Which place is cheaper, Bonaire or Rotterdam?
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 Rotterdam or Bonaire?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Rotterdam and Bonaire. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Rotterdam or Bonaire?
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.
Bonaire
An island municipality of the Netherlands, Bonaire resides in the Caribbean, east of Central America and north of Venezuela. It is a part of the ABC Islands together with Aruba and Curaçao, and is best known as a tropical vacation destination with many great dive spots, beaches, lagoons, and wildlife.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best River Cruises from Amsterdam, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Netherlands.
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Rotterdam Prices
Netherlands PricesBonaire Prices
Caribbean Netherlands Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRotterdam $222Bonaire $299
The average daily cost (per person) in Rotterdam is $222, while the average daily cost in Bonaire is $299. 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 Rotterdam and Bonaire in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRotterdam $95Bonaire $155
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRotterdam $190Bonaire $310
Compare Hotels in Rotterdam and Bonaire
Looking for a hotel in Rotterdam or Bonaire? 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: Rotterdam Hotel Prices and Bonaire Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rotterdam $30Bonaire $65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rotterdam
Also for Rotterdam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Madurodam: Train + tram transferring to/from Rotterdam: $10
- Rotterdam Airport (RTM) Private Transfer to Rotterdam/Amsterdam: $35
- Rotterdam Airport (RTM) to Rotterdam - Arrival Private Transfer: $71
- Rotterdam to Rotterdam Airport (RTM) - Departure Private Transfer: $71
- Rotterdam Private Transfer to Rotterdam Airport RTM in Sedan Car: $83
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam Airport (RTM) to Rotterdam Port: $87
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam hotels to Rotterdam Cruise Port: $87
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam Cruise Port to Rotterdam hotels: $87
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam Port to Rotterdam Airport (RTM): $87
- Rotterdam Airport RTM Private Transfer to Rotterdam by Luxury Van: $90
- Rotterdam Private Transfer to Rotterdam Airport RTM by Luxury Van: $90
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam hotels to IJmuiden Cruise Port: $132
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bonaire
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bonaire:
- Airport Transfer Return Included: $80
- Private Transfers between Bonaire airport and any local address: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Rotterdam or Bonaire?
Prices for flights to both Bonaire and Rotterdam 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 dayRotterdam $103Bonaire $101
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
- Iconic Rotterdam Food Tour: 7 Local Dishes with a Guide: $85
- Historic Delfshaven: Lunch or Dinner with a Private Chef: $87
- Food Tour by Bike: $104
- Guided Walking Food Tour: $104
- Rotterdam Walking Food Tour with 7 Delicious Tastings: $105
- Biking Rotterdam Food Tour with Local Guide: $117
- Private Walking Food Tour of Rotterdam: $130
- Private Food Tour in Rotterdam Taste the Future: $147
- Rotterdam Private 2-Hour Food Tour with Tastings: $175
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bonaire
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bonaire.
- Dinner at Sea: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rotterdam $37Bonaire $40
Tours and Activities in Rotterdam
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Rotterdam.
- Rotterdam 2-Hour Walking Tour | Discover The City With A Local: $3.53
- Breda Fun Puzzle Quest: True Lord Self-Guided Tour: $5.59
- Rotterdam Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $5.93
- Rotterdam Highlights & Spies: Exploration Game & Tour: $8.24
- Risen from Ruins Self Guided Tour of Rotterdam: $8.99
- Windmills and Dutch Ingenuity: A Kinderdijk Audio Walking Tour: $8.99
- Delfshaven Self-Guided Tour: A Guide to Rotterdam’s Old Town: $9.99
- Team Up for a Playful Tour of Rotterdam: $12
- From River to Metropolis: A Rotterdam City Self Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Art, History and Architecture Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Self-Guided Walking Tour of Gouda: Canals, Colonies, and Cheese: $12
- Rotterdam's Highlights and History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
Tours and Activities in Bonaire
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bonaire are as follows:
- 2 Hours Private Kitesurfing Adventure: $265
- 4 Hours Open Air Party Bus Tour with Beach Stop in Caribbean: $39
- 4 hour Individual Island Tour for 1 to 12 persons: $180
- Aquaspace Sunset Sail and Snorkel Tour on Bonaire with Diner: $130
- Bonaire Cave Tour: Walk, Climb & Swim: $75
- Bonaire CaveTour Climb, Snorkel & Explore the Hidden Gems : $83
- Bonaire Essentials Island Tour: $49
- Bonaire Landsailing Adventures: $79
- Bonaire Shore Excursion: The Bonaire Highlights Tour: $83
- Bonaire island adventure: $110
- Discover Scuba Diving Experience: $164
- North & South Highlights Guided Group Tour: $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRotterdam $22Bonaire $33
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 Rotterdam and Bonaire, we can see that Bonaire is more expensive. And not only is Rotterdam much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Rotterdam is in Europe and Bonaire is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Rotterdam would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rotterdam 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 Bonaire would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bonaire than you might in Rotterdam.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Rotterdam Expensive? and Is Bonaire Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rotterdam or Bonaire?
Rotterdam has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Bonaire. When comparing the sizes of Rotterdam and Bonaire, 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.