Which place is cheaper, Rotterdam or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Petra or Rotterdam?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Petra and Rotterdam can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or Rotterdam?
Petra
Whether you're checking off the Seven Wonders of the World, or you're just a huge Indiana Jones fan, the city of Petra must be on your bucket list. The "rose red city, half as old as time," was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom in the 6th century BC. It was the center for trade and commerce until an earthquake took out buildings and destroyed their water management system. After this destruction, the city of Petra seemed to be lost to western civilization.
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 Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best River Cruises from Amsterdam, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Netherlands.
-
Petra Prices
Jordan PricesRotterdam Prices
Netherlands Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $153Rotterdam $224
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $153, while the average daily cost in Rotterdam is $224. 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 Petra and Rotterdam in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Rotterdam $90
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Rotterdam $180
Compare Hotels in Petra and Rotterdam
Looking for a hotel in Petra 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: Petra Hotel Prices and Rotterdam Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23Rotterdam $31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- From Eilat: Petra Full-Day Guided Tour with Transfers: $219
- Private transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $140
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
- Private Transfer from Ma'in Hotel to Aqaba Airport: $120
- Petra Private Transfer To Multiple Destinations: $115
- Comfortable and Reliable Private Transfer: Petra to Wadi Rum: $100
- Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional : $99
- Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
- Airport Transfer to and from Petra: $92
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rotterdam
Also for Rotterdam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Rotterdam Airport (RTM) Private Transfer to Rotterdam/Amsterdam: $35
- Amsterdam: Private Transfer from Or To Schiphol Airport: $63
- Rotterdam Airport(RTM) to Rotterdam - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $79
- Rotterdam Private Transfer to Rotterdam Airport RTM in Sedan Car: $88
- Rotterdam Airport RTM Private Transfer to Rotterdam in Sedan Car: $88
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam hotels to Rotterdam Cruise Port : $92
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam Port to Rotterdam Airport (RTM): $92
- Rotterdam Airport RTM Private Transfer to Rotterdam by Luxury Van: $96
- Rotterdam Private Transfer to Rotterdam Airport RTM by Luxury Van: $96
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam Airport (RTM) to IJmuiden Port: $134
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam hotels to IJmuiden Cruise Port: $134
- Private transfer from Rotterdam cruise port to Amsterdam: $176
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Rotterdam?
Prices for flights to both Rotterdam and Petra 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
-
Food Meals for one dayPetra $66Rotterdam $109
Typical Food Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of dining costs in Petra are as follows:
-
Dinner for Two$12
-
Juice$1.76
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Petra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Petra.
- Cooking outside in little Petra between the Mountains. : $50
- Private Outdoor bedouin Dinner in Petra: $150
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rotterdam
For Rotterdam, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Rotterdam Food Tour: Taste The Alternative Side Of The City: $79
- Guided Food Tour: $81
- Historic Delfshaven: Lunch or Dinner with a Private Chef: $88
- Food Tour by Bike: $105
- Guided Walking Food Tour: $105
- Biking Rotterdam Food Tour with Local Guide: $106
- Walking Rotterdam Food Tour: $106
- Rotterdam Private 2-Hour Food Tour with Tastings: $176
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Petra $47Rotterdam $37
Typical Entertainment Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Petra are as follows:
-
Entry to Petra for One$71
Tours and Activities in Petra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Petra are as follows:
- 2-Day Amman to Petra, Wadi Rum & Dead Sea Adventure Tour: $220
- 3 Hour Horse Riding Adventure around the Petra Area: $145
- 3-Hour Private Petra Tour: Exclusive Classical Guided Experience: $55
- 3-hour Private Guided Tour In Petra with hotel pick up.: $75
- 6 Hours Private Tour in Petra: $125
- Amman: Petra by Night Tour with Optional Day Visit: $99
- From Petra Wadi Rum Private 8 hours roundtrip tour : $140
- Hike Tour of Petra: $10
- Petra Back Entrance Private Walking Tour | Guide Sami Nawafleh: $225
- Petra Highlight Tour with Private Guide Sami Nawafleh | 2.5 Hours: $120
- Petra Secret Backdoor Tour: Hidden Gems & Exclusive Experience: $240
- Private Full Day Tour to Aqaba Red Sea from Petra Hotels: $200
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: $3.57
- Rotterdam Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $5.84
- Breda Fun Puzzle Quest: True Lord Self-Guided Tour: $5.96
- Explore Gouda with Self-Guided GPS and Audio Tour: $8.29
- Rotterdam Spy Mission: Save the City Exploration Game and Tour: $8.66
- Delfshaven Self-Guided Tour: A Guide to Rotterdam’s Old Town: $9.99
- Self-Guided Walking Tour of Gouda: Canals, Colonies, and Cheese: $9.99
- Art, History and Architecture Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- From River to Metropolis: A Rotterdam City Self Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Rotterdam's Highlights and History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Pub Trail Dordrecht: an adventure full of surprises: $13
- Pub Trail Breda: an adventure full of surprises: $13
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Rotterdam $22
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: $9.40
- Stadshaven Brewery Tour with Beer Tastings: $15
- Pub Crawl with Local Guide: $20
- Brewery Noordt Tour Including Two Beers: $20
- The Ultimate Rotterdam Bar Crawl Experience: $41
- Ludwig's Original Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entry: $53
- Ludwig's Private Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entry: $582
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Rotterdam, we can see that Rotterdam is more expensive. And not only is Petra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East 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 Petra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Petra 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 Petra.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Petra Expensive? and Is Rotterdam Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Petra or Rotterdam?
Rotterdam has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Petra. When comparing the sizes of Petra 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.
When is the best time to visit Petra or Rotterdam?
Rotterdam has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Petra experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Petra or Rotterdam in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Petra as well as Rotterdam. Petra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Rotterdam for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
It's very hot in Petra this time of the year. Petra is much warmer than Rotterdam in the summer. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 33°C (91°F) in July, and Rotterdam fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Rotterdam. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Petra this time of the year. In the summer, Petra often gets more sunshine than Rotterdam. Petra gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rotterdam receives 202 hours of full sun.
Petra usually gets less rain in July than Rotterdam. Petra gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyPetra 33°C (91°F)Rotterdam 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Petra or Rotterdam in the Autumn?
Both Rotterdam and Petra are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Petra throughout the year. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Rotterdam because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Petra is much warmer than Rotterdam. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Petra in October average around 27°C (80°F), and Rotterdam averages at about 11°C (51°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Petra. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Rotterdam during autumn. Petra gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Rotterdam receives 105 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Petra usually receives less rain than Rotterdam. Petra gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPetra 27°C (80°F)Rotterdam 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Petra or Rotterdam in the Winter?
Both Rotterdam and Petra during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Petra because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Rotterdam this time of year.
It's quite cold in Rotterdam in the winter. In January, Petra is generally much warmer than Rotterdam. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 15°C (59°F), and Rotterdam fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).
It's quite sunny in Petra. In the winter, Petra often gets more sunshine than Rotterdam. Petra gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rotterdam receives 47 hours of full sun.
Petra usually gets less rain in January than Rotterdam. Petra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPetra 15°C (59°F)Rotterdam 2°C (36°F)
Should I visit Petra or Rotterdam in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Petra and Rotterdam. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Petra year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Rotterdam for the activities around the city.
Petra is much warmer than Rotterdam in the spring. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 25°C (76°F) in April, and Rotterdam fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
In Petra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Rotterdam during spring. Petra gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Rotterdam receives 158 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Petra usually receives less rain than Rotterdam. Petra gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilPetra 25°C (76°F)Rotterdam 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Rotterdam and Petra
| Petra | Rotterdam | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 15°C (59°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Aug | 32°C (90°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Sep | 30°C (87°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (62°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
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.