Cost of Living Comparison Between Amsterdam and Los Gatos, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Amsterdam and Los Gatos, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,550 per month in Amsterdam vs $2,739 in Los Gatos, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,106 per month in Amsterdam vs $4,093 in Los Gatos, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,662 per month in Amsterdam vs $5,446 in Los Gatos, CA, rent included.

Amsterdam costs about 30% more than Los Gatos, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Amsterdam and Los Gatos, CA sit above the global median – Amsterdam by 167%, Los Gatos, CA by 106%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.76 €19.71

$29.76 $29.76

-23.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$108 €93.7

$109 $109

-1.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.50 €13.42

$14.20 $14.20

9.15%

Cappuccino

$4.96 €4.30

$4.91 $4.91

1.02%

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

$3.52 €3.05

$3.03 $3.03

16.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 €2.74

$2.19 $2.19

44.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 €6.18

$8.75 $8.75

-18.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.14 €6.18

$7.97 $7.97

-10.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 €1.32

$1.48 $1.48

3.38%

White Bread (500g)

$2.40 €2.08

$5.14 $5.14

-53.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.66 €2.31

$3.18 $3.18

-16.35%

Eggs

$5.24 €4.54

$5.46 $5.46

-4.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.19 €13.16

$13.13 $13.13

15.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.41 €12.48

$14.86 $14.86

-3.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.73 €14.49

$17.20 $17.20

-2.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.84 €2.46

$8.00 $8.00

-64.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 €2.22

$2.25 $2.25

13.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.14 €1.86

$4.36 $4.36

-50.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.60 €3.99

$4.83 $4.83

-4.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 €1.72

$2.87 $2.87

-31.01%

Onion (1kg)

$2.05 €1.78

$3.37 $3.37

-39.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 €1.11

$2.15 $2.15

-40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 €1.06

$2.72 $2.72

-54.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.67 €12.70

$10.72 $10.72

36.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.02 €6.95

$12.93 $12.93

-37.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 €1.52

$1.77 $1.77

-1.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 €2.57

$3.96 $3.96

-25.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.82 €3.31

$1.98 $1.98

92.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$115 €99.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.55 €3.94

$3.54 $3.54

28.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.13 €2.71

$1.91 $1.91

63.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$64.2 €55.6

$29.99 $29.99

113.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.20 €1.91

$1.30 $1.30

69.23%

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

$42.7K €37.0K

$23.6K $23.6K

80.96%

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

$38.5K €33.3K

$26.2K $26.2K

46.72%

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

$300 €260

$216 $216

39.24%

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

$22.21 €19.23

$39.08 $39.08

-43.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.2 €44.36

$64.2 $64.2

-20.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.7 €54.3

$43.67 $43.67

43.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.71 €34.39

Cinema Ticket

$17.17 €14.87

$14.22 $14.22

20.75%

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

$2,866 €2,482

$1,167 $1,167

145.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K €18.6K

$23.9K $23.9K

-10.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$100 €86.9

$56.1 $56.1

78.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.62 €42.97

$39.63 $39.63

25.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 €107

$93.8 $93.8

31.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 €121

$78.9 $78.9

76.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,355 €2,039

$1,609 $1,609

46.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 €1,672

$1,330 $1,330

45.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,200 €3,637

$2,638 $2,638

59.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,017 €2,612

$2,199 $2,199

37.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.6K €9,169

$3,498 $3,498

202.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,050 €6,105

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,638 €4,017

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.02

6.67

-39.73%

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

Last update for Amsterdam: July 26, 2026

Last update for Los Gatos, CA: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,355 in Amsterdam versus $1,609 in Los Gatos, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $108 in Amsterdam versus $109 in Los Gatos, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $361 vs $460 – making Amsterdam 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 Los Gatos, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Amsterdam is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,325 per month in Amsterdam and $4,109 in Los Gatos, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $108 in Amsterdam and $109 in Los Gatos, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 28% cheaper in Amsterdam – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,550 in Amsterdam and $2,739 in Los Gatos, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Los Gatos, CA – 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 Los Gatos, CA. 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.