Moving to Bochum: Costs Process & Districts
Bochum guide
Moving to Bochum: Ruhr University, Mining Museum and the Ruhr valley
at a glance
With around 359,000 residents, Bochum is the sixth-largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia and lies in the heart of the Ruhr. It is known for the Ruhr University in Querenburg, one of the largest universities in Germany, the German Mining Museum, the Schauspielhaus theatre and the musical Starlight Express. In the south the city extends with Stiepel to the Ruhr valley, and in the west lies Wattenscheid with its own centre. If you are planning a move to Bochum, find out early where the removal van can stop in the city centre or in the older residential areas.
We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and drive around 515 km by lorry via the A2 and the A40 to Bochum; that is about 7.5 hours including a break. Whether you are moving from Berlin to Bochum or from Bochum back to Berlin: we quote the fixed price after a survey. The route is described in detail on the page Moving Berlin – Bochum. If you are only taking a few pieces of furniture, a shared load is often cheaper. We build parking spaces at both addresses into the plan.
Moving to Bochum: arrange a survey now
Survey first, then the price is set
Call us on 01625978461 and arrange a survey for your move to Bochum. We take into account the size of the flat, floor, access, the route of around 515 km and any shared load requests, and then quote you a fixed price. Places with their own pages can be found under Locations.
Quotes available individually based on workload, scheduling and the desired scope of services.
How your move to Bochum works with us
Planned from Berlin, arriving in the Ruhr
We do not have a branch in Bochum; we come by lorry from Berlin-Moabit. That is why we check access, floor and stairwell in advance – whether it is an older building in Ehrenfeld, an apartment in Querenburg or a house in Stiepel. We apply for the parking restriction outside your new address in good time according to the city's requirements. We quote the fixed price after the survey; for your belongings we are liable under § 451e HGB at €620 per cubic metre. For your private move we coordinate the date with the flat handover.
Packing Service
Office Move
Senior Move
Furniture Transport
What you can rely on
We quote the fixed price for your move to Bochum after the survey – with packing, transport over around 515 km, the parking restriction and assembly as separate items. That way you can see beforehand what you are paying for. Extras such as piano transport or storage are only added if you book them.
Fixed arrival time
Access sorted
Parking restriction in good time
Planned backwards
Storage if there is a gap
Ready to move in
Save with a part load
For smaller volumes or single items, a shared load to Bochum can be cheaper: your belongings share the load space with other consignments on the same route. In return you need some flexibility on the delivery day; we will tell you after your enquiry whether a run towards Bochum fits.
Your
move, our craft
A move to Bochum raises many questions: which district suits you, how does the lorry get into the narrow streets of the city centre, when does the parking restriction application need to reach the civil engineering office (Tiefbauamt) and how does registration work? This guide introduces districts from Ehrenfeld and Hamme via Querenburg and Stiepel to Wattenscheid, explains parking restrictions, citizens' offices and residents' parking, and describes the journey of around 515 km from Berlin via the A2. Costs and a shared load for small quantities are covered too. That way you are prepared before the first box is packed.
Planning safe and relaxed
Furniture, boxes, transport routes
Costs, timing and special cases
Frequently asked questions about moving to Bochum
Bochum's districts at a glance
Bochum consists of six boroughs – Mitte, Wattenscheid, Nord, Ost, Süd and Südwest – which are divided into districts. Querenburg in the south is shaped by the Ruhr University and popular with students, while Stiepel and Weitmar are greener, towards the Ruhr valley. If you are looking for urban life, live in the city centre around the Bermuda3eck with its cafés, bars and short distances. Wattenscheid has its own centre and its own citizens' office.
In the east lie Langendreer and Werne, with rail connections towards Dortmund, and in the south-west Linden and Dahlhausen near the Ruhr. Around the city centre, older buildings in Ehrenfeld and Hamme dominate. Which district suits you depends on your commute, budget and type of housing; for the move, access, floor and stairwell matter most.
Employers, universities and leisure in Bochum
We do not give specific rents – they depend heavily on location and condition. Major employers include the housing group Vonovia, which is headquartered in Bochum, industrial companies such as Bochumer Verein Verkehrstechnik, and the Ruhr University, Bochum University of Applied Sciences and the Protestant University of Applied Sciences. They bring many young people to the city and high demand for shared-flat rooms and small apartments.
The A 40 and A 43 motorways run through the city, and S-Bahn, light rail and trams connect Bochum with the rest of the Ruhr. Culturally, the city is known for Starlight Express, the German Mining Museum, the Schauspielhaus and the Bochum Total festival; the Jahrhunderthalle stands for the transformation of the industrial city. In the south, the Ruhr valley and Lake Kemnade are popular destinations for walks, water sports and cycling; the zoo and the planetarium round off the leisure options.
Moving costs by flat size
| Type of flat | Starting price |
|---|---|
| 1 room | €339 |
| 2 rooms | €589 |
| 3 rooms | €915 |
| 4 rooms | €1,269 |
| House/villa | individual quote |
| Long-distance move | €3.95/km |
Book your free survey now.
What do you really pay for the move?
The final price is made up of several components: volume, distance (from €3.95/km), floor and lift, and any parking restriction zone that may be needed. Extra services such as furniture assembly or a shared load are shown transparently as separate items.
Services for every occasion
Whether a fresh start, office switch or clearance – we have the right service for you.
- Company move: company move with clear scheduling.
- Furniture transport: furniture transport for one or several pieces.
- Move with assembly: move with assembly as an all-round carefree package.
- Part load: part load as an inexpensive alternative.
- Home move: home move with personal care.
- Clearance: clearance for a tidy home.
Planned from Berlin
We plan moves from Berlin (Stromstraße 21) for private and business customers. In the locations overview you will find places with their own pages, and details on longer routes under long-distance moves. For single pieces of furniture or small loads, take a look at our shared-load service.
Parking restriction zone for your move in Bochum: applying via the service portal
In Bochum you need a permit for a temporary parking restriction zone. According to the city, you apply online via the Bochum service portal (form F031); the application must be received at least two weeks before the desired date. The responsible office is the civil engineering office (Tiefbauamt), traffic regulations, in the Technisches Rathaus, Hans-Böckler-Straße 19. You can reach the case officers at [email protected]; opening hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 8.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and Thursday from 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
You pay the permit fee by bank transfer: one day €17.00, two to three days €22.00, four to seven days €38.00, eight days to one month €55.00 and each additional month or part thereof €55.00. Subsequent changes, for example to the period or address, cost €11.00. You must have the signs put up by a specialist traffic company that you commission yourself; its costs come on top of the permit fee.
If you use public road space in another way, for example for an aerial work platform, the city refers to a special use permit (form F053), also at least two weeks in advance. This involves an administrative fee of between €5.50 and €2,811.60 plus a special use fee. The civil engineering office will clarify whether your case falls under this. If you wish, we take care of the application and signage for you; more under Parking restriction zone, and background on the city on the Bochum location page.
Bochum: citizens' offices, registration and residents' parking permit
According to the city, after moving in you register in Bochum within two weeks; registration is free of charge. You need the landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) and an identity document. Since 1 August 2024 you can register or change your main residence via wohnsitzanmeldung.gov.de without an appointment; for a secondary residence a personal visit is still required. If you want to go to the citizens' office (Bürgerbüro), you can only do so with an appointment (online or via 115).
The Bürgerbüro Mitte is in the town hall, Willy-Brandt-Platz 2–6. There are further citizens' offices in Wattenscheid, Gerthe, Langendreer and Weitmar; according to the city, Querenburg is closed until further notice. If you are moving to Querenburg, book your appointment at one of the other citizens' offices.
If you own a car, apply for a residents' parking permit (form F209 in the service portal). According to the city it costs €90 for one year and is only valid in your own parking zone. In Bochum-Mitte the city lists zones A, B, F, G, K, O, R, S and J, and in Wattenscheid C, D, E and H; zone A is reserved for people with their main residence there. Changing zones costs €12.80 if you move to a different zone. For disposal, the city lists six recycling centres (Kornharpen, Riemke, Wattenscheid, Werne, Linden and Laer); for bulky waste it refers you to Umweltservice Bochum. Everyday topics on the ground can be found in the guide to living in Bochum.
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