Cost of Living Comparison Between Lelystad and Rotterdam Cost of Living Comparison Between Lelystad and Rotterdam

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,785 per month in Lelystad vs $2,957 in Rotterdam, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,818 per month in Lelystad vs $4,244 in Rotterdam, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,851 per month in Lelystad vs $5,531 in Rotterdam, rent included.

Lelystad is about 40% cheaper than Rotterdam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Lelystad and Rotterdam sit above the global median – Lelystad by 33%, Rotterdam by 121%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.02 €21.52

$23.59 €20.29

6.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$93.4 €80.3

$91.1 €78.4

2.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.87 €11.93

$14.07 €12.10

-1.42%

Cappuccino

$4.10 €3.53

$4.42 €3.80

-7.24%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 €2.69

$3.66 €3.15

-14.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 €1.59

$2.86 €2.46

-35.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.36 €4.61

$6.89 €5.92

-22.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.67 €4.87

$5.90 €5.08

-3.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 €1.05

$1.34 €1.15

-8.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 €1.39

$2.34 €2.01

-30.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.58 €2.22

$3.26 €2.81

-20.86%

Eggs

$4.55 €3.92

$5.17 €4.45

-11.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.74 €5.80

$13.68 €11.76

-50.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.50 €13.33

$14.30 €12.30

8.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.36 €14.93

$16.86 €14.50

2.97%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 €1.96

$2.58 €2.22

-11.63%

Banana (1kg)

$2.58 €2.22

$2.47 €2.12

4.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 €1.66

$1.99 €1.71

-3.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.56 €3.06

$3.91 €3.36

-8.95%

Potato (1kg)

$2.11 €1.82

$2.01 €1.73

4.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 €1.63

$1.99 €1.71

-4.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 €1.07

$1.37 €1.18

-9.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 €0.71

$1.17 €1.01

-29.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.91 €8.53

$13.68 €11.77

-27.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.14 €6.14

$7.39 €6.35

-3.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 €1.15

$1.59 €1.36

-16.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 €2.12

$2.68 €2.31

-8.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.56 €3.07

$4.76 €4.09

-25.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$114 €97.9

$91.0 €78.2

25.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.21 €3.62

$5.08 €4.37

-17.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.42 €2.09

$2.06 €1.77

17.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.34 €23.52

$21.01 €18.07

30.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.23 €1.91

$2.32 €2.00

-3.88%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.7K €29.8K

$40.1K €34.5K

-13.50%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$37.9K €32.6K

$36.2K €31.2K

4.75%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$241 €208

$288 €248

-16.24%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$15.14 €13.02

$24.70 €21.24

-38.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.43 €30.48

$57.6 €49.54

-38.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.40 €37.33

$46.03 €39.59

-5.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.53 €20.24

$28.08 €24.15

-16.20%

Cinema Ticket

$14.16 €12.18

$17.42 €14.98

-18.71%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,777 €2,389

$2,223 €1,912

24.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,381 €5,489

$14.0K €12.1K

-54.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$99.6 €85.7

$94.5 €81.3

5.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.4 €43.35

$50.5 €43.40

-0.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 €84.1

$127 €110

-23.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 €101

$182 €157

-35.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$684 €588

$1,774 €1,526

-61.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$466 €401

$1,486 €1,279

-68.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,389 €1,195

$2,869 €2,468

-51.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$799 €687

$2,285 €1,965

-65.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,223 €5,353

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,977 €3,421

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,504 €2,154

$4,139 €3,561

-39.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.28

4.08

4.90%

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

Last update for Lelystad: May 31, 2026

Last update for Rotterdam: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $684 in Lelystad versus $1,774 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 65% higher in Rotterdam, 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 $93.0 in Lelystad versus $91.0 in Rotterdam. Groceries tell a different story – $310 in Lelystad vs $347 in Rotterdam – so Lelystad wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Lelystad vs Rotterdam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rotterdam costs about 66% more than Lelystad, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,678 per month in Lelystad and $4,435 in Rotterdam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lelystad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $93.0 in Lelystad and $91.0 in Rotterdam. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,785 in Lelystad and $2,957 in Rotterdam. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lelystad, where all-in costs run around $1,785, than in Rotterdam at $2,957. In Lelystad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rotterdam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lelystad costs $1,785 versus $2,957 in Rotterdam. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Lelystad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rotterdam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.