😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,440 in Amsterdam versus $2,744 in Amersfoort.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,964 in Amsterdam versus $3,878 in Amersfoort.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,488 in Amsterdam versus $5,013 in Amersfoort.
🌍Living in Amsterdam is roughly 25% more expensive than in Amersfoort, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Amsterdam150% above, Amersfoort100% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amsterdam
Amersfoort
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.03€19.87
$24.59€21.22
-6.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.4€81.4
$81.2€70.1
16.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.88€12.84
$11.46€9.89
29.84%
Cappuccino
$4.54€3.92
$4.00€3.46
13.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02€3.47
$3.87€3.34
3.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16€2.72
$3.46€2.98
-8.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.58€6.54
$7.11€6.14
6.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91€5.10
$5.09€4.39
16.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amsterdam
Amersfoort
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.53€1.32
$1.18€1.02
29.66%
White Bread(500g)
$2.47€2.13
$1.89€1.63
30.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.57€2.22
$2.93€2.53
-12.29%
Eggs
$5.20€4.49
$4.36€3.77
19.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.46€15.06
$14.75€12.73
18.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.85€11.95
$13.94€12.03
-0.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.63€18.66
$17.34€14.96
24.74%
Apples(1kg)
$3.04€2.62
$2.36€2.04
28.81%
Banana(1kg)
$2.98€2.57
$2.23€1.92
33.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.55€2.20
$1.95€1.68
30.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.22€3.64
$3.84€3.31
9.90%
Potato(1kg)
$2.63€2.27
$1.87€1.62
40.64%
Onion(1kg)
$1.60€1.38
$1.86€1.60
-13.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.52€1.32
$1.29€1.11
17.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71€1.48
$0.84€0.73
103.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.80€12.78
$13.32€11.50
11.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.95€7.72
$7.29€6.29
22.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75€1.51
$1.59€1.38
10.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58€2.23
$2.78€2.40
-7.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Amsterdam
Amersfoort
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.02€3.47
$4.68€4.03
-14.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$118€102
$92.6€79.9
27.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.77€4.12
$5.96€5.14
-19.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.41€2.94
$2.97€2.56
14.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$39.61€34.18
$28.69€24.76
38.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.52€2.18
$2.27€1.96
11.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.1K€37.2K
$34.4K€29.6K
25.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.3K€34.8K
$38.2K€32.9K
5.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amsterdam
Amersfoort
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$310€267
$272€234
13.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.16€19.99
$28.03€24.19
-17.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.4€46.91
$49.05€42.33
10.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amsterdam
Amersfoort
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.6€54.9
$39.71€34.26
60.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.79€30.88
$31.86€27.49
12.34%
Cinema Ticket
$17.41€15.02
$16.42€14.17
6.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amsterdam
Amersfoort
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,897€2,499
$2,121€1,830
36.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.7K€15.2K
$4,912€4,238
259.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amsterdam
Amersfoort
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.1€85.5
$99.3€85.7
-0.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.92€34.45
$53.9€46.50
-25.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.5
$115€99.3
-11.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139€120
$194€168
-28.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amsterdam
Amersfoort
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,597€2,241
$1,610€1,389
61.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,916€1,654
$1,358€1,172
41.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,970€3,426
$2,147€1,852
84.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,964€2,558
$1,748€1,508
69.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$10.9K€9,364
$6,510€5,618
66.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$7,031€6,067
$5,531€4,773
27.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amsterdam
Amersfoort
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,619€3,986
$4,018€3,467
14.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.36
3.92
-14.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Amsterdam: August 29, 2026
Last update for Amersfoort: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,597 in Amsterdam and $1,610 in Amersfoort. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Amsterdam pays 15% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $94.0 in Amsterdam vs $81.0 in Amersfoort for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $391 vs $331 per month, with Amersfoort cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Amsterdam vs Amersfoort: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Amersfoort cheaper than Amsterdam?
Amersfoort is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Amsterdam or Amersfoort?
Average pay runs 15% higher in Amsterdam, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Amsterdam and Amersfoort?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,597 in Amsterdam versus $1,610 in Amersfoort. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Amsterdam or in Amersfoort?
Dining out is cheaper in Amersfoort – a meal for two runs $81.0 versus $94.0 in Amsterdam. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Amsterdam and in Amersfoort?
All in, you'll spend $3,440 per month in Amsterdam versus $2,744 in Amersfoort – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Amsterdam or in Amersfoort?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Amersfoort is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Amsterdam or Amersfoort more family-friendly?
For families, Amersfoort is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Amsterdam, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Amsterdam or Amersfoort?
Safety-wise, Amsterdam and Amersfoort are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Amersfoort gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Amsterdam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.