Cost of Living Comparison Between Amsterdam and Hengelo Cost of Living Comparison Between Amsterdam and Hengelo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,476 per month in Amsterdam vs $2,230 in Hengelo, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,057 per month in Amsterdam vs $3,402 in Hengelo, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,639 per month in Amsterdam vs $4,573 in Hengelo, rent included.

Amsterdam costs about 56% more than Hengelo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Amsterdam and Hengelo sit above the global median – Amsterdam by 160%, Hengelo by 67%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amsterdam
Hengelo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.49 €20.57
$20.47 €17.93
14.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$112 €97.9
$85.3 €74.7
31.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.07 €13.20
$13.92 €12.19
8.26%
Cappuccino
$4.73 €4.15
$4.13 €3.62
14.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 €3.02
$3.99 €3.49
-13.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 €2.77
$2.88 €2.52
10.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.78 €5.93
$6.91 €6.05
-1.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.14 €6.26
$5.81 €5.09
22.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amsterdam
Hengelo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 €1.29
$1.25 €1.10
18.40%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 €2.16
$2.32 €2.03
6.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.62 €2.30
$3.09 €2.70
-15.21%
Eggs
$5.39 €4.72
$4.54 €3.97
18.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.78 €12.94
$14.05 €12.30
5.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.29 €12.51
$15.76 €13.80
-9.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.63 €14.57
$16.47 €14.43
0.97%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 €2.57
$2.35 €2.06
24.68%
Banana (1kg)
$2.58 €2.26
$2.48 €2.17
4.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 €1.92
$2.01 €1.76
8.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.68 €4.10
$3.85 €3.37
21.56%
Potato (1kg)
$2.01 €1.76
$2.04 €1.79
-1.47%
Onion (1kg)
$2.05 €1.79
$1.97 €1.73
4.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 €1.14
$1.25 €1.10
4.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 €1.07
$0.77 €0.67
59.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.37 €12.59
$14.27 €12.50
0.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.03 €7.03
$6.92 €6.06
16.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 €1.47
$1.40 €1.23
20.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.65
$2.74 €2.40
10.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Amsterdam
Hengelo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.02 €3.52
$5.30 €4.64
-24.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$118 €103
$92.8 €81.3
27.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 €4.17
$3.65 €3.20
30.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.00 €2.63
$2.48 €2.17
20.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$65.1 €57.0
$26.67 €23.36
144.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.32 €2.03
$2.31 €2.02
0.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.3K €37.9K
$34.3K €30.0K
26.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.8K €33.9K
$36.7K €32.1K
5.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amsterdam
Hengelo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$306 €268
$293 €257
4.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.54 €18.86
$26.35 €23.07
-18.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.4 €45.00
$47.02 €41.18
9.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amsterdam
Hengelo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.4 €54.7
$31.35 €27.45
99.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.70 €33.89
$22.82 €19.99
69.59%
Cinema Ticket
$17.20 €15.06
$15.64 €13.70
9.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amsterdam
Hengelo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,848 €2,495
$1,111 €973
156.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.2K €18.6K
$10.8K €9,485
95.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amsterdam
Hengelo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €89.5
$113 €98.9
-9.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.88 €42.81
$46.57 €40.78
4.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 €111
$97.3 €85.2
30.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137 €120
$128 €112
7.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amsterdam
Hengelo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,362 €2,069
$1,333 €1,168
77.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,995 €1,747
$873 €764
128.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,197 €3,676
$1,839 €1,611
128.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,107 €2,721
$1,532 €1,341
102.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.7K €9,376
$5,408 €4,736
97.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,066 €6,188
$4,577 €4,009
54.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amsterdam
Hengelo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,465 €3,910
$2,687 €2,353
66.19%
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 Hengelo: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,362 in Amsterdam versus $1,333 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 66% 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 $85.0 in Hengelo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $360 vs $341 – 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 56%, 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 $5,214 per month in Amsterdam and $3,345 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 27% less in Hengelo. 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 $1,111 in Hengelo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Amsterdam or in Hengelo?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Hengelo, where all-in costs run around $2,230, than in Amsterdam at $3,476. In Hengelo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Amsterdam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
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.

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