😐A single person spends $3,440 per month in Amsterdam vs $2,291 in Hengelo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,964 per month in Amsterdam vs $3,705 in Hengelo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $6,488 per month in Amsterdam vs $5,119 in Hengelo, rent included.
😐Amsterdam costs about 50% more than Hengelo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Amsterdam and Hengelo sit above the global median – Amsterdam by 150%, Hengelo by 67%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amsterdam
Hengelo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.03€19.81
$23.17€19.93
-0.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.4€81.2
$84.1€72.4
12.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.88€12.80
$13.93€11.99
6.82%
Cappuccino
$4.54€3.91
$4.28€3.69
6.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02€3.46
$3.95€3.40
1.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16€2.72
$2.93€2.52
7.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.58€6.52
$6.33€5.45
19.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91€5.09
$6.58€5.66
-10.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amsterdam
Hengelo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.53€1.32
$1.37€1.18
11.68%
White Bread(500g)
$2.47€2.12
$2.48€2.13
-0.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.57€2.21
$2.78€2.39
-7.55%
Eggs
$5.20€4.48
$4.57€3.93
13.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.46€15.02
$14.48€12.46
20.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.85€11.91
$14.83€12.76
-6.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.63€18.61
$15.15€13.04
42.77%
Apples(1kg)
$3.04€2.62
$2.79€2.40
8.96%
Banana(1kg)
$2.98€2.56
$2.31€1.98
29.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.55€2.19
$2.27€1.95
12.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.22€3.63
$3.97€3.42
6.30%
Potato(1kg)
$2.63€2.26
$1.91€1.65
37.70%
Onion(1kg)
$1.60€1.37
$1.94€1.67
-17.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.52€1.31
$1.30€1.12
16.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71€1.47
$0.78€0.67
119.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.80€12.74
$14.27€12.28
3.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.95€7.70
$7.05€6.07
26.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75€1.50
$1.47€1.26
19.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58€2.22
$2.84€2.44
-9.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Amsterdam
Hengelo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.02€3.46
$5.30€4.56
-24.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$118€102
$93.8€80.7
26.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.77€4.11
$3.85€3.32
23.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.41€2.93
$2.67€2.30
27.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$39.61€34.09
$46.83€40.30
-15.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.52€2.17
$2.56€2.20
-1.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.1K€37.1K
$43.3K€37.3K
-0.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.3K€34.7K
$40.9K€35.2K
-1.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amsterdam
Hengelo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$310€266
$270€232
14.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.16€19.93
$22.21€19.11
4.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.4€46.78
$50.2€43.19
8.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amsterdam
Hengelo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.6€54.8
$30.90€26.59
105.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.79€30.80
$24.22€20.85
47.77%
Cinema Ticket
$17.41€14.98
$16.43€14.14
5.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amsterdam
Hengelo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,897€2,492
$1,235€1,063
134.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.7K€15.2K
$8,450€7,271
108.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amsterdam
Hengelo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.1€85.3
$98.9€85.1
0.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.92€34.35
$47.31€40.71
-15.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.2
$101€86.5
0.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139€119
$132€113
5.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amsterdam
Hengelo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,597€2,235
$1,387€1,193
87.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,916€1,649
$857€738
123.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,970€3,416
$2,398€2,064
65.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,964€2,551
$1,990€1,712
49.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$10.9K€9,338
$5,521€4,751
96.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$7,031€6,050
$4,568€3,931
53.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amsterdam
Hengelo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,619€3,975
$2,730€2,349
69.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.36
4.2
-20.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Amsterdam: August 29, 2026
Last update for Hengelo: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $2,597 in Amsterdam versus $1,387 in Hengelo. 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 69% 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 $94.0 in Amsterdam versus $84.0 in Hengelo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $391 vs $339 – making Hengelo 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 Hengelo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hengelo cheaper than Amsterdam?
Yes – Amsterdam is pricier by about 50%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $5,160 per month in Amsterdam and $3,436 in Hengelo. 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 Hengelo, 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 26% less in Hengelo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $2,897 per month in Amsterdam and $1,235 in Hengelo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $3,000 enough to cover costs in Amsterdam or in Hengelo?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,440 in Amsterdam and $2,291 in Hengelo. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Amsterdam or Hengelo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Hengelo – 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 Hengelo?
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 Hengelo. 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.