😐A single person spends $3,543 per month in Amsterdam vs $2,540 in Dordrecht, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,055 per month in Amsterdam vs $3,621 in Dordrecht, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $6,567 per month in Amsterdam vs $4,701 in Dordrecht, rent included.
😐Amsterdam costs about 39% more than Dordrecht, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Amsterdam and Dordrecht sit above the global median – Amsterdam by 164%, Dordrecht by 90%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amsterdam
Dordrecht
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.95€19.76
$17.28€14.88
32.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$109€94.0
$94.3€81.2
15.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.93€12.85
$12.95€11.15
15.29%
Cappuccino
$4.98€4.29
$3.86€3.32
29.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38€2.91
$3.39€2.92
-0.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29€2.83
$3.12€2.68
5.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.91€5.95
$6.73€5.80
2.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.88€5.93
$5.83€5.02
18.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amsterdam
Dordrecht
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47€1.26
$1.28€1.10
14.84%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45€2.11
$2.26€1.94
8.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.59€2.23
$3.15€2.71
-17.78%
Eggs
$5.30€4.57
$4.60€3.96
15.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.77€12.72
$14.24€12.26
3.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.48€12.46
$15.33€13.20
-5.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.57€14.27
$16.79€14.45
-1.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.82€2.43
$2.37€2.04
18.99%
Banana(1kg)
$2.55€2.20
$2.46€2.12
3.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20€1.90
$2.04€1.76
7.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.88€4.20
$4.67€4.02
4.50%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$2.03€1.75
0.49%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$2.10€1.81
-0.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36€1.17
$1.25€1.07
8.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16€1.00
$0.85€0.73
36.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.36€12.36
$13.69€11.79
4.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.52€6.47
$7.48€6.44
0.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.51
$1.50€1.29
17.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08€2.65
$2.61€2.25
18.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Amsterdam
Dordrecht
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.90€3.36
$4.66€4.01
-16.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$118€102
$93.0€80.1
26.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.77€4.11
$3.79€3.26
25.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.02€2.60
$2.06€1.77
46.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$65.2€56.1
$27.72€23.86
135.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.29€1.97
$2.30€1.98
-0.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.5K€37.4K
$35.5K€30.6K
22.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K€33.3K
$33.2K€28.6K
16.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amsterdam
Dordrecht
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$304€262
$238€205
27.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.92€18.87
$28.98€24.95
-24.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.1€44.86
$54.3€46.73
-4.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amsterdam
Dordrecht
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.6€54.7
$40.59€34.94
56.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.68€34.16
$24.81€21.36
59.94%
Cinema Ticket
$17.14€14.75
$16.29€14.02
5.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amsterdam
Dordrecht
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,862€2,464
$2,192€1,887
30.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$21.0K€18.1K
$6,859€5,905
206.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amsterdam
Dordrecht
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€87.5
$87.7€75.5
15.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.40€42.53
$34.59€29.78
42.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$122€105
$94.8€81.7
28.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137€118
$153€132
-10.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amsterdam
Dordrecht
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,380€2,049
$1,607€1,383
48.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,959€1,687
$1,225€1,054
60.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,236€3,646
$2,284€1,966
85.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,031€2,610
$1,705€1,468
77.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$11.1K€9,577
$4,355€3,749
155.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$7,621€6,561
$4,020€3,460
89.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amsterdam
Dordrecht
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,906€4,224
$5,433€4,678
-9.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.02
4.3
-6.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Amsterdam: June 1, 2026
Last update for Dordrecht: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $2,380 in Amsterdam versus $1,607 in Dordrecht. 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 11% higher in Dordrecht, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $109 in Amsterdam versus $94.0 in Dordrecht. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $359 vs $347 – making Dordrecht 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 Dordrecht: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dordrecht cheaper than Amsterdam?
Yes – Amsterdam is pricier by about 39%, 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 $3,810 in Dordrecht. 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 Dordrecht, 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 27% less in Dordrecht. 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 $2,192 in Dordrecht. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Amsterdam or Dordrecht?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,543 in Amsterdam and $2,540 in Dordrecht. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Amsterdam or Dordrecht more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Dordrecht – 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 Dordrecht?
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 Dordrecht. 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.