Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Amsterdam and Apeldoorn

For one person, living is cheaper in Apeldoorn: $2,582 a month against $3,496 in Amsterdam, rent and utilities included – about $11,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Amsterdam
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$3,496
/mo nomad
Apeldoorn
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$2,582
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Amsterdam and in Apeldoorn

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Amsterdam and in Apeldoorn actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,496 per month in Amsterdam vs $2,582 in Apeldoorn, rent included.

  • Amsterdam $3,496
  • Apeldoorn $2,582

A couple spends around $5,012 per month in Amsterdam vs $3,624 in Apeldoorn, rent included.

  • Amsterdam $5,012
  • Apeldoorn $3,624

A family of three spends $6,528 per month in Amsterdam vs $4,666 in Apeldoorn, rent included.

  • Amsterdam $6,528
  • Apeldoorn $4,666

Amsterdam costs about 35% more than Apeldoorn, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Amsterdam and Apeldoorn sit above the global median – Amsterdam by 158%, Apeldoorn by 91%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amsterdam
Apeldoorn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.16 €19.71
$22.22 €19.77
-0.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.5 €79.6
$81.6 €72.6
9.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.53 €12.93
$13.67 €12.16
6.29%
Cappuccino
$4.56 €4.06
$4.53 €4.03
0.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86 €3.43
$3.74 €3.33
3.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.69
$3.29 €2.92
-8.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.06 €7.17
$5.82 €5.18
38.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.59 €5.87
$5.47 €4.87
20.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amsterdam
Apeldoorn
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 €1.34
$1.47 €1.31
2.72%
White Bread (500g)
$2.36 €2.10
$2.20 €1.96
7.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.44 €2.17
$3.03 €2.70
-19.47%
Eggs
$5.21 €4.63
$5.37 €4.78
-2.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.77 €14.92
$13.91 €12.37
20.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.06 €11.61
$14.33 €12.75
-8.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.98 €20.44
$17.31 €15.40
32.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.70 €2.40
$2.69 €2.40
0.37%
Banana (1kg)
$2.87 €2.55
$2.42 €2.16
18.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 €2.39
$2.19 €1.95
22.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.96 €3.52
$4.26 €3.79
-7.04%
Potato (1kg)
$2.51 €2.23
$1.92 €1.71
30.73%
Onion (1kg)
$1.66 €1.48
$2.32 €2.06
-28.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.51 €1.34
$1.24 €1.10
21.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 €1.48
$0.91 €0.81
83.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.36 €12.77
$13.76 €12.24
4.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.66 €7.71
$7.17 €6.38
20.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 €1.61
$1.32 €1.18
37.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 €2.25
$2.70 €2.40
-6.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Amsterdam
Apeldoorn
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.74 €3.33
$4.10 €3.65
-8.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$117 €104
$67.6 €60.1
73.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.62 €4.11
$8.39 €7.46
-44.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.38 €3.00
$1.98 €1.76
70.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.70 €35.31
$22.66 €20.15
75.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.67 €2.37
$2.48 €2.21
7.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.8K €37.2K
$41.4K €36.8K
0.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K €34.3K
$39.2K €34.9K
-1.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amsterdam
Apeldoorn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$303 €270
$314 €280
-3.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.97 €20.43
$26.74 €23.78
-14.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.5 €45.83
$57.2 €50.9
-9.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amsterdam
Apeldoorn
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.4 €52.0
$34.18 €30.40
70.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.86 €31.90
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.86 €15.00
$15.77 €14.02
6.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amsterdam
Apeldoorn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,815 €2,504
$1,211 €1,078
132.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.5K €15.6K
$6,072 €5,401
188.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amsterdam
Apeldoorn
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.2 €82.0
$77.7 €69.2
18.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.16 €37.50
$39.87 €35.47
5.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.3 €88.3
$89.3 €79.4
11.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134 €119
$103 €91.6
30.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amsterdam
Apeldoorn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,654 €2,361
$971 €864
173.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,967 €1,750
$1,188 €1,057
65.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,963 €3,525
$1,575 €1,401
151.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,158 €2,809
$1,667 €1,483
89.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.5K €9,354
$4,556 €4,053
130.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,700 €5,960
$3,630 €3,229
84.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amsterdam
Apeldoorn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,677 €4,160
$3,222 €2,866
45.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.3
3.95
-16.46%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Amsterdam: October 19, 2026

Last update for Apeldoorn: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Amsterdam
$2K
Apeldoorn
$1.2K 39.6% $779
Groceries & Markets
Amsterdam
$384
Apeldoorn
$346 9.7% $37
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amsterdam
$378
Apeldoorn
$398 5.4% $21
Eating Out
Amsterdam
$357
Apeldoorn
$341 4.3% $15
Clothing & Footwear
Amsterdam
$166
Apeldoorn
$139 15.8% $26
Getting Around
Amsterdam
$154
Apeldoorn
$102 33.4% $51
Sport & Entertainment
Amsterdam
$92
Apeldoorn
$66 28.7% $26

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,654 in Amsterdam versus $971 in Apeldoorn. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 45% higher in Amsterdam, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Amsterdam versus $82.0 in Apeldoorn. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $384 vs $346 – making Apeldoorn the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇳🇱 Amsterdam
🇳🇱 Apeldoorn
🕒 Local time
12:19 12:19 PM
12:19 12:19 PM
Same time as Amsterdam
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
881,933 Capital
167,191
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Amsterdam Apeldoorn 74 km
From you
  • Amsterdam
  • Apeldoorn

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Apeldoorn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Apeldoorn cheaper than Amsterdam?
Yes – Amsterdam is pricier by about 35%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,244 per month in Amsterdam and $3,873 in Apeldoorn. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Apeldoorn, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 73% less in Apeldoorn. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $2,815 per month in Amsterdam and $1,211 in Apeldoorn. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Amsterdam or in Apeldoorn?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Apeldoorn, where all-in costs run around $2,582, than in Amsterdam at $3,496. In Apeldoorn it covers expenses comfortably, while in Amsterdam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Amsterdam or Apeldoorn more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Apeldoorn – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Amsterdam or Apeldoorn?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Apeldoorn. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Amsterdam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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