Who Bochum fits
RUB applicants who are fine with a campus-on-a-hill and regional trains.
All student cities
North Rhine-Westphalia
Cost of living in Bochum
Bochum student costs: Ruhr-Universität, Ruhr-area commuting, and rents versus Cologne.
Summary
Bochum is budget-band (~€885, rent ~€350). Ruhr-Universität Bochum sits in a polycentric Ruhr region: Dortmund, Essen, and Essen/Bochum trains are normal. Rent is modelled well below Cologne.
Monthly student budget
Planning figures from the cost of living tool. Rent is the swing factor.
Estimated total
€885
per month
- Rent
- €350
- Food
- €230
- Transport
- €35
- Insurance
- €120
- Misc
- €150
The 2026 visa blocked account stays €11,904 (€992/month) in every city — including Bochum.
Living in Bochum
Housing
AKAFÖ halls and WG. The campus is not the city centre — commute on purpose.
Watch-outs
Ruhr tickets and semester ticket coverage are the difference between a cheap room and an expensive commute. Read the current NRW ticket rules.
Universities
Names students search with Bochum. Live course pages appear when YourWeg has published them.
- Ruhr-Universität Bochum
Compare cost levels
FAQ
Map reference 51.48° N, 7.22° E. Confirm live rent and visa amounts on official sites.