Cost of Living in Rotterdam

Is Rotterdam expensive?

The cost of living in Rotterdam is high, especially when it comes to rent. For a family of four, according to Numbeo, the estimated monthly cost is around €5,305, with €1,991 of that going toward rent. For a single person, the total comes to approximately €2,368, including €1,421 for rent.

When comparing Rotterdam to other major cities, it falls somewhere in the middle. London is significantly more expensive, with a single person’s total monthly cost reaching €3,875, including a hefty €2,593 for rent — making it more expensive than Rotterdam. On the other hand, Berlin is slightly cheaper, with a total monthly cost of €2,277 for a single person, including €1,268 for rent, which is cheaper than Rotterdam.

Looking ahead, Rotterdam faces an average rental price increase of 6% per year, while the total housing supply is expected to decrease by 9% — which means that rental prices tend to go higher every year.

Rent per month

Here’s how much rent costs monthly in Rotterdam based on the size and location of the apartment (Source: Numbeo):

• Apartment (1 bedroom) in city center:€1,421
• Apartment (1 bedroom) outside of center:€1,117
• Apartment (3 bedrooms) in the city center: €1,991
• Apartment (3 bedrooms) outside of center:€1,713

Best areas to live in Rotterdam:

• Kralingen-Crooswijk: Centrally located, great for students and young professionals. Kralingen is upscale; Crooswijk is more affordable.
• Centrum (City Centre): Lively and full of culture, but expensive. Perfect if you want to be in the middle of everything.
• Hillegersberg-Schiebroek: Wealthy area with green spaces and a village feel.
• Delfshaven: Historic, charming neighborhood with traditional Dutch canals.
• Blijdorp: Family-friendly with lots of green space and good access to the rest of the city.
• Kop van Zuid: Trendy area with skyscrapers and a vibrant cultural scene, popular with younger people.

Areas to avoid:

• Feijenoord: Historically rough, though improving. Still has areas that might not appeal to everyone.
• Charlois: Edgier, with a mix of village charm and more urban areas.
• Overschie: Safe but has poor public transport connections, making it less convenient.

How to find an apartment in Rotterdam

Renting in Rotterdam has become pretty tough lately, with demand skyrocketing and prices following suit. There’s also a real shortage of rental properties — down by a huge 328% compared to 2023 — so it’s a competitive market. Most apartments come unfurnished, so if you need a furnished one, make sure to filter your search on sites like Funda or Pararius. If you’re only staying for a short while, you might find it easier to go for a short-stay apartment that charges by the day. Just be careful of “slum landlords” — if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. When you do find a place, expect to pay a deposit equal to one month’s rent, plus the first month’s rent and maybe an agency fee.

To rent a place, you’ll need to show ID, proof of employment, and have an international bank account ready for payments. If your rent eats up a big chunk of your income, you might be eligible for a rental allowance from the Dutch tax authorities. The market moves fast, so when you find something you like, it’s best to act quickly. Signing up with a real estate agent can help you get a jump on new listings, though some might charge a small fee for notifications.

Property prices

The average price per square meter to buy an apartment in Rotterdam is around (Source: Numbeo):

• City center: €4,666/sqm
• Outside of the city center:€3,129/sqm

Property prices in Rotterdam are on the rise again, with a notable increase of 2.6% in 2024 so far, meaning that homes are getting more expensive. This trend follows a strong price growth over the years, with house prices rising by about 61.8% between 2014 and 2019, as pointed out by the same source. It's important to keep in mind that the supply of homes is limited, which could lead to more competition and potentially higher prices in the near future.

Utilities

A big part of the Rotterdam cost of living is the monthly utilities (Source: Numbeo):

• Basic utilities (electricity, heating, cooling, water, garbage) for 85m² apartment: €216
• Mobile phone monthly plan with calls and 10GB+ Data: €20
• Internet (60 Mbps or more, unlimited data, cable/ADSL): €41

These costs can add up over the year, but there are ways to cut down on them:

• Save on electricity by using your appliances when rates are lower, like at night, on weekends, or during public holidays.
• Instead of a flat water rate, consider installing a meter to pay only for what you actually use.
• When it comes to mobile plans, take the time to compare options — there are plenty of cheaper deals out there.
• For the internet, look for bundled packages with discounts and keep an eye out for temporary offers that could save you money.

Public transport

To get around Rotterdam, your best options are public transport, cycling, and water transport. The city's public transport system, operated by RET, includes buses, trams, and a metro network that covers the entire city. For short trips, you can use OV-pay, allowing contactless payment with your debit or credit card.

Cycling is a very popular option, as Rotterdam has over 600 km of bike paths and several bike rental locations. Water transport like the Waterbus or Watertaxi is unique to the Netherlands, this mode of travel gets you across the city and surrounding areas. Learn more about routes here.

Travel tickets (Source: RET):

• Basic fare: €1.08
• Monthly pass: Starting at €59
• Day ticket: €9.50
• Check for more options on the RET website.

Taxi (Source: Numbeo):

• Taxi start (normal tariff): €4
• Taxi 1 km: €2
• Taxi 1 hour waiting: €18

Food

Based on this recent comparison study of grocery prices, Dirk and Hoogvliet are the cheapest supermarkets, offering prices 11% and 8% lower than the national average. Aldi is also slightly cheaper, while Albert Heijn, Jumbo, and Plus offer average prices. On the pricier side, Coop is 3% above average, Picnic is 5% more expensive, and Spar tops the list at 20% above the national average.

For the price estimates below, note that these numbers can be lower for vegetarians, as meat prices are relatively high. Excluding eating out, this is the average spend on groceries per month:

• For a single person: €100-€150
• For a couple: €200-€300
• For a family of four: €400-€500

Here are some typical grocery items to give you an idea of prices (Source: Numbeo):

• Milk (1 liter): €1
• Loaf of fresh white bread (500g): €1.80
• Rice (1kg): €3
• Eggs (12): €4.30
• Chicken fillets (1kg): €13.30
• Domestic beer (0.5 liter draught): €5

Childcare

Expat parents can access several government benefits to help with the costs of raising children. The main benefits include children's allowance (kinderbijslag), which is a quarterly payment that varies depending on the child's age, and child benefit (kindgebonden budget), which helps cover everyday expenses like clothing and school costs, with higher amounts available for single parents. Additionally, working parents can apply for childcare benefits (kinderopvangtoeslag) to offset childcare costs.

To be eligible for these benefits, expats are typically required to be registered in the Netherlands, have a valid residence permit, and meet specific income criteria. Read more here to check your eligibility, and use this calculator to see how much you’ll pay for childcare.

Here’s a quick breakdown of childcare options in Rotterdam (Source: Rotterdam Expat Centre):

• Daycare (Kinderdagverblijf): For kids from birth to four years old, costing about €8 to €10.50 per hour. Early registration is advised due to long waiting lists.
• Preschool (Voorschool/Peuterspeelzaal): For ages two to four, with similar costs to daycare. Financial support might be available for eligible families.
• Childminders (Gastouders): More flexible care in a home setting, generally cheaper than daycare. Prices vary based on the childminder.
• Nannies: In-home care with flexible hours, costing €10 to €20 per hour. Additional fees apply if hired through an agency.
• Before and after school clubs (BSO): For kids aged 4 to 13, costing €6 to €10 per hour. Subsidies are available for qualifying families.
• Au pairs: Live-in carers providing light childcare duties. Host families provide an allowance of €300 to €340 per month, plus other costs like language courses.

International yearly school fees (Source: International Schools Database):

• Harbour International School Rotterdam: €4000 for the full school year
• Nord Anglia International School Rotterdam: €15,900 - €22,800
• Rotterdam International Secondary School: €9,390
• International primary school, yearly for 1 child: €9,816

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