😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,957 in Rotterdam versus $2,838 in Amersfoort.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,244 in Rotterdam versus $3,919 in Amersfoort.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,531 in Rotterdam versus $5,000 in Amersfoort.
😐Living in Rotterdam is roughly 4% more expensive than Amersfoort, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rotterdam121% above, Amersfoort112% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rotterdam
Amersfoort
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.59€20.31
$21.09€18.16
11.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.1€78.5
$80.3€69.2
13.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.07€12.12
$13.14€11.32
7.08%
Cappuccino
$4.42€3.80
$3.82€3.29
15.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66€3.15
$3.96€3.41
-7.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86€2.47
$3.11€2.67
-8.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.89€5.93
$6.53€5.62
5.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90€5.08
$5.22€4.50
13.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rotterdam
Amersfoort
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34€1.15
$1.23€1.06
8.94%
White Bread(500g)
$2.34€2.01
$2.49€2.15
-6.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.26€2.81
$3.06€2.64
6.54%
Eggs
$5.17€4.45
$4.75€4.09
8.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.78
$13.50€11.63
1.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.30€12.31
$16.51€14.22
-13.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.86€14.52
$17.18€14.79
-1.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.58€2.22
$2.41€2.07
7.05%
Banana(1kg)
$2.47€2.13
$2.55€2.19
-3.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$1.96€1.69
1.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.91€3.37
$3.68€3.16
6.25%
Potato(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$2.15€1.85
-6.51%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$2.13€1.83
-6.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.37€1.18
$1.28€1.10
7.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17€1.01
$1.12€0.97
4.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.68€11.78
$13.69€11.79
-0.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.39€6.36
$7.06€6.08
4.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59€1.37
$1.40€1.21
13.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68€2.31
$2.69€2.32
-0.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Rotterdam
Amersfoort
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.76€4.10
$6.29€5.41
-24.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$91.0€78.3
$121€104
-24.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.08€4.38
$3.76€3.23
35.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.06€1.77
$2.52€2.17
-18.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.01€18.09
$26.82€23.10
-21.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.00
$2.27€1.95
2.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.1K€34.5K
$35.1K€30.2K
14.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.2K€31.2K
$35.5K€30.6K
1.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rotterdam
Amersfoort
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$288€248
$292€252
-1.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.70€21.27
$26.14€22.51
-5.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.6€49.60
$51.8€44.64
11.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rotterdam
Amersfoort
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.03€39.63
$40.56€34.92
13.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.08€24.18
$31.31€26.97
-10.32%
Cinema Ticket
$17.42€15.00
$15.95€13.73
9.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rotterdam
Amersfoort
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,223€1,914
$2,191€1,887
1.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.0K€12.1K
$6,183€5,324
127.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rotterdam
Amersfoort
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.5€81.4
$108€93.0
-12.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.5€43.45
$52.7€45.40
-4.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$127€110
$103€88.9
23.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$182€157
$117€101
55.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rotterdam
Amersfoort
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,774€1,528
$1,636€1,409
8.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,486€1,280
$1,358€1,169
9.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,869€2,470
$2,151€1,852
33.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,285€1,967
$1,795€1,545
27.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,223€5,359
$6,476€5,577
-3.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,977€3,424
$5,435€4,680
-26.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rotterdam
Amersfoort
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,139€3,564
$4,037€3,476
2.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.08
4.39
-7.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rotterdam: June 1, 2026
Last update for Amersfoort: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,774 in Rotterdam and $1,636 in Amersfoort. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rotterdam pays 3% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $91.0 in Rotterdam vs $80.0 in Amersfoort. Groceries flip the comparison at $347 vs $352, with Rotterdam cheaper for home cooking.
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
Rotterdam vs Amersfoort: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Amersfoort cheaper than Rotterdam?
Amersfoort is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Rotterdam or Amersfoort?
Rotterdam pays 3% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Rotterdam and Amersfoort?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,774 in Rotterdam versus $1,636 in Amersfoort. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Rotterdam or Amersfoort?
Dining out is cheaper in Amersfoort – a meal for two runs $80.0 versus $91.0 in Rotterdam. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Rotterdam vs Amersfoort?
All in, you'll spend $2,957 per month in Rotterdam versus $2,838 in Amersfoort – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Rotterdam or Amersfoort?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Amersfoort is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Rotterdam or Amersfoort more family-friendly?
For families, Amersfoort is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Rotterdam, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Rotterdam or Amersfoort?
Safety-wise, Rotterdam and Amersfoort are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Amersfoort gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Rotterdam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.