😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,957 in Rotterdam versus $2,503 in Deventer.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,244 in Rotterdam versus $3,487 in Deventer.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,531 in Rotterdam versus $4,472 in Deventer.
😐Living in Rotterdam is roughly 18% more expensive than Deventer, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rotterdam121% above, Deventer87% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rotterdam
Deventer
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.59€20.29
$18.18€15.64
29.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.1€78.4
$85.9€73.9
6.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.07€12.10
$10.24€8.81
37.40%
Cappuccino
$4.42€3.80
$3.50€3.01
26.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66€3.15
$3.50€3.01
4.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86€2.46
$2.95€2.54
-3.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.89€5.92
$5.74€4.93
20.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90€5.08
$3.82€3.29
54.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rotterdam
Deventer
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34€1.15
$1.25€1.07
7.20%
White Bread(500g)
$2.34€2.01
$1.65€1.42
41.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.26€2.81
$3.32€2.85
-1.81%
Eggs
$5.17€4.45
$4.73€4.07
9.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.76
$12.82€11.03
6.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.30€12.30
$15.66€13.47
-8.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.86€14.50
$17.12€14.72
-1.52%
Apples(1kg)
$2.58€2.22
$2.02€1.74
27.72%
Banana(1kg)
$2.47€2.12
$2.39€2.05
3.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$1.91€1.64
4.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.91€3.36
$4.08€3.51
-4.17%
Potato(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$2.21€1.90
-9.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$2.06€1.77
-3.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.37€1.18
$1.20€1.04
14.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17€1.01
$0.96€0.82
21.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.68€11.77
$14.44€12.42
-5.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.39€6.35
$7.10€6.11
4.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59€1.36
$1.41€1.21
12.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68€2.31
$2.66€2.29
0.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Rotterdam
Deventer
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.76€4.09
$5.11€4.40
-6.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$91.0€78.2
$92.3€79.4
-1.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.08€4.37
$5.92€5.09
-14.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.06€1.77
$1.28€1.10
60.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.01€18.07
$51.4€44.23
-59.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.00
$2.19€1.88
5.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.1K€34.5K
$35.1K€30.2K
14.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.2K€31.2K
$36.0K€30.9K
0.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rotterdam
Deventer
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$288€248
$267€230
7.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.70€21.24
$24.60€21.16
0.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.6€49.54
$48.83€42.00
17.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rotterdam
Deventer
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.03€39.59
$37.42€32.19
23.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.08€24.15
$35.11€30.21
-20.02%
Cinema Ticket
$17.42€14.98
$17.10€14.71
1.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rotterdam
Deventer
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,223€1,912
$2,447€2,105
-9.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.0K€12.1K
$10.7K€9,175
31.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rotterdam
Deventer
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.5€81.3
$77.4€66.6
22.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.5€43.40
$38.61€33.21
30.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$127€110
$91.9€79.0
38.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$182€157
$113€97.0
61.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rotterdam
Deventer
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,774€1,526
$1,408€1,211
25.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,486€1,279
$1,135€976
31.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,869€2,468
$1,866€1,605
53.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,285€1,965
$1,610€1,385
41.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,223€5,353
$5,084€4,373
22.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,977€3,421
$4,445€3,823
-10.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rotterdam
Deventer
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,139€3,561
$3,504€3,014
18.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.08
4.36
-6.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rotterdam: June 1, 2026
Last update for Deventer: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,774 in Rotterdam and $1,408 in Deventer. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rotterdam pays 18% 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 $86.0 in Deventer for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $347 vs $335 per month, with Deventer 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
Rotterdam vs Deventer: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Deventer cheaper than Rotterdam?
Deventer is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Rotterdam or Deventer?
Rotterdam pays 18% 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 Deventer?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,774 in Rotterdam versus $1,408 in Deventer. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $2,223 in Rotterdam versus $2,447 in Deventer. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Rotterdam and Deventer?
Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Rotterdam. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Rotterdam or Deventer?
At $2,503 in Deventer versus $2,957 in Rotterdam, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Deventer but tight or insufficient in Rotterdam. The gap between the two cities makes Deventer the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Rotterdam or Deventer more family-friendly?
For families, Deventer 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 Deventer?
Safety-wise, Rotterdam and Deventer 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 Deventer gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Rotterdam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.