Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ballina and Schiedam

For one person, living is cheaper in Ballina: $2,218 a month against $2,499 in Schiedam, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Schiedam outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Ballina
🇮🇪 Ireland
$2,218
/mo nomad
Schiedam
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$2,499
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ballina and in Schiedam

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ballina and in Schiedam actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,218 per month in Ballina vs $2,499 in Schiedam, rent included.

  • Ballina $2,218
  • Schiedam $2,499

A couple spends around $3,255 per month in Ballina vs $3,684 in Schiedam, rent included.

  • Ballina $3,255
  • Schiedam $3,684

A family of three spends $4,293 per month in Ballina vs $4,869 in Schiedam, rent included.

  • Ballina $4,293
  • Schiedam $4,869

Ballina is about 11% cheaper than Schiedam, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Ballina and Schiedam sit above the global median – Ballina by 64%, Schiedam by 84%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ballina
Schiedam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.90 €15.04
$19.36 €17.22
-12.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.2 €58.9
$89.1 €79.2
-25.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.43 €11.05
$15.23 €13.55
-18.38%
Cappuccino
$3.84 €3.42
$4.13 €3.68
-7.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 €1.38
$3.56 €3.17
-56.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 €1.16
$2.86 €2.55
-54.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.75 €5.12
$7.19 €6.39
-20.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.60 €6.76
$6.80 €6.05
11.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ballina
Schiedam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 €1.45
$1.35 €1.20
20.74%
White Bread (500g)
$2.21 €1.97
$2.15 €1.91
2.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.07 €1.84
$2.41 €2.14
-14.11%
Eggs
$3.12 €2.77
$4.51 €4.01
-30.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.21 €9.08
$14.61 €12.99
-30.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.91 €11.48
$12.87 €11.45
0.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.16 €14.37
$15.85 €14.10
1.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.77 €2.47
$2.64 €2.35
4.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 €1.43
$2.21 €1.96
-27.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.72 €2.42
$1.95 €1.74
39.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.13 €4.57
$4.71 €4.19
8.92%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 €1.66
$1.35 €1.20
38.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 €1.37
$1.33 €1.18
15.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35 €1.20
$1.11 €0.99
21.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 €1.86
$0.74 €0.66
183.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$20.99 €18.67
$13.34 €11.86
57.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.99 €8.89
$5.79 €5.15
72.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.44 €3.06
$1.33 €1.19
158.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 €3.06
$1.96 €1.74
75.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Ballina
Schiedam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.51 €4.90
$2.27 €2.02
142.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$137 €122
$90.9 €80.8
50.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.01 €4.45
$3.33 €2.96
50.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 €1.36
$3.36 €2.99
-54.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$37.53 €33.38
$22.43 €19.95
67.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 €1.77
$2.36 €2.10
-15.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K €30.1K
$41.4K €36.9K
-18.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.0K €33.8K
$39.2K €34.9K
-3.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ballina
Schiedam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$280 €249
$272 €242
3.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.65 €16.59
$16.73 €14.88
11.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.19 €34.86
$54.7 €48.61
-28.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ballina
Schiedam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.4 €45.71
$27.72 €24.66
85.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.02 €9.80
$23.56 €20.95
-53.23%
Cinema Ticket
$12.15 €10.80
$15.46 €13.75
-21.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ballina
Schiedam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,265 €1,125
$1,767 €1,572
-28.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.5K €12.9K
$11.6K €10.3K
25.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ballina
Schiedam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106 €94.6
$116 €103
-8.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.68 €44.19
$35.86 €31.90
38.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 €103
$110 €97.9
5.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 €100
$138 €122
-18.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ballina
Schiedam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$892 €793
$1,594 €1,418
-44.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$839 €746
$1,153 €1,026
-27.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,294 €1,151
$2,365 €2,103
-45.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,361 €1,210
$1,874 €1,667
-27.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,418 €3,040
$5,657 €5,031
-39.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,838 €2,524
$4,081 €3,630
-30.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ballina
Schiedam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,322 €2,955
$2,469 €2,196
34.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.82
2.8
36.43%

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

Last update for Ballina: October 18, 2026

Last update for Schiedam: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ballina
$839
Schiedam
$1.2K 37.4% $314
Groceries & Markets
Ballina
$346
Schiedam
$319 8% $28
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ballina
$338
Schiedam
$343 1.5% $5.1
Eating Out
Ballina
$274
Schiedam
$325 18.8% $51
Clothing & Footwear
Ballina
$173
Schiedam
$180 3.9% $6.8
Getting Around
Ballina
$172
Schiedam
$120 30.1% $52
Sport & Entertainment
Ballina
$76
Schiedam
$59 22.5% $17

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $892 in Ballina versus $1,594 in Schiedam. 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 35% higher in Ballina, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Ballina versus $89.0 in Schiedam. Groceries tell a different story – $346 in Ballina vs $319 in Schiedam – so Schiedam wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇮🇪 Ballina
🇳🇱 Schiedam
🕒 Local time
14:59 2:59 PM
15:59 3:59 PM
1 h ahead of Ballina
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
10,556
78,730
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ballina Schiedam 940 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Ballina
  • Schiedam

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Ballina vs Schiedam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ballina or Schiedam?
Schiedam costs about 13% more than Ballina, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ballina and in Schiedam?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,327 per month in Ballina and $3,749 in Schiedam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ballina or Schiedam?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ballina, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Ballina compared to Schiedam?
Public transport costs about 51% less in Ballina. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Ballina and in Schiedam?
Kindergarten costs $1,265 per month in Ballina and $1,767 in Schiedam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Ballina or in Schiedam?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ballina, where all-in costs run around $2,218, than in Schiedam at $2,499. In Ballina it covers expenses comfortably, while in Schiedam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ballina or Schiedam?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ballina costs $2,218 versus $2,499 in Schiedam. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ballina compared to Schiedam?
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.
Should I move to Ballina or to Schiedam?
If budget matters most, go with Ballina. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Schiedam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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