Cost of Living Comparison Between Amsterdam and Lelystad Cost of Living Comparison Between Amsterdam and Lelystad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,564 per month in Amsterdam vs $1,745 in Lelystad, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,989 per month in Amsterdam vs $2,746 in Lelystad, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,414 per month in Amsterdam vs $3,747 in Lelystad, rent included.

Amsterdam costs about 104% more than Lelystad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Amsterdam and Lelystad sit above the global median – Amsterdam by 161%, Lelystad by 28%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.51 €21.36

$23.53 €20.51

4.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$93.5 €81.5

$82.2 €71.7

13.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.27 €13.31

$13.68 €11.92

11.62%

Cappuccino

$4.64 €4.04

$4.31 €3.75

7.66%

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

$3.85 €3.35

$2.70 €2.35

42.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 €2.77

$2.31 €2.01

37.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.50 €6.54

$5.65 €4.92

32.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.27 €5.47

$4.73 €4.12

32.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 €1.39

$1.24 €1.08

29.03%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 €2.15

$1.63 €1.42

51.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.62 €2.28

$2.60 €2.26

0.77%

Eggs

$5.12 €4.47

$4.72 €4.11

8.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.31 €15.09

$6.74 €5.87

156.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.96 €12.17

$14.27 €12.44

-2.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.26 €19.40

$17.06 €14.87

30.48%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 €2.64

$2.19 €1.91

38.36%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 €2.49

$2.45 €2.14

16.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.45 €2.14

$1.99 €1.74

23.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 €3.55

$3.66 €3.19

11.20%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 €2.15

$1.78 €1.55

38.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 €1.46

$1.90 €1.66

-12.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.53 €1.34

$1.25 €1.09

22.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 €1.62

$0.87 €0.76

113.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.15 €13.21

$10.18 €8.87

48.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.00 €7.85

$6.85 €5.97

31.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 €1.54

$1.40 €1.22

26.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 €2.20

$2.51 €2.18

0.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.01 €3.50

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$122 €106

$117 €102

4.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.89 €4.27

$3.92 €3.42

24.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.42 €2.98

$2.79 €2.44

22.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.93 €35.67

$26.72 €23.29

53.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.60 €2.26

$2.30 €2.00

13.04%

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

$43.6K €38.0K

$34.0K €29.6K

28.08%

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

$39.8K €34.7K

$40.0K €34.9K

-0.50%

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

$304 €265

$252 €220

20.35%

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

$23.40 €20.40

$14.98 €13.06

56.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.6 €45.84

$33.46 €29.17

57.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.1 €55.9

$43.93 €38.30

45.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.06 €31.44

Cinema Ticket

$17.19 €14.99

$13.66 €11.91

25.84%

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

$2,840 €2,475

$2,835 €2,471

0.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.3K €15.1K

$8,185 €7,135

111.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$100 €87.6

$97.1 €84.6

3.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.58 €34.51

$49.93 €43.53

-20.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 €90.4

$98.3 €85.7

5.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 €116

$120 €105

10.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,660 €2,318

$686 €598

287.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,948 €1,699

$465 €405

319.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,053 €3,533

$1,363 €1,188

197.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,033 €2,644

$816 €711

271.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.6K €9,223

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,847 €5,968

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,759 €4,149

$2,501 €2,181

90.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.33

3.21

3.74%

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

Last update for Amsterdam: September 14, 2026

Last update for Lelystad: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,660 in Amsterdam versus $686 in Lelystad. 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 90% 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 $82.0 in Lelystad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $394 vs $303 – making Lelystad 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 Lelystad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Amsterdam is pricier by about 104%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,346 per month in Amsterdam and $2,618 in Lelystad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 4% less in Lelystad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,840 per month in Amsterdam and $2,835 in Lelystad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lelystad, where all-in costs run around $1,745, than in Amsterdam at $3,564. In Lelystad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Amsterdam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Lelystad – 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 Lelystad. 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.