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 $3,564 per month in Amsterdam vs $4,566 in Los Gatos, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,989 per month in Amsterdam vs $6,905 in Los Gatos, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,414 per month in Amsterdam vs $9,245 in Los Gatos, CA, rent included.

Amsterdam is about 22% cheaper than Los Gatos, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Amsterdam and Los Gatos, CA sit above the global median – Amsterdam by 161%, Los Gatos, CA by 234%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.51 €21.33

$25.03 $25.03

-2.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$93.5 €81.4

$108 $108

-13.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.27 €13.29

$11.97 $11.97

27.57%

Cappuccino

$4.64 €4.04

$5.90 $5.90

-21.36%

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

$3.85 €3.35

$3.04 $3.04

26.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 €2.77

$2.42 $2.42

31.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.50 €6.53

$7.83 $7.83

-4.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.27 €5.46

$8.09 $8.09

-22.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 €1.39

$1.26 $1.26

26.98%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 €2.15

$4.18 $4.18

-40.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.62 €2.28

$4.82 $4.82

-45.64%

Eggs

$5.12 €4.46

$6.56 $6.56

-21.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.31 €15.07

$23.17 $23.17

-25.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.96 €12.15

$11.66 $11.66

19.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.26 €19.37

$13.20 $13.20

68.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 €2.63

$5.41 $5.41

-43.99%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 €2.49

$2.25 $2.25

27.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.45 €2.14

$4.91 $4.91

-50.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 €3.54

$5.95 $5.95

-31.60%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 €2.14

$3.32 $3.32

-25.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 €1.45

$3.11 $3.11

-46.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.53 €1.33

$2.24 $2.24

-31.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 €1.61

$2.63 $2.63

-29.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.15 €13.19

$7.32 $7.32

106.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.00 €7.84

$11.77 $11.77

-23.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 €1.54

$1.68 $1.68

5.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 €2.19

$2.53 $2.53

-0.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.01 €3.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$122 €106

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.89 €4.26

$3.21 $3.21

52.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.42 €2.98

$2.37 $2.37

44.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.93 €35.62

$40.31 $40.31

1.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.60 €2.26

$1.47 $1.47

76.87%

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

$43.6K €37.9K

$29.6K $29.6K

47.15%

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

$39.8K €34.7K

$25.8K $25.8K

54.34%

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

$304 €264

$188 $188

61.83%

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

$23.40 €20.37

$64.6 $64.6

-63.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.6 €45.76

$62.8 $62.8

-16.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.1 €55.8

$145 $145

-55.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.06 €31.39

Cinema Ticket

$17.19 €14.96

$15.76 $15.76

9.07%

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

$2,840 €2,472

$2,361 $2,361

20.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.3K €15.1K

$24.2K $24.2K

-28.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$100 €87.5

$50.9 $50.9

97.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.58 €34.45

$40.37 $40.37

-1.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 €90.2

$73.7 $73.7

40.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 €116

$59.6 $59.6

123.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,660 €2,315

$3,524 $3,524

-24.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,948 €1,696

$3,147 $3,147

-38.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,053 €3,527

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,033 €2,640

$6,033 $6,033

-49.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.6K €9,208

$3,463 $3,463

205.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,847 €5,959

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,759 €4,142

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.33

6.25

-46.72%

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

Last update for Amsterdam: September 14, 2026

Last update for Los Gatos, CA: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,660 in Amsterdam versus $3,524 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 $94.0 in Amsterdam versus $108 in Los Gatos, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $394 vs $451 – 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 – Los Gatos, CA is pricier by about 28%, 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 $5,346 per month in Amsterdam and $6,849 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 Amsterdam, 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 $94.0 in Amsterdam and $108 in Los Gatos, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Los Gatos, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,564 in Amsterdam and $4,566 in Los Gatos, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Amsterdam – 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 Amsterdam. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Los Gatos, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.