Cost of Living Comparison Between Amsterdam and Schiedam Cost of Living Comparison Between Amsterdam and Schiedam

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,543 per month in Amsterdam vs $2,434 in Schiedam, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,055 per month in Amsterdam vs $3,579 in Schiedam, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,567 per month in Amsterdam vs $4,723 in Schiedam, rent included.

Amsterdam costs about 46% more than Schiedam, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Amsterdam and Schiedam sit above the global median – Amsterdam by 164%, Schiedam by 82%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amsterdam
Schiedam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.95 €19.77
$17.29 €14.89
32.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$109 €94.0
$87.0 €74.9
25.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.93 €12.86
$14.05 €12.09
6.26%
Cappuccino
$4.98 €4.29
$4.38 €3.77
13.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 €2.91
$3.44 €2.96
-1.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 €2.84
$2.81 €2.42
17.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.91 €5.95
$6.98 €6.01
-1.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.88 €5.93
$5.66 €4.87
21.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amsterdam
Schiedam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 €1.26
$1.30 €1.12
13.08%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 €2.11
$2.13 €1.83
15.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.59 €2.23
$2.89 €2.49
-10.38%
Eggs
$5.30 €4.57
$4.74 €4.08
11.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.77 €12.72
$14.67 €12.63
0.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.48 €12.47
$15.47 €13.32
-6.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.57 €14.27
$16.34 €14.07
1.41%
Apples (1kg)
$2.82 €2.43
$2.33 €2.01
21.03%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 €2.20
$2.43 €2.09
4.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.20 €1.90
$1.97 €1.69
11.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.88 €4.20
$4.76 €4.10
2.52%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 €1.75
$1.97 €1.70
3.55%
Onion (1kg)
$2.09 €1.80
$1.95 €1.68
7.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 €1.17
$1.20 €1.03
13.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 €1.00
$0.72 €0.62
61.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.36 €12.37
$13.17 €11.34
9.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.52 €6.47
$5.99 €5.16
25.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 €1.51
$1.40 €1.21
25.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 €2.65
$2.38 €2.05
29.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Amsterdam
Schiedam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.90 €3.36
$2.37 €2.04
64.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$118 €102
$68.8 €59.3
71.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.77 €4.11
$4.75 €4.09
0.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.02 €2.60
$2.03 €1.74
48.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$65.2 €56.1
$34.30 €29.54
89.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.29 €1.97
$2.19 €1.89
4.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.5K €37.4K
$28.9K €24.9K
50.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K €33.3K
$28.8K €24.8K
34.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amsterdam
Schiedam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$304 €262
$238 €205
27.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.92 €18.87
$22.85 €19.68
-4.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.1 €44.87
$51.8 €44.64
0.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amsterdam
Schiedam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$63.6 €54.7
$23.33 €20.09
172.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.68 €34.17
$23.03 €19.83
72.30%
Cinema Ticket
$17.14 €14.76
$15.43 €13.29
11.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amsterdam
Schiedam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,862 €2,464
$2,110 €1,817
35.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.0K €18.1K
$12.0K €10.3K
75.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amsterdam
Schiedam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €87.6
$128 €110
-20.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.40 €42.54
$46.45 €40.00
6.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$122 €105
$113 €97.0
8.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137 €118
$153 €132
-10.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amsterdam
Schiedam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,380 €2,049
$1,720 €1,481
38.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,959 €1,687
$1,190 €1,024
64.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,236 €3,647
$2,260 €1,946
87.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,031 €2,610
$1,725 €1,485
75.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$11.1K €9,579
$5,716 €4,922
94.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,621 €6,563
$4,206 €3,622
81.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amsterdam
Schiedam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,906 €4,225
$2,390 €2,058
105.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.02
3.99
0.75%

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

Last update for Amsterdam: June 1, 2026

Last update for Schiedam: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,380 in Amsterdam versus $1,720 in Schiedam. 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 105% 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 $109 in Amsterdam versus $87.0 in Schiedam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $359 vs $340 – making Schiedam 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 Schiedam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Schiedam cheaper than Amsterdam?
Yes – Amsterdam is pricier by about 46%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $5,314 per month in Amsterdam and $3,651 in Schiedam. 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 Schiedam, 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 71% less in Schiedam. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $2,862 per month in Amsterdam and $2,110 in Schiedam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 enough to cover costs in Amsterdam or Schiedam?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,543 in Amsterdam and $2,434 in Schiedam. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Amsterdam or Schiedam more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Schiedam – 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 Schiedam?
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 Schiedam. 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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