96
-11.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.25€3.72
$5.36€4.68
-20.71%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09€1.83
$1.48€1.29
41.22%
Onion(1kg)
$2.22€1.94
$1.55€1.36
43.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.25€1.09
$2.01€1.76
-37.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.72
$1.04€0.91
-21.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.35€12.54
$10.01€8.74
43.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.96€6.08
$5.61€4.91
24.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49€1.31
$1.12€0.98
33.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75€2.40
$1.74€1.52
58.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Delft
Bielefeld
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29€2.00
$3.61€3.16
-36.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.4€58.9
$57.6€50.3
17.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.45€3.01
$7.28€6.36
-52.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.16€2.76
$2.07€1.81
52.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$51.3€44.82
$51.7€45.17
-0.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.29€2.00
$1.99€1.74
15.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.1K€35.0K
$31.1K€27.2K
28.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.0K€33.2K
$37.1K€32.4K
2.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Delft
Bielefeld
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$196€171
$322€282
-39.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.54€25.81
$36.64€32.01
-19.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.48€35.37
$55.0€48.09
-26.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Delft
Bielefeld
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.46€29.23
$40.03€34.98
-16.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.57€14.47
$22.72€19.85
-27.07%
Cinema Ticket
$14.50€12.67
$14.93€13.05
-2.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Delft
Bielefeld
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,008€1,755
$675€590
197.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,375€5,570
$10.4K€9,129
-38.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Delft
Bielefeld
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.8€65.4
$82.4€72.0
-9.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.07€40.25
$35.04€30.61
31.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.7€81.0
$114€99.9
-18.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133€116
$149€131
-11.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Delft
Bielefeld
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,575€1,376
$593€518
165.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,147€1,002
$608€531
88.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,662€2,326
$1,036€905
157.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,219€1,939
$1,158€1,012
91.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,935€6,059
$4,736€4,138
46.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,568€3,991
$2,299€2,008
98.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Delft
Bielefeld
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,741€3,269
$2,922€2,553
28.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.33
3.96
9.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Delft: July 12, 2026
Last update for Bielefeld: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,575 in Delft versus $593 in Bielefeld. 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 28% higher in Delft, 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 $82.0 in Delft versus $78.0 in Bielefeld. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $355 vs $352 – making Bielefeld the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Delft vs Bielefeld: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bielefeld cheaper than Delft?
Yes – Delft is pricier by about 22%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $3,602 per month in Delft and $2,950 in Bielefeld. 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 Delft and in Bielefeld?
Groceries cost about 1% more in Delft, 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 Delft or in Bielefeld?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $82.0 in Delft and $78.0 in Bielefeld. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Delft or in Bielefeld?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Bielefeld, where all-in costs run around $1,967, than in Delft at $2,401. In Bielefeld it covers expenses comfortably, while in Delft it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Delft or Bielefeld 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, Delft or Bielefeld?
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, Delft makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.