Cost of Living in Rotterdam: A Guide on Expected Expenses

Rotterdam is the Netherlands’ second-largest city after the national capital of Amsterdam. It is a major port city in the Dutch region of South Holland. The cost of living in Rotterdam for a single person is around 900EUR without rent. Moreover, it is famous for its urban designs, beautiful intercity canals, Prestigious Universities, Dutch delicacies, charming bridges, excellent café culture and buzzing nightlife.

If you or your loved ones are planning to move to this dynamic city, you must understand whether you can afford the cost of living in Rotterdam and enjoy the desired lifestyle there. To help you with this dilemma, this blog will analyse the average cost of living in Rotterdam in a complete breakdown. So, let’s dive into the discussion without any further delay. 

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Cost of Living in Rotterdam

The average monthly cost of living in Rotterdam for a family of four members is approx 3,140.6 EUR without rent, while for a single person, it is 903.6 EUR without rent. This cost of living includes apartment costs, monthly public transport costs, grocery costs, and a few other essential things. For your reference, we have given the general breakdown of the average cost of living in Rotterdam for various categories. Let’s understand in detail:

Costs of Rent in Rotterdam

The average cost of rent in Rotterdam for a single person is around 1,414.29 EUR in the city centre. Housing expenses can vary according to budget and lifestyle, which also affects the cost of living in Rotterdam. The table below compares apartment rents in and outside the city centre:

Apartment Location	Approx Monthly Cost
One-bedroom Apartment in the City Centre	1,414.29 EUR
One-bedroom Apartment Outside of the Centre	1,120.24 EUR
Three -bedroom Apartment in the City Centre	1,881.18 EUR
Three -bedroom Apartment Outside of the Centre	1,619.71 EUR

Cost of a Utility in Rotterdam

The average cost of a utility in Rotterdam for a single person who is an expat here is around 280 EUR /month, which is lower than the cost of living in Rotterdam. This utility cost in Rotterdam includes electricity, gas, water, garbage, a mobile plan, and internet. The Cost of Utilities in Rotterdam is given in the table below for your convenience:

Utility Type	Approx Monthly Cost
Basic Utility Cost (Heating, Electricity, Cooling, Water, and Garbage) (for 85m2 Apartment)	217.16 EUR
Monthly Plan of Mobile Phone with Calls and 10GB+ Data	20.18 EUR
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	39.94 EUR

Cost of Grocery in Rotterdam

The average cost of groceries in Rotterdam is around 80 EUR per month, including the cost of bread, milk, water, vegetables, fruit, and other eatable items. The cost of groceries can impact your cost of living in Rotterdam as a daily expense. The table below lists the average cost of groceries in Rotterdam: 

Grocery Item	Approx Cost
Milk (regular), (1 litre)	1.08 EUR
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g)	1.69 EUR
Rice (white), (1kg)	3.18 EUR
Eggs (regular) (12)	4.09 EUR
Apples (1kg)	1.66 EUR
Banana (1kg)	2.06 EUR
Oranges (1kg)	1.69 EUR
Tomato (1kg)	2.72 EUR
Potato (1kg)	1.84 EUR
Onion (1kg)	1.55 EUR
Lettuce (1 head)	1.07 EUR
Water (1.5 litre bottle)	0.74 EUR
meat, egg, drinks and Other items	56 EUR

Restaurant Costs in Rotterdam 

Rotterdam is an excellent city for enthusiastic culinary visitors. Its restaurant, cafe, and cuisine are famous worldwide. You can enjoy mouth-watering meals at an affordable price here. The cost of a Meal in Rotterdam at an inexpensive Restaurant is around 20 EUR. In the table below, we have demonstrated the average restaurant costs you can pay in the country:

Type of Restaurant	Approx Cost of Meal in Restaurant
Meal for 2 person at an Inexpensive Restaurant	15.00  EUR
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	65.00 EUR

Transportation costs in Rotterdam 

Public transport is easily accessible in the city centre of Rotterdam by bus, metro, tram, and boat. Travelling daily for work or studies in Rotterdam can cost around 65 EUR for a single person. The overall cost of living in Rotterdam includes transportation costs, which are outlined in the table below:

Mode of Transport	Approx Monthly Cost
Price of a One-way Ticket for Local Transport	3 EUR
Regular Price of Monthly Pass	65.00 EUR
Cost of Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	4.00 EUR
Cost of Taxi 1 km (Normal Tariff)	2.00 EUR
Cost of Taxi 1 hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	18.00 EUR
Gasoline (1 litre)	1.90 EUR

Average Tuition Fees in Rotterdam

Rotterdam has many affordable universities for international students, a high-quality education system, and the most significant number of programs taught here, making it highly accessible to study. The average tuition fee in Rotterdam is between approx 9,000 EUR and 15,000 EUR per year for international students.

Now that you know the cost of living in Rotterdam, the average tuition fees charged by the country’s universities are detailed in the table below, with program and university.

Name of University	Approx Tuition fees per year (for Bachelors)	Approx Tuition fees per year (for Masters)
Erasmus University	9,900 EUR – 13,800 EUR	16,000 EUR – 21,000 EUR
Tio University of Applied Sciences	~ 22200 EUR	~ 22200 EUR
Codarts University of the Arts	~ 10,000 EUR	~ 10,000 EUR

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Why Choose Rotterdam to Study Abroad?

With an effective cost of living in Rotterdam, Studying here can be a very rewarding experience for international students. Rotterdam has various prestigious universities, including the Erasmus University Rotterdam, Tio University of Applied Sciences, Codarts University of the Arts, and many others. With the affordable program’s cost, this city also has much to offer for higher education and vocational education. Here are some significant reasons why you should study in Rotterdam City:

Affordable Tuition in Rotterdam: 

The average tuition fee in Rotterdam for undergraduate programs is approximately 9,000 EUR. For postgraduate programs, it is approximately 15,000 EUR per year for international students, which is affordable compared to other popular study-abroad cities.

Expand Your Cultural Horizons in Rotterdam:
Studying in Rotterdam is more than just academics. With a diversified culture, Rotterdam is well known for its towering skyscrapers, modern design, and iconic landmarks like the Erasmus Bridge, Rotterdam Central Station, and the Euromast observation tower. Moreover, it is also home to Europe’s largest port.

Comfortable Living Standards in Rotterdam: 

With an affordable cost of living, Rotterdam offers a good quality of life and a welcoming environment for expats. You can enjoy the city’s luxury if you have a reasonable budget for living in Rotterdam.

Things to Know When Moving to Rotterdam

Now, you have decided to move to Rotterdam for study or a job. There are various advantages to moving to Rotterdam apart from the cost of living in Rotterdam. It is a unique and vibrant city that offers numerous opportunities for international students to thrive academically and enjoy living abroad. Some of these criteria are listed below:

Welcoming People in Rotterdam: 

Rotterdam is a very welcoming city known for its friendly and generous hospitality. Living here for expats will not make you feel far from home.

Boat Tour around Rotterdam: 

A boat tour around Rotterdam or the Maritime Museum Rotterdam is fantastic and recommended. The Wikkelboats or the water taxi, tiny houseboats where you can spend the night, are pretty amazing and affordable.

Vibrant nightlife in Rotterdam

When you want to take a break from study or work, Rotterdam’s vibrant nightlife offers plenty of entertainment. You can dance in a fancy club on the Witte de Withstraat, grab a bite at restaurants, cafes, and fascinating museums, or catch a movie at the cinema. 

Jobs in Rotterdam

There is no limit on working hours per week in Rotterdam. Students can work up to 8 to 32 hours per week. The minimum student wage is around 9 EUR per hour. It helps to make the cost of living in Rotterdam leisurely.

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FAQs

So, this was all about the cost of living in Rotterdam. Many Indian students dream of pursuing education in foreign nations due to the exposure and career growth they offer. Consider joining a free counselling session with Leverage Edu if you plan to study abroad.