Cost of Living Comparison Between Amstelveen and Rotterdam Cost of Living Comparison Between Amstelveen and Rotterdam

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,087 per month in Amstelveen vs $2,914 in Rotterdam, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,973 per month in Amstelveen vs $4,233 in Rotterdam, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,859 per month in Amstelveen vs $5,553 in Rotterdam, rent included.

Amstelveen costs about 6% more than Rotterdam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Amstelveen and Rotterdam sit above the global median – Amstelveen by 131%, Rotterdam by 118%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amstelveen
Rotterdam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.84 €22.58
$23.60 €20.62
9.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.2 €70.1
$91.2 €79.7
-12.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.80 €12.06
$13.92 €12.16
-0.86%
Cappuccino
$4.13 €3.60
$4.36 €3.81
-5.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 €3.36
$3.49 €3.05
10.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 €2.91
$2.93 €2.56
13.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.85 €5.11
$7.09 €6.20
-17.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.95 €5.20
$5.80 €5.07
2.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amstelveen
Rotterdam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 €1.06
$1.33 €1.16
-9.02%
White Bread (500g)
$1.65 €1.44
$2.40 €2.10
-31.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.51 €3.07
$3.23 €2.82
8.67%
Eggs
$4.79 €4.18
$5.23 €4.57
-8.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.26 €11.58
$13.74 €12.00
-3.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.19 €15.02
$14.23 €12.43
20.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.17 €15.00
$16.89 €14.75
1.66%
Apples (1kg)
$1.97 €1.72
$2.61 €2.28
-24.52%
Banana (1kg)
$2.54 €2.22
$2.44 €2.14
4.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.70
$2.08 €1.82
-6.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.12 €3.60
$4.04 €3.53
1.98%
Potato (1kg)
$2.17 €1.90
$2.09 €1.83
3.83%
Onion (1kg)
$1.92 €1.68
$1.99 €1.73
-3.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 €1.09
$1.33 €1.16
-6.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 €0.65
$1.17 €1.02
-35.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.40 €12.58
$13.65 €11.93
5.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.78 €5.92
$7.01 €6.13
-3.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 €1.29
$1.53 €1.33
-3.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 €2.33
$2.71 €2.37
-1.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Amstelveen
Rotterdam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.98 €3.48
$4.70 €4.11
-15.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$92.0 €80.4
$91.0 €79.5
1.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.09 €3.57
$5.26 €4.60
-22.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.96 €2.58
$2.05 €1.79
44.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.88 €26.98
$21.21 €18.53
45.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.26 €1.98
$2.24 €1.96
0.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2K €27.2K
$40.4K €35.3K
-22.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K €28.9K
$35.5K €31.0K
-6.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amstelveen
Rotterdam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$360 €315
$285 €249
26.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.76 €26.87
$23.95 €20.92
28.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.5 €54.6
$55.8 €48.75
12.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amstelveen
Rotterdam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.48 €28.38
$45.62 €39.86
-28.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.50 €23.15
$28.20 €24.64
-6.03%
Cinema Ticket
$17.40 €15.21
$17.01 €14.87
2.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amstelveen
Rotterdam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,032 €1,776
$2,268 €1,982
-10.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.0K €18.4K
$14.0K €12.2K
50.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amstelveen
Rotterdam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.2 €53.4
$93.8 €82.0
-34.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.53 €39.78
$50.8 €44.38
-10.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.2 €79.7
$126 €110
-27.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$143 €125
$177 €155
-19.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amstelveen
Rotterdam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,295 €2,005
$1,758 €1,536
30.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,589 €1,389
$1,452 €1,268
9.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,585 €2,259
$2,834 €2,476
-8.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,697 €1,482
$2,303 €2,012
-26.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,280 €7,235
$5,997 €5,240
38.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,225 €5,439
$3,900 €3,408
59.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amstelveen
Rotterdam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,772 €4,170
$4,092 €3,576
16.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.4
4.08
7.84%

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

Last update for Amstelveen: July 13, 2026

Last update for Rotterdam: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,295 in Amstelveen versus $1,758 in Rotterdam. 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 17% higher in Amstelveen, 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 $80.0 in Amstelveen versus $91.0 in Rotterdam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $343 vs $347 – making Amstelveen 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
Amstelveen vs Rotterdam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rotterdam cheaper than Amstelveen?
Yes – Amstelveen is pricier by about 6%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $4,631 per month in Amstelveen and $4,371 in Rotterdam. 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 Rotterdam, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 1% less in Rotterdam. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $2,032 per month in Amstelveen and $2,268 in Rotterdam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Amstelveen or in Rotterdam?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,087 in Amstelveen and $2,914 in Rotterdam. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Amstelveen or Rotterdam more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Rotterdam – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Amstelveen or Rotterdam?
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 Rotterdam. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Amstelveen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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