Essentials
- City
- Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- Population
- Approx. 365,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 120 Mbps (Fiber available via Telekom or Vodafone)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks: Sparkasse Bochum, Deutsche Bank
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, high quality
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- Telekom, Vodafone, O2 (Prepaid ~€10-15/month for 10-20GB)
- Banking for Expats
- N26, Revolut, or Sparkasse for a local branch
- Accommodation
- WG-Gesucht for flatshares, Airbnb, or specialized 'Wohnen auf Zeit' (Temporary Living)
- Cashless Friendly
- Moderately; major stores accept cards, small cafes and 'Büdchen' often cash-only
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Wunderflats (~€900-€1,400/month for furnished apartments)
- Budget Accommodation
- DJH Jugendherberge Bochum (Starlight Express Hostel) ~€35/night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Innenstadt (City Center) nearby the Bermudadreieck
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Ehrenfeld (Trendy, scenic, close to city center) or Wiemelhausen
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Work Inn Bochum (Viktoriastraße 10) ~€20/day pass
- Best Cafe for Work
- Röstart (Grabenstraße 1) - local roastery with good WiFi
- Networking Events
- Startup-Dienstag at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) or events at TZR (Technologiezentrum)
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Ruhr Area or 'Bochum Expats' Facebook groups
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- FreeNow (Uber is less common, local taxis dominate)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Metropolradruhr (Nextbike), Tier, and Voi scooters
- Best Beach Nearby
- Seaside Beach Baldeney (Essen), 25 mins by train
- Top Regional Airline
- Eurowings (operating from Dortmund DTM or Düsseldorf DUS)
- Top International Airline
- Lufthansa (via Düsseldorf DUS, 35 mins away)
- Highway Access
- Excellent; A40, A43, and A44 intersect the city
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Bochum Hauptbahnhof (Hbf)
- Public Transport Passes
- Deutschlandticket (€49/month for all regional transport)
- Regional Travel
- VRR (Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr) trains and buses to Essen, Dortmund, Düsseldorf
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Universitätsklinikum Bergmannsheil (Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Vidya Bochum (Surkenstraße 15)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- FitX or McFit (Standard ~€25/month), Kieser Training
- Laundry Services
- Waschsalon 'Eco-Express' (Alte Hattinger Str. 11)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Lieferando, Wolt
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Currywurst at Dönninghaus (Goldene Currywurst)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- I am Love (Prinzenstraße 10) - Ice cream and vegan snacks
- Best Dessert Spots
- Das Kleingebäck (Kortumstraße 11)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Aldi Nord, Lidl, Netto
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.de, Zalando, Otto
- Grocery Delivery
- Rewe Lieferservice, Flink
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Bermudadreieck (Bermuda Triangle) - dense concentration of bars
- Local Brewery
- Moritz Fiege (Privatbrauerei Moritz Fiege)
- Wine Bars
- Vinothek am Theater (Hans-Schalla-Platz 1)
- Street Food Stalls
- Bratwursthaus in the Bermudadreieck
- Popular International Cuisine
- Yamas (Greek tapas), Takumi (Ramen)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Deutsches Bergbau-Museum (German Mining Museum)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Kunstmuseum Bochum (Kortumstraße 147)
- Historical Sites
- Jahrhunderthalle (Industrial heritage site)
- Religious Sites
- Propsteikirche St. Peter und Paul
- Annual Events
- Bochum Total (Huge free street music festival in July)
- Cultural Districts
- Viertel vor Ehrenfeld
- Theater Venues
- Schauspielhaus Bochum (Königsallee 15)
- Local Markets
- Wochenmarkt am Hans-Ehrenberg-Platz
- Music Scene
- Zeche Bochum (Concert venue in an old mine)
- Street Art
- Mural art around the Westpark area
- Cooking Classes
- Kochschule im Brauhaus (Moritz Fiege)
- Art Galleries
- Galerie m (Schlossstraße 1a)
- Historic Buildings
- Rathaus Bochum (Bochum City Hall)
- Local Heritage
- Heavy industrial mining roots, Grubenwehr history
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Kemnader See (Lake for sailing and skating)
- National Parks Nearby
- Hohe Mark Nature Park (30 mins drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Erzbahntrasse (Former railway line for cycling)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Tippelsberg (Best panoramic view of the Ruhr area)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Olbachtal nature reserve
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated BBQ spots at Westpark
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- DHL (Packstations widely available), Hermes
- Tech Repair Services
- Handy Reparatur Bochum (Viktoriastraße)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Many public tables in Westpark and Stadtpark
- Language Classes
- VHS Bochum (Volkshochschule) - very affordable
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Stadtbücherei Bochum (Im Bildungszentrum)
- Community Centers
- Bahnhof Langendreer (Cultural center)
- Gaming Lounges
- Taksim E-Sports (near university area)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Spielbank Hohensyburg (Dortmund, 20 mins away)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €3,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €128,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,400 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €96,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €3,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €180,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,200 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €132,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €224,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €160,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Approx. 30% (Combined Federal and Trade Tax)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 25% (plus solidarity surcharge)
- Tax System
- Resident-based worldwide income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45%
- VAT
- 19% standard, 7% reduced
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, Aussensteuergesetz applies
- Property Tax
- Yes, Grundsteuer based on assessed value
- Property Transaction Tax
- 6.5% (Real Estate Transfer Tax in NRW)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific digital nomad tax breaks; standard tax rules apply