Cost of Living Comparison Between Rotterdam and Zeist Cost of Living Comparison Between Rotterdam and Zeist

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,122 per month in Rotterdam vs $2,865 in Zeist, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,415 per month in Rotterdam vs $3,921 in Zeist, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,708 per month in Rotterdam vs $4,976 in Zeist, rent included.

Rotterdam costs about 9% more than Zeist, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Rotterdam and Zeist sit above the global median – Rotterdam by 128%, Zeist by 109%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.04 €23.57

$23.52 €20.50

14.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$93.8 €81.7

$85.0 €74.1

10.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.05 €12.25

$13.96 €12.17

0.64%

Cappuccino

$4.60 €4.01

$4.58 €3.99

0.44%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 €3.51

$3.95 €3.44

1.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 €3.15

$3.44 €3.00

4.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.16 €6.24

$5.90 €5.14

21.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.16 €5.37

$5.08 €4.43

21.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 €1.36

$1.47 €1.28

6.12%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 €2.15

$2.33 €2.03

5.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.96 €2.58

$2.74 €2.39

8.03%

Eggs

$5.68 €4.95

$5.01 €4.37

13.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.18 €10.62

$14.48 €12.63

-15.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.62 €11.87

$14.34 €12.50

-5.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.85 €17.30

$19.75 €17.22

0.51%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 €2.93

$2.64 €2.30

27.27%

Banana (1kg)

$2.62 €2.28

$2.56 €2.23

2.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.63 €2.30

$2.16 €1.88

21.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.48 €3.03

$4.47 €3.90

-22.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 €1.61

$1.76 €1.53

4.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.52 €1.33

$1.99 €1.74

-23.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 €1.30

$1.39 €1.21

7.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 €1.13

$0.86 €0.75

51.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.21 €13.26

$14.63 €12.75

3.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.90 €6.01

$7.00 €6.10

-1.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 €1.39

$1.40 €1.22

13.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 €2.33

$2.70 €2.35

-1.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.48 €3.91

$3.50 €3.05

28.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$116 €101

$87.4 €76.2

33.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.88 €4.25

$3.98 €3.47

22.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.50 €3.05

$1.98 €1.72

76.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$70.6 €61.5

$23.01 €20.06

206.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.52 €2.20

$2.38 €2.07

5.88%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$43.3K €37.8K

$42.5K €37.0K

2.05%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$40.2K €35.0K

$39.1K €34.1K

2.78%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$315 €275

$254 €221

24.03%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.59 €19.69

$26.60 €23.19

-15.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.6 €50.2

$48.42 €42.21

19.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.0 €44.44

$42.97 €37.46

18.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.20 €26.32

$23.33 €20.33

29.45%

Cinema Ticket

$16.00 €13.95

$16.48 €14.37

-2.91%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,716 €2,368

$2,511 €2,189

8.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.0K €11.3K

$8,367 €7,293

55.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$96.4 €84.1

$97.3 €84.8

-0.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.50 €35.30

$41.08 €35.81

-1.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 €97.8

$93.6 €81.6

19.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 €126

$105 €91.4

38.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,959 €1,708

$1,458 €1,271

34.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 €1,375

$1,488 €1,297

6.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,204 €2,793

$2,524 €2,200

26.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,377 €2,072

$1,997 €1,741

19.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,095 €5,313

$6,601 €5,754

-7.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,180 €3,644

$5,771 €5,030

-27.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,268 €3,721

$4,341 €3,784

-1.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.49

3.65

-4.38%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Rotterdam: September 14, 2026

Last update for Zeist: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,959 in Rotterdam versus $1,458 in Zeist. 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 2% higher in Zeist, 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 $94.0 in Rotterdam versus $85.0 in Zeist. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $357 vs $354 – making Zeist 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 Zeist: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Rotterdam is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,684 per month in Rotterdam and $4,297 in Zeist. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Zeist, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Rotterdam, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $94.0 in Rotterdam and $85.0 in Zeist. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,122 in Rotterdam and $2,865 in Zeist. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Zeist – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Zeist. 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.