🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,550 in Ijmuiden versus $2,891 in Rotterdam.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,632 in Ijmuiden versus $4,234 in Rotterdam.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,715 in Ijmuiden versus $5,576 in Rotterdam.
🙂Living in Ijmuiden costs roughly 12% less than in Rotterdam, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ijmuiden90% above, Rotterdam115% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ijmuiden
Rotterdam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.83€17.08
$23.24€20.02
-14.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.8€60.1
$92.4€79.6
-24.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.93€11.14
$14.11€12.16
-8.36%
Cappuccino
$4.17€3.59
$4.44€3.83
-6.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59€3.10
$3.64€3.13
-1.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56€2.21
$2.94€2.54
-12.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.51€3.03
$6.79€5.85
-48.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.10€4.39
$5.89€5.07
-13.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ijmuiden
Rotterdam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32€1.13
$1.29€1.12
2.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.43€2.09
$2.31€1.99
5.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.21€2.77
$3.14€2.70
2.23%
Eggs
$4.68€4.03
$5.26€4.53
-11.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.36€11.51
$13.81€11.90
-3.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.54€13.39
$13.85€11.93
12.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.74€14.42
$17.28€14.89
-3.13%
Apples(1kg)
$2.42€2.08
$2.66€2.30
-9.02%
Banana(1kg)
$2.59€2.23
$2.47€2.13
4.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$2.01€1.73
-1.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.90€3.36
$4.07€3.51
-4.18%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06€1.77
$2.02€1.74
1.98%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$2.02€1.74
-2.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22€1.05
$1.36€1.17
-10.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81€0.70
$1.13€0.97
-28.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.06€8.67
$13.68€11.79
-26.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.07€6.09
$7.07€6.10
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.53€1.32
$1.58€1.36
-3.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$2.68€2.31
4.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Ijmuiden
Rotterdam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.62€3.12
$4.67€4.02
-22.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$93.2€80.3
$92.3€79.5
1.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.38€3.78
$5.29€4.56
-17.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.23€1.92
$2.11€1.82
5.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.06€25.04
$21.14€18.21
37.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.23€1.92
$2.22€1.91
0.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.3K€32.2K
$40.8K€35.2K
-8.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.0K
$35.6K€30.7K
-8.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ijmuiden
Rotterdam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$256€220
$291€251
-12.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.50€21.97
$24.60€21.19
3.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.2€43.29
$56.2€48.43
-10.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ijmuiden
Rotterdam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.10€35.41
$45.78€39.44
-10.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.12€19.92
$28.43€24.49
-18.68%
Cinema Ticket
$15.12€13.03
$17.31€14.92
-12.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ijmuiden
Rotterdam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,593€1,372
$2,255€1,943
-29.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,088€6,969
$13.7K€11.8K
-40.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ijmuiden
Rotterdam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.2€76.0
$92.3€79.6
-4.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.76€32.54
$49.36€42.53
-23.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120€103
$128€110
-6.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131€113
$181€156
-27.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ijmuiden
Rotterdam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,410€1,215
$1,739€1,498
-18.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,160€1,000
$1,465€1,262
-20.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,268€1,954
$2,814€2,425
-19.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,766€1,521
$2,300€1,982
-23.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,987€4,297
$6,147€5,296
-18.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,394€3,786
$3,949€3,402
11.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ijmuiden
Rotterdam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,381€3,775
$4,177€3,598
4.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.5
4.08
-14.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ijmuiden: June 7, 2026
Last update for Rotterdam: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,410 in Ijmuiden and $1,739 in Rotterdam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ijmuiden pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Ijmuiden vs $92.0 in Rotterdam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $344 vs $345 per month, with Ijmuiden cheaper across the board.
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
Ijmuiden vs Rotterdam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ijmuiden and Rotterdam?
Ijmuiden and Rotterdam differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($2,550 vs $2,891 including rent). Ijmuiden is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Ijmuiden or Rotterdam?
Ijmuiden pays 5% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Ijmuiden and Rotterdam?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,410 in Ijmuiden versus $1,739 in Rotterdam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ijmuiden – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $92.0 in Rotterdam. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ijmuiden or Rotterdam?
All in, you'll spend $2,550 per month in Ijmuiden versus $2,891 in Rotterdam – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,550 in Ijmuiden versus $2,891 in Rotterdam, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Ijmuiden but tight or insufficient in Rotterdam. The gap between the two cities makes Ijmuiden the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ijmuiden and Rotterdam?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ijmuiden or Rotterdam safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ijmuiden and Rotterdam are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ijmuiden or Rotterdam?
Expats usually find Ijmuiden gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Rotterdam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.