Which place is cheaper, Rotterdam or Nairobi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Nairobi or Rotterdam?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nairobi and Rotterdam can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Nairobi or Rotterdam?
Nairobi
Nairobi is Kenya's capital as well as the country's largest city. With a population of about 3 million, it is also one of the largest cities in Africa. It is a prominent city both politically and financially within the region. There are many international companies that are located in Nairobi and the Nairobi Securities and Exchange is one of the largest in Africa.
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands and has the largest port in Europe. It's famously known as a city of architecture. In a few square kilometers of the city center you can get a complete overview of twentieth century architecture within Rotterdam.
Rotterdam is a very diverse, international, and hard working city. Nearly half of the city's population is not native to the Netherlands or have at least one parent from outside the country. Muslim's make up a significant portion of the population. Other area's represented include Cape Verde and the Dutch Antilles.
There's an air of optimism that permeates the entire city. There are frequent events, festivals and performances, making Rotterdam an enjoyable place to spend some time. Water is also an integral part of the city design.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Kenya, The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best River Cruises from Amsterdam, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Netherlands.
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Nairobi Prices
Kenya PricesRotterdam Prices
Netherlands Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNairobi $68Rotterdam $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Nairobi is $68, while the average daily cost in Rotterdam is $218. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Nairobi and Rotterdam in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNairobi $12Rotterdam $93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNairobi $24Rotterdam $186
Compare Hotels in Nairobi and Rotterdam
Looking for a hotel in Nairobi or Rotterdam? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Nairobi Hotel Prices and Rotterdam Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nairobi $11Rotterdam $30
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nairobi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Nairobi:
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Taxi from Airport$9.28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi
Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO) to Arusha: $292
- Private Transfer from Nairobi to Maasai Mara Reserve: $215
- Private Road Transfer from Nairobi to Amboseli national park: $197
- Private Transfer in Nairobi: $180
- Private Transfer from Nairobi Airport or City to Mara by road: $160
- Private Road transfer from Nairobi to Amboseli: $150
- Private Arrival Transfer in Nairobi: $115
- Private Transfer to Naivasha from Nairobi: $99
- Private Jomo Kenyatta International Airport JKIA Transfers to Nairobi Hotels: $95
- Nairobi National Park Tour with Game Drive and Transfer: $95
- Museum of Illusion Nairobi Experience with Transfers: $75
- Airport Transfers in Nairobi City: $70
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rotterdam
Also for Rotterdam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Rotterdam to Amsterdam Airport(AMS) - Departure Private Transfer: $200
- Rotterdam Private Transfer to Rotterdam Airport RTM in Sedan Car: $87
- Rotterdam Private Transfer to Rotterdam Airport RTM by Luxury Van: $94
- Rotterdam Airport(RTM) to Rotterdam - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $141
- Rotterdam Airport RTM Round-Trip Private Transfer: $174
- Rotterdam Airport RTM Private Transfer to Rotterdam in Sedan Car: $87
- Rotterdam Airport RTM Private Transfer to Rotterdam by Luxury Van: $94
- Private transfer: Rotterdam to Amsterdam, 2h Stop in The Hague: $263
- Private transfer from Rotterdam to Amsterdam, 2h Stop in Haarlem: $282
- Private transfer from Rotterdam cruise port to Amsterdam: $175
- Private transfer from Rotterdam cruise port to AMS Schiphol: $175
- Private direct transfer from Rotterdam to Hoorn: $227
Is it cheaper to fly into Nairobi or Rotterdam?
Prices for flights to both Rotterdam and Nairobi change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayNairobi $13Rotterdam $101
Typical Food Prices in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner for Two$5.02
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Kenyan Cooking Class & Authentic Dining Experience with a Local: $40
- Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour: $55
- Popular Kenyan Food Cooking Class and Local Market Experience: $60
- Private Interactive Cooking Class and Market Tour in Kinoo: $65
- Private Kenyan Cooking Class in Nairobi with a Local: $76
- Safari Park dinner with live band music and cat dance show.: $90
- Dinner Experience with Cat Show at Safari Park Hotel: $90
- Safari Park Dinner with Safari Cats Dance Show: $97
- The Carnivore Restaurant Lunch or Dinner with transport: $97
- Safari Cat Dancers Show And Dinner: $100
- Nairobi National Park Afternoon Game Drive/ Dinner Carnivore Restaurant: $100
- Barbecue Lunch/ Dinner At The Carnivore Restaurant - Nairobi: $100
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rotterdam
For Rotterdam, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Pizza Cruise: $46
- Rotterdam Food Tour: Taste The Alternative Side Of The City: $79
- Guided Food Tour: $80
- Historic Delfshaven: Lunch or Dinner with a Private Chef: $87
- Iconic Rotterdam Food Tour: 7 Local Dishes with a Guide: $100
- Food Tour by Bike: $104
- Guided Walking Food Tour: $104
- Rotterdam Walking Food Tour with Delicious Tastings: $105
- Private Walking Food Tour of Rotterdam: $129
- Rotterdam Private 2-Hour Food Tour with Tastings: $175
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nairobi $46Rotterdam $36
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nairobi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Nairobi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Village Visit$15
Tours and Activities in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Bike Tour to Hell’s Gate And Lake Naivasha: $139
- 1 Day Hell's Gate Bicycle Tour (minimum 2 Pax): $280
- 1 Day Purple Farm Tour from Nairobi Tea Tasting and Lunch: $295
- 1 Day Tour to Amboseli Park And a Majestic Mt Kilimanjaro View: $90
- 2 Days 1 Night Amboseli National Park With Masai Village Tour: $280
- 2 Days Amboseli Safari using a 4x4 Landcruiser jeep(with options): $105
- 2-Hour Private Kibera Slum Guided Tour: $90
- 3 Day Maasai Mara Group Joining Safari With Guided Tour: $250
- 3 Day Maasai Mara Shared Safari In a Land Cruiser: $220
- 3 Days Maasai Mara Group Safari on 4x4 Land Cruiser Jeep: $295
- 3 Days Masai Mara Budget Camping Safari on 4X4 Land Cruiser: $285
- 3 day Maasai Mara Small Group Safari in a 4 x4 Land Cruiser Jeep: $220
Tours and Activities in Rotterdam
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Rotterdam.
- "Remastered" Audiovisual Experience in Rotterdam: $31
- 2-Hour Walking Tour in Gouda All inclusive: $21
- All Inclusive, Private Tour Rotterdam + Euromast 360º view: $195
- All-Inclusive Private Windmill Tour to Kinderdijk from Rotterdam: $223
- Art and Architecture Walking Tour in Rotterdam - guided by Architects: $71
- Best of City Highlights walking tour: $94
- Best of Private Walking Tour with a Local: $48
- Best of small-group walking tour: $23
- Bonton Male Dance Show Evening Ticket: $58
- Breda Fun Puzzle Quest: True Lord Self-Guided Tour: $5.87
- Cruise Terminal Private Tour by Luxury Van: $346
- Cultural Walking Tour in Rotterdam: $53
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNairobi $16Rotterdam $22
Sample the Local Flavors in Nairobi
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Nairobi:
- Food and Wine Tasting Experience at Five Senses Restaurant: $155
Sample the Local Flavors in Rotterdam
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rotterdam:
- Beer Brewery 'Noordt' Beer Tasting: $9.31
- Brewery Noordt Tour Including Two Beers: $20
- Stadshaven Brewery Tour with Beer Tastings: $26
- The Ultimate Rotterdam Bar Crawl Experience: $41
- Ludwig's Original Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entry: $52
- Ludwig's Private Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entry: $576
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nairobi and Rotterdam, we can see that Rotterdam is more expensive. And not only is Nairobi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nairobi is in Africa and Rotterdam is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Nairobi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nairobi and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Rotterdam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rotterdam than you might in Nairobi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nairobi Expensive? and Is Rotterdam Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nairobi or Rotterdam?
Nairobi has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Rotterdam. When comparing the sizes of Nairobi and Rotterdam, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.