Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Schiedam and Ballina

For one person, living is cheaper in Ballina: $2,218 a month against $2,499 in Schiedam, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Schiedam outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Schiedam
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$2,499
/mo nomad
Ballina
🇮🇪 Ireland
$2,218
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Schiedam and in Ballina

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Schiedam and in Ballina actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,499 per month in Schiedam vs $2,218 in Ballina, rent included.

  • Schiedam $2,499
  • Ballina $2,218

A couple spends around $3,684 per month in Schiedam vs $3,255 in Ballina, rent included.

  • Schiedam $3,684
  • Ballina $3,255

A family of three spends $4,869 per month in Schiedam vs $4,293 in Ballina, rent included.

  • Schiedam $4,869
  • Ballina $4,293

Schiedam costs about 13% more than Ballina, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Schiedam and Ballina sit above the global median – Schiedam by 84%, Ballina by 64%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Schiedam
Ballina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.36 €17.22
$16.90 €15.04
14.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.1 €79.2
$66.2 €58.9
34.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.23 €13.55
$12.43 €11.05
22.53%
Cappuccino
$4.13 €3.68
$3.84 €3.42
7.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56 €3.17
$1.55 €1.38
129.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 €2.55
$1.31 €1.16
118.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.19 €6.39
$5.75 €5.12
25.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.80 €6.05
$7.60 €6.76
-10.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Schiedam
Ballina
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.35 €1.20
$1.63 €1.45
-17.18%
White Bread (500g)
$2.15 €1.91
$2.21 €1.97
-2.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.41 €2.14
$2.07 €1.84
16.43%
Eggs
$4.51 €4.01
$3.12 €2.77
44.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.61 €12.99
$10.21 €9.08
43.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.87 €11.45
$12.91 €11.48
-0.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.85 €14.10
$16.16 €14.37
-1.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.64 €2.35
$2.77 €2.47
-4.69%
Banana (1kg)
$2.21 €1.96
$1.61 €1.43
37.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.95 €1.74
$2.72 €2.42
-28.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.71 €4.19
$5.13 €4.57
-8.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.35 €1.20
$1.87 €1.66
-27.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 €1.18
$1.54 €1.37
-13.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.11 €0.99
$1.35 €1.20
-17.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 €0.66
$2.10 €1.86
-64.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.34 €11.86
$20.99 €18.67
-36.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.79 €5.15
$9.99 €8.89
-42.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.19
$3.44 €3.06
-61.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 €1.74
$3.43 €3.06
-42.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Schiedam
Ballina
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €2.02
$5.51 €4.90
-58.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$90.9 €80.8
$137 €122
-33.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.33 €2.96
$5.01 €4.45
-33.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.36 €2.99
$1.53 €1.36
119.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.43 €19.95
$37.53 €33.38
-40.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.36 €2.10
$1.99 €1.77
18.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.4K €36.9K
$33.9K €30.1K
22.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K €34.9K
$38.0K €33.8K
3.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Schiedam
Ballina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$272 €242
$280 €249
-3.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.73 €14.88
$18.65 €16.59
-10.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.7 €48.61
$39.19 €34.86
39.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Schiedam
Ballina
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.72 €24.66
$51.4 €45.71
-46.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.56 €20.95
$11.02 €9.80
113.79%
Cinema Ticket
$15.46 €13.75
$12.15 €10.80
27.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Schiedam
Ballina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,767 €1,572
$1,265 €1,125
39.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K €10.3K
$14.5K €12.9K
-20.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Schiedam
Ballina
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$116 €103
$106 €94.6
9.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.86 €31.90
$49.68 €44.19
-27.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 €97.9
$116 €103
-4.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138 €122
$112 €100
22.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Schiedam
Ballina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,594 €1,418
$892 €793
78.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,153 €1,026
$839 €746
37.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,365 €2,103
$1,294 €1,151
82.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,874 €1,667
$1,361 €1,210
37.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,657 €5,031
$3,418 €3,040
65.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,081 €3,630
$2,838 €2,524
43.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Schiedam
Ballina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,469 €2,196
$3,322 €2,955
-25.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.8
3.82
-26.70%

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

Last update for Schiedam: October 20, 2026

Last update for Ballina: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Schiedam
$1.2K
Ballina
$839 27.2% $314
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Schiedam
$343
Ballina
$338 1.5% $5.1
Eating Out
Schiedam
$325
Ballina
$274 15.8% $51
Groceries & Markets
Schiedam
$319
Ballina
$346 8.7% $28
Clothing & Footwear
Schiedam
$180
Ballina
$173 3.8% $6.8
Getting Around
Schiedam
$120
Ballina
$172 43% $52
Sport & Entertainment
Schiedam
$59
Ballina
$76 29.1% $17

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,594 in Schiedam versus $892 in Ballina. 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 35% higher in Ballina, 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 $89.0 in Schiedam versus $66.0 in Ballina. Groceries tell a different story – $319 in Schiedam vs $346 in Ballina – so Schiedam wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇳🇱 Schiedam
🇮🇪 Ballina
🕒 Local time
16:54 4:54 PM
15:54 3:54 PM
1 h behind Schiedam
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
78,730
10,556
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Schiedam Ballina 940 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Schiedam
  • Ballina

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Schiedam vs Ballina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Schiedam or Ballina?
Schiedam costs about 13% more than Ballina, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Schiedam and in Ballina?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,749 per month in Schiedam and $3,327 in Ballina. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Schiedam or Ballina?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ballina, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Schiedam compared to Ballina?
Public transport costs about 51% less in Ballina. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Schiedam and in Ballina?
Kindergarten costs $1,767 per month in Schiedam and $1,265 in Ballina. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Schiedam or in Ballina?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ballina, where all-in costs run around $2,218, than in Schiedam at $2,499. In Ballina it covers expenses comfortably, while in Schiedam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Schiedam or Ballina?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ballina costs $2,218 versus $2,499 in Schiedam. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Schiedam compared to Ballina?
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.
Should I move to Schiedam or to Ballina?
If budget matters most, go with Ballina. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Schiedam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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