😐A single person spends $3,110 per month in Rotterdam vs $2,163 in Roermond, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,402 per month in Rotterdam vs $3,188 in Roermond, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,694 per month in Rotterdam vs $4,213 in Roermond, rent included.
😐Rotterdam costs about 44% more than Roermond, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Rotterdam and Roermond sit above the global median – Rotterdam by 126%, Roermond by 57%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rotterdam
Roermond
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.52€22.82
$21.03€18.09
26.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.3€81.2
$69.9€60.2
34.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.00€12.05
$13.86€11.93
1.01%
Cappuccino
$4.50€3.87
$3.48€2.99
29.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94€3.39
$2.84€2.45
38.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61€3.11
$2.33€2.01
54.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.22€6.22
$5.95€5.12
21.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.01€5.17
$5.14€4.42
16.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rotterdam
Roermond
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.59€1.36
$1.39€1.20
14.39%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39€2.06
$2.03€1.75
17.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.96€2.54
$2.37€2.04
24.89%
Eggs
$5.67€4.88
$4.52€3.89
25.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.70€10.93
$12.43€10.69
2.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.81€11.88
$14.66€12.61
-5.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.92€17.14
$16.09€13.84
23.80%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39€2.92
$1.84€1.58
84.24%
Banana(1kg)
$2.72€2.34
$2.50€2.15
8.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$1.95€1.68
35.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.49€3.00
$3.15€2.71
10.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.68
$2.09€1.80
-6.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54€1.33
$2.04€1.76
-24.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.54€1.33
$1.20€1.03
28.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.23
$0.73€0.63
95.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.05€12.95
$14.57€12.53
3.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.84€5.89
$7.14€6.15
-4.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.33
$1.57€1.35
-1.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63€2.27
$1.71€1.47
53.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Rotterdam
Roermond
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.78€4.12
$3.57€3.07
33.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$116€99.9
$93.2€80.2
24.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.92€4.23
$4.21€3.62
16.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.50€3.01
$3.31€2.85
5.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$68.9€59.3
$46.86€40.32
47.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.62€2.25
$2.19€1.89
19.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.7K€36.7K
$36.6K€31.5K
16.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.0K€35.3K
$40.6K€34.9K
0.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rotterdam
Roermond
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$306€263
$286€246
6.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.36€19.24
$23.25€20.00
-3.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.9€48.93
$44.55€38.34
27.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rotterdam
Roermond
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.50€42.59
$46.45€39.97
6.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.92€25.75
$27.26€23.46
9.76%
Cinema Ticket
$16.20€13.94
$16.32€14.04
-0.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rotterdam
Roermond
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,820€2,426
$1,341€1,154
110.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3K€11.4K
$8,289€7,133
60.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rotterdam
Roermond
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.0€83.4
$57.2€49.21
69.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.59€34.92
$45.24€38.93
-10.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114€98.5
$108€93.1
5.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$146€126
$177€152
-17.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rotterdam
Roermond
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,904€1,638
$892€768
113.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,560€1,342
$778€669
100.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,304€2,843
$1,746€1,502
89.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,402€2,067
$1,218€1,048
97.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,232€5,363
$4,777€4,111
30.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,161€3,580
$4,523€3,892
-8.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rotterdam
Roermond
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,257€3,663
$3,386€2,913
25.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.49
4
-12.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rotterdam: September 1, 2026
Last update for Roermond: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,904 in Rotterdam versus $892 in Roermond. 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 26% 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 $94.0 in Rotterdam versus $70.0 in Roermond. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $361 vs $318 – making Roermond 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
Rotterdam vs Roermond: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Roermond cheaper than Rotterdam?
Yes – Rotterdam is pricier by about 44%, 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 $4,664 per month in Rotterdam and $3,244 in Roermond. 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 Roermond, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $2,820 per month in Rotterdam and $1,341 in Roermond. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Rotterdam and in Roermond?
Groceries cost about 14% more in Rotterdam, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Rotterdam or in Roermond?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Roermond, where all-in costs run around $2,163, than in Rotterdam at $3,110. In Roermond it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rotterdam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Rotterdam or Roermond more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Roermond – 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 Roermond?
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 Roermond. 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.