Cost of Living Comparison Between Amsterdam and Den Helder Cost of Living Comparison Between Amsterdam and Den Helder

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,476 per month in Amsterdam vs $2,402 in Den Helder, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,057 per month in Amsterdam vs $3,597 in Den Helder, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,639 per month in Amsterdam vs $4,793 in Den Helder, rent included.

Amsterdam costs about 45% more than Den Helder, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Amsterdam and Den Helder sit above the global median – Amsterdam by 160%, Den Helder by 80%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amsterdam
Den Helder
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.49 €20.57
$20.49 €17.95
14.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$112 €97.9
$88.2 €77.3
26.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.07 €13.20
$13.71 €12.00
9.92%
Cappuccino
$4.73 €4.15
$4.54 €3.98
4.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 €3.02
$4.14 €3.63
-16.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 €2.77
$3.25 €2.84
-2.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.78 €5.93
$7.04 €6.17
-3.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.14 €6.26
$5.84 €5.11
22.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amsterdam
Den Helder
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 €1.29
$1.39 €1.22
6.47%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 €2.16
$2.42 €2.12
2.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.62 €2.30
$3.00 €2.63
-12.67%
Eggs
$5.39 €4.72
$5.35 €4.68
0.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.78 €12.94
$14.40 €12.61
2.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.29 €12.51
$16.02 €14.03
-10.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.63 €14.57
$17.29 €15.14
-3.82%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 €2.57
$2.34 €2.05
25.21%
Banana (1kg)
$2.58 €2.26
$2.49 €2.18
3.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 €1.92
$1.92 €1.68
14.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.68 €4.10
$3.76 €3.29
24.47%
Potato (1kg)
$2.01 €1.76
$2.01 €1.76
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.05 €1.79
$2.19 €1.92
-6.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 €1.14
$1.30 €1.14
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 €1.07
$1.15 €1.01
6.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.37 €12.59
$14.37 €12.58
-
Wine (Bottle)
$8.03 €7.03
$7.24 €6.34
10.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 €1.47
$1.39 €1.21
20.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.65
$2.72 €2.38
11.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Amsterdam
Den Helder
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.02 €3.52
$3.68 €3.22
9.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$118 €103
$91.4 €80.0
29.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 €4.17
$3.71 €3.25
28.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.00 €2.63
$2.50 €2.19
20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$65.1 €57.0
$27.50 €24.08
136.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.32 €2.03
$2.27 €1.98
2.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.3K €37.9K
$39.8K €34.9K
8.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.8K €33.9K
$40.3K €35.3K
-3.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amsterdam
Den Helder
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$306 €268
$98.4 €86.2
210.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.54 €18.86
$26.63 €23.32
-19.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.4 €45.00
$47.04 €41.20
9.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amsterdam
Den Helder
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.4 €54.7
$39.72 €34.79
57.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.70 €33.89
$22.89 €20.05
69.07%
Cinema Ticket
$17.20 €15.06
$16.35 €14.32
5.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amsterdam
Den Helder
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,848 €2,495
$2,691 €2,357
5.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.2K €18.6K
$11.2K €9,790
89.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amsterdam
Den Helder
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €89.5
$117 €103
-13.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.88 €42.81
$62.1 €54.4
-21.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 €111
$108 €94.2
17.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137 €120
$130 €114
5.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amsterdam
Den Helder
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,362 €2,069
$1,430 €1,253
65.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,995 €1,747
$1,174 €1,028
69.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,197 €3,676
$2,254 €1,974
86.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,107 €2,721
$1,759 €1,541
76.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.7K €9,376
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,066 €6,188
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amsterdam
Den Helder
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,465 €3,910
$2,255 €1,975
98.02%
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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Den Helder: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,362 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 98% 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 $112 in Amsterdam versus $88.0 in Den Helder. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $360 vs $356 – making Den Helder 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 Den Helder: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Den Helder cheaper than Amsterdam?
Yes – Amsterdam is pricier by about 45%, 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 $5,214 per month in Amsterdam and $3,603 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 29% less in Den Helder. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $2,848 per month in Amsterdam and $2,691 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 living in Amsterdam or in Den Helder?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Den Helder, where all-in costs run around $2,402, than in Amsterdam at $3,476. 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.

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