Cost of Living Comparison Between Amsterdam and Apeldoorn Cost of Living Comparison Between Amsterdam and Apeldoorn

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,543 per month in Amsterdam vs $2,572 in Apeldoorn, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,055 per month in Amsterdam vs $3,653 in Apeldoorn, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,567 per month in Amsterdam vs $4,734 in Apeldoorn, rent included.

Amsterdam costs about 38% more than Apeldoorn, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Amsterdam and Apeldoorn sit above the global median – Amsterdam by 164%, Apeldoorn by 92%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amsterdam
Apeldoorn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.95 €19.77
$20.62 €17.76
11.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$109 €94.0
$80.1 €69.0
36.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.93 €12.86
$13.14 €11.32
13.62%
Cappuccino
$4.98 €4.29
$4.26 €3.67
16.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 €2.91
$3.61 €3.11
-6.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 €2.84
$3.33 €2.87
-1.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.91 €5.95
$5.93 €5.11
16.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.88 €5.93
$5.20 €4.47
32.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amsterdam
Apeldoorn
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 €1.26
$1.23 €1.06
19.51%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 €2.11
$2.49 €2.15
-1.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.59 €2.23
$3.36 €2.90
-22.92%
Eggs
$5.30 €4.57
$4.72 €4.06
12.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.77 €12.72
$13.16 €11.34
12.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.48 €12.47
$15.72 €13.54
-7.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.57 €14.27
$17.33 €14.92
-4.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.82 €2.43
$2.33 €2.01
21.03%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 €2.20
$2.60 €2.24
-1.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.20 €1.90
$2.09 €1.80
5.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.88 €4.20
$4.01 €3.46
21.70%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 €1.75
$2.12 €1.82
-3.77%
Onion (1kg)
$2.09 €1.80
$2.35 €2.03
-11.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 €1.17
$1.21 €1.05
12.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 €1.00
$0.77 €0.67
50.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.36 €12.37
$14.53 €12.52
-1.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.52 €6.47
$7.47 €6.43
0.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 €1.51
$1.49 €1.29
18.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 €2.65
$2.59 €2.23
18.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Amsterdam
Apeldoorn
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.90 €3.36
$4.24 €3.65
-8.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$118 €102
$91.8 €79.0
28.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.77 €4.11
$3.97 €3.42
20.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.02 €2.60
$2.60 €2.24
16.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$65.2 €56.1
$22.81 €19.64
185.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.29 €1.97
$2.27 €1.96
0.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.5K €37.4K
$34.2K €29.5K
27.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K €33.3K
$36.2K €31.2K
6.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amsterdam
Apeldoorn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$304 €262
$264 €227
15.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.92 €18.87
$25.30 €21.78
-13.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.1 €44.87
$54.0 €46.48
-3.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amsterdam
Apeldoorn
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$63.6 €54.7
$35.36 €30.44
79.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.68 €34.17
$41.12 €35.41
-3.50%
Cinema Ticket
$17.14 €14.76
$16.41 €14.13
4.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amsterdam
Apeldoorn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,862 €2,464
$1,906 €1,641
50.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.0K €18.1K
$6,156 €5,301
241.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amsterdam
Apeldoorn
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €87.6
$92.9 €80.0
9.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.40 €42.54
$37.67 €32.44
31.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$122 €105
$99.9 €86.0
22.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137 €118
$116 €99.5
18.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amsterdam
Apeldoorn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,380 €2,049
$996 €857
139.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,959 €1,687
$1,195 €1,029
63.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,236 €3,647
$1,651 €1,422
156.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,031 €2,610
$1,712 €1,475
77.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$11.1K €9,579
$4,645 €4,000
139.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,621 €6,563
$3,842 €3,308
98.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amsterdam
Apeldoorn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,906 €4,225
$3,412 €2,938
43.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.02
4.36
-7.80%

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

Last update for Amsterdam: June 1, 2026

Last update for Apeldoorn: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,380 in Amsterdam versus $996 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 44% 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 $109 in Amsterdam versus $80.0 in Apeldoorn. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $359 vs $348 – making Apeldoorn the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 38%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,314 per month in Amsterdam and $3,858 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 28% less in Apeldoorn. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $2,862 per month in Amsterdam and $1,906 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 Amsterdam or Apeldoorn?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Apeldoorn, where all-in costs run around $2,572, than in Amsterdam at $3,543. 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.

Amsterdam vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities