😐A single person spends $3,543 per month in Amsterdam vs $2,378 in Den Helder, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,055 per month in Amsterdam vs $3,535 in Den Helder, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $6,567 per month in Amsterdam vs $4,692 in Den Helder, rent included.
😐Amsterdam costs about 49% more than Den Helder, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Amsterdam and Den Helder sit above the global median – Amsterdam by 164%, Den Helder by 77%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amsterdam
Den Helder
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.95€19.77
$21.22€18.27
8.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$109€94.0
$87.4€75.3
24.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.93€12.86
$13.78€11.86
8.35%
Cappuccino
$4.98€4.29
$4.58€3.95
8.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38€2.91
$4.01€3.45
-15.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29€2.84
$3.22€2.77
2.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.91€5.95
$7.05€6.07
-1.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.88€5.93
$5.74€4.94
19.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amsterdam
Den Helder
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47€1.26
$1.33€1.14
10.53%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45€2.11
$2.55€2.20
-3.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.59€2.23
$3.12€2.69
-16.99%
Eggs
$5.30€4.57
$5.23€4.51
1.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.77€12.72
$14.35€12.36
2.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.48€12.47
$16.30€14.04
-11.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.57€14.27
$17.36€14.95
-4.55%
Apples(1kg)
$2.82€2.43
$2.44€2.11
15.57%
Banana(1kg)
$2.55€2.20
$2.44€2.10
4.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20€1.90
$2.00€1.72
10.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.88€4.20
$3.72€3.20
31.18%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.98€1.70
3.03%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$2.13€1.84
-1.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36€1.17
$1.34€1.16
1.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16€1.00
$1.14€0.98
1.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.36€12.37
$14.06€12.10
2.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.52€6.47
$7.28€6.26
3.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.51
$1.44€1.24
22.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08€2.65
$2.67€2.30
15.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Amsterdam
Den Helder
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.90€3.36
$3.55€3.05
9.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$118€102
$91.0€78.4
29.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.77€4.11
$3.65€3.14
30.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.02€2.60
$2.40€2.06
25.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$65.2€56.1
$26.65€22.95
144.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.29€1.97
$2.22€1.91
3.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.5K€37.4K
$40.7K€35.1K
6.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K€33.3K
$39.7K€34.2K
-2.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amsterdam
Den Helder
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$304€262
$97.3€83.8
212.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.92€18.87
$26.66€22.95
-17.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.1€44.87
$47.98€41.31
8.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amsterdam
Den Helder
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.6€54.7
$40.44€34.82
57.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.68€34.17
$23.36€20.12
69.86%
Cinema Ticket
$17.14€14.76
$16.44€14.15
4.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amsterdam
Den Helder
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,862€2,464
$2,600€2,239
10.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$21.0K€18.1K
$10.8K€9,284
94.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amsterdam
Den Helder
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€87.6
$115€99.3
-11.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.40€42.54
$60.9€52.4
-18.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$122€105
$105€90.1
16.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137€118
$129€111
6.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amsterdam
Den Helder
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,380€2,049
$1,430€1,231
66.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,959€1,687
$1,189€1,024
64.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,236€3,647
$2,309€1,988
83.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,031€2,610
$1,753€1,510
72.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$11.1K€9,579
$6,517€5,612
70.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$7,621€6,563
$5,181€4,461
47.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amsterdam
Den Helder
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,906€4,225
$2,315€1,994
111.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.02
4.39
-8.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Amsterdam: June 1, 2026
Last update for Den Helder: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $2,380 in Amsterdam versus $1,430 in Den Helder. 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 112% 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 $87.0 in Den Helder. Groceries tell a different story – $359 in Amsterdam vs $359 in Den Helder – so Amsterdam wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Den Helder: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Den Helder cheaper than Amsterdam?
Yes – Amsterdam is pricier by about 49%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $3,567 in Den Helder. 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 Den Helder, 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 30% less in Den Helder. 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 $2,600 in Den Helder. 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 Den Helder?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Den Helder, where all-in costs run around $2,378, than in Amsterdam at $3,543. In Den Helder it covers expenses comfortably, while in Amsterdam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Amsterdam or Den Helder more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Den Helder – 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 Den Helder?
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 Den Helder. 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.