Cost of Living Comparison Between Amsterdam and Utrecht Cost of Living Comparison Between Amsterdam and Utrecht

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,523 per month in Amsterdam vs $3,086 in Utrecht, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,953 per month in Amsterdam vs $4,329 in Utrecht, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,382 per month in Amsterdam vs $5,571 in Utrecht, rent included.

Amsterdam costs about 14% more than Utrecht, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Amsterdam and Utrecht sit above the global median – Amsterdam by 156%, Utrecht by 124%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.07 €20.75

$22.96 €19.79

4.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$92.1 €79.4

$84.9 €73.2

8.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.82 €12.77

$14.10 €12.15

5.11%

Cappuccino

$4.69 €4.05

$4.96 €4.27

-5.44%

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

$3.87 €3.33

$3.88 €3.35

-0.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 €2.82

$3.37 €2.91

-2.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.75 €6.68

$7.37 €6.35

5.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.48 €5.58

$7.76 €6.69

-16.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 €1.38

$1.63 €1.40

-1.84%

White Bread (500g)

$2.51 €2.16

$3.06 €2.63

-17.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.69 €2.32

$2.55 €2.20

5.49%

Eggs

$5.23 €4.51

$4.83 €4.16

8.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.43 €15.02

$13.66 €11.78

27.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.64 €11.76

$14.42 €12.43

-5.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.31 €19.23

$19.93 €17.18

11.94%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 €2.62

$2.93 €2.53

3.41%

Banana (1kg)

$2.85 €2.46

$2.46 €2.12

15.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.55 €2.20

$2.26 €1.94

12.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.14 €3.57

$3.83 €3.30

8.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.60 €2.24

$1.74 €1.50

49.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.75 €1.51

$2.02 €1.74

-13.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 €1.26

$1.58 €1.36

-7.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 €1.63

$1.44 €1.24

31.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.40 €13.27

$15.37 €13.25

0.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.46 €8.16

$7.08 €6.11

33.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 €1.61

$1.39 €1.20

34.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 €2.19

$2.89 €2.49

-12.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.88 €3.34

$3.81 €3.29

1.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$123 €106

$141 €121

-12.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.88 €4.20

$4.02 €3.47

21.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.49 €3.01

$2.77 €2.38

25.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.27 €34.72

$46.95 €40.47

-14.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.59 €2.23

$2.56 €2.20

1.17%

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

$43.4K €37.4K

$43.8K €37.8K

-1.06%

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

$40.8K €35.2K

$40.4K €34.8K

1.14%

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

$306 €264

$250 €216

22.43%

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

$23.72 €20.45

$21.70 €18.70

9.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.4 €46.01

$49.90 €43.01

6.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.4 €55.5

$46.86 €40.39

37.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.19 €31.20

$33.41 €28.80

8.32%

Cinema Ticket

$17.28 €14.90

$16.01 €13.80

7.93%

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

$2,852 €2,459

$3,194 €2,754

-10.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.0K €15.5K

$8,237 €7,100

118.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$98.3 €84.8

$98.0 €84.5

0.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.11 €33.71

$54.4 €46.93

-28.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 €90.8

$108 €93.5

-2.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 €119

$129 €111

6.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,624 €2,262

$1,978 €1,705

32.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,918 €1,653

$1,562 €1,346

22.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,071 €3,509

$3,297 €2,842

23.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,992 €2,579

$2,353 €2,028

27.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.7K €9,258

$7,269 €6,266

47.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,015 €6,047

$5,062 €4,363

38.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,814 €4,150

$4,380 €3,775

9.91%

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 7, 2026

Last update for Utrecht: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,624 in Amsterdam versus $1,978 in Utrecht. 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 10% 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 $92.0 in Amsterdam versus $85.0 in Utrecht. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $396 vs $367 – making Utrecht 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 Utrecht: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Amsterdam is pricier by about 14%, 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 $5,285 per month in Amsterdam and $4,629 in Utrecht. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 15% less in Utrecht. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,852 per month in Amsterdam and $3,194 in Utrecht. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,523 in Amsterdam and $3,086 in Utrecht. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Utrecht – 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 Utrecht. 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.