😐A single person spends $2,909 per month in Rotterdam vs $2,421 in Geleen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,274 per month in Rotterdam vs $3,478 in Geleen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,639 per month in Rotterdam vs $4,534 in Geleen, rent included.
😐Rotterdam costs about 20% more than Geleen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Rotterdam and Geleen sit above the global median – Rotterdam by 117%, Geleen by 81%.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Rotterdam
Geleen
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.74€19.47
$17.05€14.60
33.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.5€79.2
$81.7€70.0
13.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.69€11.72
$12.55€10.74
9.08%
Cappuccino
$4.37€3.74
$3.92€3.36
11.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49€2.99
$3.20€2.74
9.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.42
$2.30€1.97
22.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.13€6.11
$6.21€5.32
14.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.64€4.83
$5.59€4.79
0.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rotterdam
Geleen
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.30€1.11
$1.27€1.09
2.36%
White Bread(500g)
$2.43€2.08
$2.17€1.86
11.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.18€2.72
$3.33€2.85
-4.50%
Eggs
$5.08€4.35
$4.45€3.81
14.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.07€12.04
$13.65€11.68
3.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.88€11.88
$15.68€13.42
-11.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.07€14.61
$16.90€14.46
1.01%
Apples(1kg)
$2.68€2.30
$2.27€1.94
18.06%
Banana(1kg)
$2.44€2.09
$2.55€2.18
-4.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.72
$1.97€1.69
2.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.96€3.39
$4.23€3.62
-6.38%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06€1.76
$2.00€1.71
3.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$2.11€1.81
-8.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.34€1.15
$1.20€1.02
11.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17€1.00
$0.81€0.69
44.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.78€11.79
$14.54€12.44
-5.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.48€6.40
$7.23€6.19
3.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.35
$1.50€1.28
5.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69€2.31
$2.73€2.34
-1.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Rotterdam
Geleen
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.72€4.04
$3.53€3.02
33.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$90.6€77.6
$94.2€80.6
-3.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.15€4.41
$3.42€2.93
50.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.03€1.74
$2.23€1.91
-8.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.00€17.98
$29.43€25.19
-28.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.26€1.93
$2.22€1.90
1.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.2K€35.3K
$37.5K€32.1K
9.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7K€30.6K
$32.4K€27.7K
10.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rotterdam
Geleen
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$286€245
$198€169
44.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.41€20.89
$25.15€21.53
-2.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.0€47.90
$40.35€34.54
38.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rotterdam
Geleen
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.67€39.95
$40.22€34.43
16.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.02€24.84
$23.52€20.13
23.38%
Cinema Ticket
$17.29€14.80
$14.97€12.82
15.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rotterdam
Geleen
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,270€1,943
$1,585€1,357
43.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.8K€11.8K
$6,424€5,499
115.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rotterdam
Geleen
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.8€78.6
$73.6€63.0
24.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.0€43.69
$37.90€32.44
34.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$130€111
$121€104
7.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$180€154
$129€111
39.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rotterdam
Geleen
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,724€1,476
$1,410€1,207
22.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,440€1,233
$1,193€1,022
20.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,837€2,429
$2,314€1,981
22.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,271€1,944
$1,723€1,475
31.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,207€5,313
$5,509€4,715
12.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,222€3,614
$5,161€4,417
-18.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rotterdam
Geleen
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,095€3,505
$4,634€3,966
-11.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.08
4.33
-5.77%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Rotterdam: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Geleen: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,724 in Rotterdam versus $1,410 in Geleen. 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 13% higher in Geleen, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $93.0 in Rotterdam versus $82.0 in Geleen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $347 vs $343 – making Geleen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Rotterdam vs Geleen: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Geleen cheaper than Rotterdam?
Yes – Rotterdam is pricier by about 20%, 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 $4,364 per month in Rotterdam and $3,631 in Geleen. 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 Geleen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 4% less in Geleen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $2,270 per month in Rotterdam and $1,585 in Geleen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Rotterdam or Geleen?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Geleen, where all-in costs run around $2,421, than in Rotterdam at $2,909. In Geleen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rotterdam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Rotterdam or Geleen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Geleen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Rotterdam or Geleen?
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 Geleen. 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.
Rotterdam vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado