Netherlands
A bold, architecturally daring port city rebuilt after WWII, known for its striking skyline, diverse food halls, and a forward-looking creative energy.
#10 of 250
153% above average
Monthly cost, one adult
$ 3 645
Based on NYC = 100 index
Rotterdam is the 10. most expensive of the 250 cities we track — a month here comes to $ 3 645 for one adult.
Most of that goes on housing, which runs 124% above the median city and adds $ 1 287 a month: 1br apartment (city center) $ 2 363, 1br apartment (outside center) $ 2 294. It is also pricier than usual for utilities, restaurants.
Cheaper here than almost anywhere else is healthcare, 95% below the median: cold medicine (6 days) $ 0.60, antibiotics (12 doses) $ 4.
Percentages compare this city against the median of all tracked cities, category by category.
49 prices on this page come from live scrapers (16 sources, observed October 7, 2026 to October 13, 2026). They are free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: credit CostCompass and link this page.
CostCompass (2026). Cost of living in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Data as of 2026-10-14. https://costcompass.net/living/cities/rotterdam. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
| Item | Price (USD) | Observations | Last observed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (City Center) | 2,362.79 / month | 2 | 2026-10-13 | 123Wonen, Funda |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside Center) | 2,293.75 / month | 2 | 2026-10-13 | 123Wonen, Funda |
| 3BR Apartment (City Center) | 3,190.32 / month | 2 | 2026-10-13 | 123Wonen, Funda |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside Center) | 2,812.96 / month | 2 | 2026-10-13 | 123Wonen, Funda |
| Chicken Breast (1kg) | 15.46 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Jumbo NL / Migros CH, Albert Heijn |
| Pork (1kg) | 14.04 / item | 1 | 2026-10-07 | Albert Heijn |
| Beef (1kg) | 17.88 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Jumbo NL / Migros CH, Albert Heijn |
| Fish Fillet (1kg) | 9.41 / item | 1 | 2026-10-07 | Albert Heijn |
| Deli Meat / Ham (1kg) | 15.94 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Jumbo NL / Migros CH, Albert Heijn |
| Milk (1 liter) | 1.82 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Jumbo NL / Migros CH, Albert Heijn |
| Yogurt (150g) | 1.05 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Jumbo NL / Migros CH, Albert Heijn |
| Cheese (1kg) | 10.38 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Jumbo NL / Migros CH, Albert Heijn |
| Butter (200g) | 1.89 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Jumbo NL / Migros CH, Albert Heijn |
| Eggs (12) | 5.18 / item | 1 | 2026-10-07 | Albert Heijn |
| Bread (500g) | 1.82 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Jumbo NL / Migros CH, Albert Heijn |
| Bread Roll (1pc) | 2.18 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Jumbo NL / Migros CH, Albert Heijn |
| Pasta (500g) | 1.61 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Jumbo NL / Migros CH, Albert Heijn |
| Rice (1kg) | 3.77 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Jumbo NL / Migros CH, Albert Heijn |
| Oats (500g) | 1.57 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Jumbo NL / Migros CH, Albert Heijn |
| Potatoes (1kg) | 1.45 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Jumbo NL / Migros CH, Albert Heijn |
| Tomatoes (1kg) | 4.82 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Jumbo NL / Migros CH, Albert Heijn |
| Bell Peppers (1kg) | 9.02 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Jumbo NL / Migros CH, Albert Heijn |
| Carrots (1kg) | 1.56 / item | 1 | 2026-10-07 | Albert Heijn |
| Onions (1kg) | 1.06 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Jumbo NL / Migros CH, Albert Heijn |
| Garlic (1kg) | 6.22 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Jumbo NL / Migros CH, Albert Heijn |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 0.88 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Jumbo NL / Migros CH, Albert Heijn |
| Apples (1kg) | 4.49 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Jumbo NL / Migros CH, Albert Heijn |
| Banana (1kg) | 5.25 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Jumbo NL / Migros CH, Albert Heijn |
| Oranges (1kg) | 1.66 / item | 1 | 2026-10-07 | Albert Heijn |
| Lentils (1kg) | 6.80 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Jumbo NL / Migros CH, Albert Heijn |
| Canned Tomatoes (400g) | 0.42 / item | 1 | 2026-10-07 | Albert Heijn |
| Sunflower Oil (1L) | 1.45 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Jumbo NL / Migros CH, Albert Heijn |
| Flour (1kg) | 0.95 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Jumbo NL / Migros CH, Albert Heijn |
| Sugar (1kg) | 2.46 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Jumbo NL / Migros CH, Albert Heijn |
| Coffee (250g) | 7.21 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Jumbo NL / Migros CH, Albert Heijn |
| Water (1.5 liter) | 1.69 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Jumbo NL / Migros CH, Albert Heijn |
| Orange Juice (1L) | 2.84 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Jumbo NL / Migros CH, Albert Heijn |
| Taxi Start | 4.82 / trip | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Official Taxi Tariffs |
| Taxi 1km | 3.54 / km | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Official Taxi Tariffs |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | 2.72 / liter | 1 | 2026-10-13 | EU Weekly Oil Bulletin |
| Basic Utilities (85m2 Apt) | 432.07 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Eurostat Energy Prices |
| Mobile Plan (10GB+) | 12.29 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | European Telecom Operators |
| Internet (60 Mbps+) | 36.32 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | European Telecom Operators |
| Fitness Club (Monthly) | 32.86 / month | 2 | 2026-10-13 | European Entertainment Chains, Gym Chains |
| Cinema Ticket | 14.53 / ticket | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Cinema Ticket Prices |
| Cold Medicine (6 days) | 0.60 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | European Online Pharmacies |
| Jeans (Levis or Similar) | 49.86 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Uniqlo, H&M |
| Summer Dress (Chain Store) | 55.76 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Uniqlo |
| Running Shoes (Nike, Adidas) | 150.32 / pair | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Nike.com (live), AboutYou & local fashion e-shops |
Cities where the money splits the same way
Denmark
Similar share of Housing & Basic Grocery Basket
Ireland
Similar share of Utilities & Transportation
Australia
Similar share of Housing & Basic Grocery Basket
United States
Similar share of Restaurants & Transportation
Monthly average costs by category
$ 2 328
per month
$ 211
per month
$ 361
per month
$ 127
per month
$ 481
per month
$ 102
per month
$ 0.89
per month
$ 35
per month