😐A single person spends $3,543 per month in Amsterdam vs $2,571 in Veenendaal, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,055 per month in Amsterdam vs $3,748 in Veenendaal, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $6,567 per month in Amsterdam vs $4,925 in Veenendaal, rent included.
😐Amsterdam costs about 38% more than Veenendaal, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Amsterdam and Veenendaal sit above the global median – Amsterdam by 164%, Veenendaal by 92%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amsterdam
Veenendaal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.95€19.77
$23.46€20.20
-2.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$109€94.0
$110€94.4
-0.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.93€12.86
$15.18€13.07
-1.65%
Cappuccino
$4.98€4.29
$4.68€4.03
6.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38€2.91
$3.33€2.87
1.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29€2.84
$2.60€2.24
26.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.91€5.95
$6.45€5.55
7.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.88€5.93
$5.15€4.44
33.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amsterdam
Veenendaal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47€1.26
$1.53€1.32
-3.92%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45€2.11
$2.44€2.10
0.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.59€2.23
$2.65€2.29
-2.26%
Eggs
$5.30€4.57
$5.27€4.54
0.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.77€12.72
$13.58€11.70
8.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.48€12.47
$16.75€14.43
-13.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.57€14.27
$16.76€14.43
-1.13%
Apples(1kg)
$2.82€2.43
$2.97€2.55
-5.05%
Banana(1kg)
$2.55€2.20
$2.48€2.14
2.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20€1.90
$2.12€1.82
3.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.88€4.20
$4.56€3.93
7.02%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$2.08€1.79
-1.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$2.19€1.89
-4.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36€1.17
$1.28€1.10
6.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16€1.00
$1.18€1.01
-1.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.36€12.37
$14.64€12.61
-1.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.52€6.47
$7.18€6.18
4.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.51
$1.66€1.43
6.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08€2.65
$2.82€2.43
9.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Amsterdam
Veenendaal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.90€3.36
$3.55€3.06
9.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$118€102
$94.0€80.9
25.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.77€4.11
$3.78€3.25
26.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.02€2.60
$2.09€1.80
44.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$65.2€56.1
$27.24€23.45
139.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.29€1.97
$2.28€1.97
0.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.5K€37.4K
$37.4K€32.2K
16.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K€33.3K
$37.6K€32.3K
2.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amsterdam
Veenendaal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$304€262
$264€227
15.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.92€18.87
$21.66€18.65
1.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.1€44.87
$52.8€45.45
-1.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amsterdam
Veenendaal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.6€54.7
$28.51€24.55
122.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.68€34.17
$22.82€19.65
73.88%
Cinema Ticket
$17.14€14.76
$15.26€13.14
12.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amsterdam
Veenendaal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,862€2,464
$1,856€1,599
54.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$21.0K€18.1K
$6,213€5,350
238.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amsterdam
Veenendaal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€87.6
$100€86.5
1.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.40€42.54
$40.06€34.50
23.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$122€105
$108€93.4
12.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137€118
$111€95.6
23.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amsterdam
Veenendaal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,380€2,049
$1,407€1,212
69.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,959€1,687
$1,198€1,031
63.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,236€3,647
$2,264€1,949
87.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,031€2,610
$1,756€1,512
72.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$11.1K€9,579
$5,145€4,431
116.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$7,621€6,563
$5,105€4,396
49.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amsterdam
Veenendaal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,906€4,225
$2,719€2,341
80.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.02
4.02
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Amsterdam: June 1, 2026
Last update for Veenendaal: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $2,380 in Amsterdam versus $1,407 in Veenendaal. 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 80% 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 $110 in Veenendaal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $359 vs $365 – 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 Veenendaal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Veenendaal cheaper than Amsterdam?
Yes – Amsterdam is pricier by about 38%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. 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 $3,856 in Veenendaal. 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 Veenendaal, 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 Veenendaal. 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 $1,856 in Veenendaal. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $3,000 enough to cover costs in Amsterdam or Veenendaal?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,543 in Amsterdam and $2,571 in Veenendaal. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Amsterdam or Veenendaal more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Veenendaal – 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 Veenendaal?
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 Veenendaal. 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.