Cost of Living Comparison Between Amsterdam and Enschede Cost of Living Comparison Between Amsterdam and Enschede

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,543 per month in Amsterdam vs $2,392 in Enschede, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,055 per month in Amsterdam vs $3,779 in Enschede, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,567 per month in Amsterdam vs $5,167 in Enschede, rent included.

Amsterdam costs about 48% more than Enschede, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Amsterdam and Enschede sit above the global median – Amsterdam by 164%, Enschede by 78%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.95 €19.75

$19.29 €16.59

18.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$109 €93.9

$85.6 €73.6

27.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.93 €12.84

$14.08 €12.11

6.04%

Cappuccino

$4.98 €4.29

$4.00 €3.44

24.50%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 €2.91

$2.85 €2.45

18.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 €2.83

$2.16 €1.86

52.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.91 €5.95

$6.98 €6.00

-1.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.88 €5.92

$5.81 €5.00

18.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 €1.26

$1.27 €1.09

15.75%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 €2.11

$2.31 €1.99

6.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.59 €2.23

$3.28 €2.83

-21.04%

Eggs

$5.30 €4.56

$4.79 €4.12

10.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 €12.71

$12.87 €11.07

14.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.48 €12.45

$15.54 €13.37

-6.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.57 €14.25

$16.45 €14.15

0.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.82 €2.43

$2.14 €1.84

31.78%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 €2.20

$2.60 €2.23

-1.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 €1.90

$1.87 €1.61

17.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.88 €4.19

$3.86 €3.32

26.42%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 €1.75

$2.16 €1.86

-5.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.09 €1.80

$1.90 €1.64

10.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 €1.17

$1.24 €1.07

9.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 €1.00

$0.77 €0.67

50.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.36 €12.35

$14.58 €12.54

-1.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.52 €6.47

$7.27 €6.26

3.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 €1.51

$1.56 €1.34

12.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 €2.65

$2.89 €2.49

6.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.90 €3.36

$3.08 €2.65

26.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$118 €101

$114 €98.4

3.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.77 €4.11

$4.23 €3.64

12.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.02 €2.59

$2.36 €2.03

27.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$65.2 €56.0

$26.39 €22.70

146.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.29 €1.97

$2.21 €1.90

3.62%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$43.5K €37.4K

$42.1K €36.2K

3.29%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.7K €33.3K

$37.0K €31.9K

4.36%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$304 €261

$260 €224

16.74%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$21.92 €18.85

$29.74 €25.58

-26.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.1 €44.83

$40.95 €35.23

27.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.6 €54.7

$36.17 €31.11

75.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.68 €34.13

$7.10 €6.11

458.87%

Cinema Ticket

$17.14 €14.74

$15.20 €13.07

12.76%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,862 €2,462

$1,087 €935

163.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.0K €18.1K

$9,128 €7,852

130.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$102 €87.5

$90.3 €77.7

12.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.40 €42.49

$39.41 €33.90

25.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 €105

$94.9 €81.6

28.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 €118

$110 €94.7

24.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,380 €2,047

$1,452 €1,249

63.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,959 €1,685

$1,060 €912

84.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,236 €3,644

$2,621 €2,254

61.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,031 €2,608

$2,189 €1,883

38.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$11.1K €9,569

$4,773 €4,105

133.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,621 €6,556

$3,306 €2,844

130.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,906 €4,220

$3,213 €2,763

52.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.02

4.6

-12.61%

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

Last update for Amsterdam: June 1, 2026

Last update for Enschede: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,380 in Amsterdam versus $1,452 in Enschede. 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 53% 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 $86.0 in Enschede. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $359 vs $339 – making Enschede 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 Enschede: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Amsterdam is pricier by about 48%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,314 per month in Amsterdam and $3,588 in Enschede. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Enschede, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 3% less in Enschede. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,862 per month in Amsterdam and $1,087 in Enschede. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,543 in Amsterdam and $2,392 in Enschede. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Enschede – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Enschede. 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.