🙂A single person spends $2,465 per month in Middelburg vs $2,891 in Rotterdam, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,553 per month in Middelburg vs $4,234 in Rotterdam, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,641 per month in Middelburg vs $5,576 in Rotterdam, rent included.
🙂Middelburg is about 15% cheaper than Rotterdam, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Middelburg and Rotterdam sit above the global median – Middelburg by 83%, Rotterdam by 115%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Middelburg
Rotterdam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.50€11.63
$23.24€20.02
-41.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.2€63.1
$92.4€79.6
-20.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.02€8.63
$14.11€12.16
-28.99%
Cappuccino
$4.40€3.79
$4.44€3.83
-0.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.92
$3.64€3.13
-6.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.42
$2.94€2.54
-4.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.86€5.91
$6.79€5.85
1.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.83€5.02
$5.89€5.07
-1.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Middelburg
Rotterdam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36€1.18
$1.29€1.12
5.43%
White Bread(500g)
$2.34€2.02
$2.31€1.99
1.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$3.14€2.70
-45.86%
Eggs
$3.85€3.32
$5.26€4.53
-26.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.02€9.50
$13.81€11.90
-20.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.61€13.45
$13.85€11.93
12.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.78€14.46
$17.28€14.89
-2.89%
Apples(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$2.66€2.30
-7.89%
Banana(1kg)
$2.55€2.20
$2.47€2.13
3.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.91€1.64
$2.01€1.73
-4.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.46€2.98
$4.07€3.51
-14.99%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$2.02€1.74
-4.95%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18€1.01
$2.02€1.74
-41.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19€1.03
$1.36€1.17
-12.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50€0.43
$1.13€0.97
-55.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.52€7.34
$13.68€11.79
-37.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.90€5.08
$7.07€6.10
-16.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12€0.97
$1.58€1.36
-29.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.06
$2.68€2.31
-10.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Middelburg
Rotterdam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.63€3.12
$4.67€4.02
-22.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$94.0€81.0
$92.3€79.5
1.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.90€4.22
$5.29€4.56
-7.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.12€1.82
$2.11€1.82
0.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.02€30.17
$21.14€18.21
65.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.15€1.85
$2.22€1.91
-3.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.5K€36.6K
$40.8K€35.2K
4.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.2K€29.5K
$35.6K€30.7K
-3.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Middelburg
Rotterdam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€129
$291€251
-48.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.81€22.24
$24.60€21.19
4.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.76€38.56
$56.2€48.43
-20.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Middelburg
Rotterdam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.45€40.02
$45.78€39.44
1.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.73€12.69
$28.43€24.49
-48.19%
Cinema Ticket
$10.36€8.93
$17.31€14.92
-40.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Middelburg
Rotterdam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,448€2,109
$2,255€1,943
8.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.7K€10.1K
$13.7K€11.8K
-14.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Middelburg
Rotterdam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$125€108
$92.3€79.6
35.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.57€42.71
$49.36€42.53
0.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116€100
$128€110
-8.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150€129
$181€156
-16.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Middelburg
Rotterdam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,441€1,242
$1,739€1,498
-17.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,250€1,077
$1,465€1,262
-14.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,102€1,812
$2,814€2,425
-25.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,003€1,726
$2,300€1,982
-12.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$6,147€5,296
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,949€3,402
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Middelburg
Rotterdam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,934€2,528
$4,177€3,598
-29.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
4.08
-1.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Middelburg: June 9, 2026
Last update for Rotterdam: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,441 in Middelburg versus $1,739 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 42% 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 $73.0 in Middelburg versus $92.0 in Rotterdam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $314 vs $345 – making Middelburg 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
Middelburg vs Rotterdam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rotterdam cheaper than Middelburg?
Yes – Rotterdam is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $3,698 per month in Middelburg and $4,337 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 Middelburg, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Middelburg or Rotterdam?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Middelburg and $92.0 in Rotterdam. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Middelburg vs Rotterdam?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,465 in Middelburg and $2,891 in Rotterdam. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Middelburg or Rotterdam?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,465 in Middelburg and $2,891 in Rotterdam. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Middelburg or Rotterdam more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Middelburg – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Middelburg 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 Middelburg. 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.
Middelburg vs other spots: cost of living compared