😐A single person spends $3,508 per month in Amsterdam vs $2,791 in Spakenburg, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,083 per month in Amsterdam vs $4,091 in Spakenburg, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $6,657 per month in Amsterdam vs $5,392 in Spakenburg, rent included.
😐Amsterdam costs about 26% more than Spakenburg, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Amsterdam and Spakenburg sit above the global median – Amsterdam by 161%, Spakenburg by 108%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amsterdam
Spakenburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.10€19.90
$18.45€15.90
25.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$108€93.1
$71.6€61.7
50.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.51€13.37
$13.27€11.44
16.88%
Cappuccino
$4.81€4.14
$4.01€3.45
19.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€2.96
$4.12€3.55
-16.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15€2.71
$2.48€2.14
27.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.86€5.91
$6.54€5.64
4.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.06€6.09
$5.50€4.74
28.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amsterdam
Spakenburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47€1.27
$1.38€1.19
6.52%
White Bread(500g)
$2.36€2.04
$2.40€2.07
-1.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.65€2.28
$3.08€2.65
-13.96%
Eggs
$5.12€4.41
$5.11€4.40
0.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.71€12.67
$13.89€11.97
5.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.55€12.54
$16.84€14.51
-13.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.61€14.31
$17.22€14.83
-3.54%
Apples(1kg)
$2.92€2.51
$2.42€2.09
20.66%
Banana(1kg)
$2.61€2.24
$2.58€2.23
1.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15€1.85
$1.96€1.69
9.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.66€4.02
$4.19€3.61
11.22%
Potato(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$2.03€1.75
-0.99%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.75
$2.14€1.84
-5.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.28€1.10
$1.29€1.11
-0.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18€1.01
$1.13€0.98
4.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.56€12.54
$14.00€12.06
4.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.95€5.99
$7.06€6.08
-1.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72€1.48
$1.43€1.23
20.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12€2.69
$2.68€2.31
16.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Amsterdam
Spakenburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.02€3.46
$3.55€3.06
13.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$114€98.3
$91.0€78.4
25.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.53€3.90
$3.75€3.23
20.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.10€2.67
$2.55€2.19
21.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$64.6€55.7
$26.54€22.87
143.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.22€1.91
$2.31€1.99
-3.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.6K€36.7K
$40.0K€34.4K
6.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.9K€33.5K
$40.3K€34.7K
-3.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amsterdam
Spakenburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$306€263
$270€233
13.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.98€18.93
$26.23€22.60
-16.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.4€45.13
$46.26€39.86
13.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amsterdam
Spakenburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.6€54.0
$39.88€34.36
57.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.96€33.57
$23.06€19.87
68.95%
Cinema Ticket
$17.20€14.82
$15.19€13.09
13.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amsterdam
Spakenburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,830€2,438
$1,850€1,594
52.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$21.7K€18.7K
$6,182€5,326
251.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amsterdam
Spakenburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.9€86.0
$115€98.8
-12.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.14€41.48
$25.18€21.69
91.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$126€109
$84.6€72.9
49.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137€118
$88.5€76.3
55.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amsterdam
Spakenburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,342€2,018
$1,429€1,231
63.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,953€1,683
$1,418€1,222
37.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,168€3,591
$2,172€1,871
91.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,085€2,658
$2,480€2,137
24.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$11.0K€9,477
$4,560€3,929
141.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$7,443€6,413
$3,748€3,229
98.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amsterdam
Spakenburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,630€3,989
$3,060€2,637
51.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.02
3.25
23.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Amsterdam: June 8, 2026
Last update for Spakenburg: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $2,342 in Amsterdam versus $1,429 in Spakenburg. 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 51% 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 $108 in Amsterdam versus $72.0 in Spakenburg. Groceries tell a different story – $356 in Amsterdam vs $360 in Spakenburg – so Amsterdam wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Spakenburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Spakenburg cheaper than Amsterdam?
Yes – Amsterdam is pricier by about 26%, 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 $5,263 per month in Amsterdam and $4,187 in Spakenburg. 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 Spakenburg, 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 25% less in Spakenburg. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $2,830 per month in Amsterdam and $1,850 in Spakenburg. 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 Amsterdam or Spakenburg?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Spakenburg, where all-in costs run around $2,791, than in Amsterdam at $3,508. In Spakenburg it covers expenses comfortably, while in Amsterdam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Amsterdam or Spakenburg more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Spakenburg – 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 Spakenburg?
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 Spakenburg. 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.