Cost of Living Comparison Between Owen Sound and Bielefeld Cost of Living Comparison Between Owen Sound and Bielefeld

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,095 per month in Owen Sound vs $1,949 in Bielefeld, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,157 per month in Owen Sound vs $3,002 in Bielefeld, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,218 per month in Owen Sound vs $4,056 in Bielefeld, rent included.

Owen Sound costs about 8% more than Bielefeld, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Owen Sound and Bielefeld sit above the global median – Owen Sound by 56%, Bielefeld by 45%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Owen Sound
Bielefeld
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.85 CA$20.56
$14.00 €12.04
6.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7 CA$75.7
$77.4 €66.6
-29.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.17 CA$14.09
$12.68 €10.91
-19.79%
Cappuccino
$3.13 CA$4.33
$3.87 €3.33
-19.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 CA$2.93
$2.91 €2.50
-27.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 CA$2.28
$2.25 €1.94
-26.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.38 CA$6.06
$5.15 €4.43
-14.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.84 CA$8.09
$5.24 €4.51
11.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Owen Sound
Bielefeld
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 CA$2.39
$1.30 €1.12
33.08%
White Bread (500g)
$2.87 CA$3.97
$2.25 €1.93
27.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.69 CA$6.49
$3.35 €2.88
40.00%
Eggs
$3.39 CA$4.70
$3.78 €3.25
-10.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.82 CA$9.45
$14.75 €12.69
-53.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.95 CA$23.47
$15.01 €12.91
12.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.96 CA$29.02
$19.60 €16.86
6.94%
Apples (1kg)
$4.12 CA$5.71
$3.09 €2.66
33.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 CA$2.41
$1.80 €1.55
-3.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.85 CA$3.95
$2.26 €1.94
26.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.12 CA$5.71
$5.41 €4.65
-23.84%
Potato (1kg)
$2.41 CA$3.34
$1.55 €1.33
55.48%
Onion (1kg)
$2.91 CA$4.03
$1.54 €1.33
88.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.05 CA$4.22
$1.99 €1.71
53.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 CA$1.85
$1.04 €0.90
28.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.49 CA$18.67
$10.03 €8.63
34.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.68 CA$23.09
$5.84 €5.02
185.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.01 CA$6.93
$1.07 €0.92
368.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 CA$3.12
$1.71 €1.47
32.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Owen Sound
Bielefeld
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.24 CA$3.10
$3.67 €3.16
-38.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.3 CA$69.6
$57.2 €49.24
-12.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 CA$6.59
$7.26 €6.24
-34.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 CA$3.04
$2.12 €1.82
3.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.70 CA$20.36
$50.3 €43.24
-70.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 CA$1.51
$1.99 €1.71
-45.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K CA$38.8K
$30.8K €26.5K
-9.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K CA$31.0K
$36.3K €31.2K
-38.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Owen Sound
Bielefeld
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$144 CA$200
$320 €276
-54.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.61 CA$60.4
$36.79 €31.65
18.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.7 CA$82.6
$55.3 €47.57
7.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Owen Sound
Bielefeld
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$84.7 CA$117
$40.61 €34.93
108.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$59.6 CA$82.5
$22.78 €19.60
161.50%
Cinema Ticket
$8.82 CA$12.21
$15.14 €13.03
-41.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Owen Sound
Bielefeld
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$587 CA$813
$687 €591
-14.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.1K CA$25.1K
$10.3K €8,849
76.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Owen Sound
Bielefeld
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.40 CA$60.1
$82.8 €71.2
-47.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.02 CA$55.4
$34.63 €29.79
15.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.2 CA$111
$113 €97.4
-29.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 CA$157
$149 €128
-24.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Owen Sound
Bielefeld
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 CA$1,471
$587 €505
80.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$869 CA$1,203
$614 €528
41.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,642 CA$2,273
$1,051 €904
56.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,593 CA$2,206
$1,179 €1,014
35.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,822 €4,148
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,359 €2,030
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Owen Sound
Bielefeld
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,068 CA$4,248
$2,980 €2,564
2.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.83
3.96
72.47%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Owen Sound: June 2, 2026

Last update for Bielefeld: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Owen Sound versus $587 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 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 $55.0 in Owen Sound versus $77.0 in Bielefeld. Groceries tell a different story – $414 in Owen Sound vs $353 in Bielefeld – 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
Owen Sound vs Bielefeld: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bielefeld cheaper than Owen Sound?
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 $3,143 per month in Owen Sound and $2,923 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 Owen Sound and Bielefeld?
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 Owen Sound or Bielefeld?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Owen Sound and $77.0 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 Owen Sound or Bielefeld?
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 Owen Sound 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, Owen Sound 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, Owen Sound makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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