Cost of Living: Amsterdam vs Rotterdam (2026)

Netherlands vs Netherlands — relocation comparison

Your passport:

Livability Score

🇳🇱 Amsterdam

Netherlands

Full profile

Livability Score

🇳🇱 Rotterdam

Netherlands

Full profile

Amsterdam

Rotterdam

$2602/mo

Rent

$1805/mo

66/100

Livability

74/100

87/100

Safety

87/100

75/100

Healthcare

79/100

5 yr

PR path

5 yr

122 Mbps

Internet

141 Mbps

ZZP'er

Freelance setup

Wise ✓ · Wise ✓

ZZP'er

Sourced from Numbeo · Updated April 2026

TL;DRRotterdam is 31% cheaper on rent ($1805/mo vs $2602/mo). Both countries will let you complain about the government in public — and mean it.

Rotterdam edges ahead 74 to 66. Amsterdam isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you.

Household

Amsterdam

Metric

Rotterdam

$2602/mo

🏠

Rent (1BR centre)

$1805/mo✓

$937/mo

🛒

Living costs (no rent)

$888/mo✓

$10,705

🧳

Cost to land

$7,746✓

0.7 / 100k

🔒

Homicides

0.7 / 100k

26 / 100

🚨

Crime perception

lower is better

26 / 100

20°C

☀️

Summer high

21°C

1°C

❄️

Winter low

1°C

122 Mbps

⚡

Internet speed

141 Mbps✓

11.2 μg/m³

🌬️

Air quality (PM2.5)

11.4 μg/m³

9.0 / 10

🗳️

Democracy

9.0 / 10

76/100

🗣️

Street English

76/100

$86k

💼

GDP per capita

$86k

3.3% · Boringly steady

📈

Inflation

3.3% · Boringly steady

66 / 100

🏅

Livability Score

74 / 100✓

94/100 — Reliable

⚡

Grid reliability

94/100 — Reliable

97/100

🗽

Freedom House

97/100

5 years

📋

Time to PR

5 years

Set salary to see annual savings →

Sources: Numbeo · UNODC · Ookla · WHO · EIU · World Bank · Freedom House · Updated April 2026

💰

Cost of Living

Rotterdam

$798/mo cheaper on rent alone

Settler Essentials

stable →

Democracy trend

stable →

improving ↑

Inflation trend

improving ↑

fintechlogisticssemiconductorsagri-food-tech

Industries

logisticspetrochemicalsmaritimecleantech

hub

Startup ecosystem

active

94/100

Grid reliability

94/100

5 yrs

Time to PR

5 yrs

Moderate

🇺🇸 Your visa

Moderate

Easy

EU visa

Easy

Complex

RU visa

Complex

Easy

UA visa

Easy

✅ Partner can work immediately

Spouse works

✅ Partner can work immediately

Visa stamps:Easy <90 daysModerate 3–6 moComplex 6+ mo

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

Reproductive Rights

Because your body shouldn't need a visa too

On request

Abortion access

On request

24 wk

Gestational limit

24 wk

On request up to 24 weeks. 5-day reflection period removed in 2023.

Source: Center for Reproductive Rights

The Short Version

•Rent is 31% cheaper in Rotterdam ($1805/mo vs $2602/mo for a 1BR city centre).
•Summers are slightly warmer in Rotterdam (21°C vs 20°C).

Amsterdam vs Rotterdam — Common Questions

Is Amsterdam cheaper than Rotterdam?▾

Rotterdam is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $1805/month in Rotterdam vs $2602/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Amsterdam or Rotterdam?▾

Rotterdam is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Amsterdam has a rate of 0.73 per 100,000 and Rotterdam has 0.73 per 100,000.

Should I move to Amsterdam or Rotterdam?▾

Rotterdam edges ahead 74 to 66. Amsterdam isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in Amsterdam or Rotterdam?▾

Amsterdam: Netherlands Highly Skilled Migrant (complex process, Up to 5 years). Rotterdam: Netherlands Highly Skilled Migrant (complex process, Up to 5 years). See each city's profile page for full requirements.

What's the cost of rent in Amsterdam vs Rotterdam?▾

A 1-bedroom in the centre: $1805/month in Rotterdam, $2602/month in Amsterdam (Numbeo). That's 31% cheaper rent in Rotterdam.