😐A single person spends $3,476 per month in Amsterdam vs $2,602 in Veenendaal, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,057 per month in Amsterdam vs $3,790 in Veenendaal, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $6,639 per month in Amsterdam vs $4,977 in Veenendaal, rent included.
😐Amsterdam costs about 34% more than Veenendaal, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Amsterdam and Veenendaal sit above the global median – Amsterdam by 160%, Veenendaal by 95%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amsterdam
Veenendaal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.49€20.55
$22.93€20.06
2.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$112€97.8
$108€94.9
3.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.07€13.19
$15.48€13.54
-2.65%
Cappuccino
$4.73€4.14
$4.72€4.13
0.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45€3.02
$3.28€2.87
5.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17€2.77
$2.52€2.21
25.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.78€5.93
$6.31€5.52
7.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.14€6.25
$5.33€4.66
33.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amsterdam
Veenendaal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.48€1.29
$1.46€1.28
1.37%
White Bread(500g)
$2.47€2.16
$2.45€2.14
0.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.62€2.29
$2.58€2.26
1.55%
Eggs
$5.39€4.71
$5.21€4.56
3.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.78€12.93
$13.67€11.96
8.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.29€12.50
$17.26€15.10
-17.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.63€14.55
$17.11€14.97
-2.81%
Apples(1kg)
$2.93€2.56
$2.88€2.52
1.74%
Banana(1kg)
$2.58€2.26
$2.59€2.26
-0.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19€1.92
$2.20€1.92
-0.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.68€4.10
$4.67€4.09
0.21%
Potato(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$2.09€1.83
-3.83%
Onion(1kg)
$2.05€1.79
$2.16€1.89
-5.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30€1.14
$1.22€1.07
6.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.23€1.07
$1.14€1.00
7.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.37€12.57
$14.55€12.73
-1.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.03€7.02
$6.72€5.88
19.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68€1.47
$1.75€1.53
-4.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.64
$2.69€2.36
12.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Amsterdam
Veenendaal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.02€3.51
$3.50€3.06
14.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$118€103
$93.3€81.6
26.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.76€4.16
$3.95€3.45
20.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.00€2.63
$2.09€1.83
43.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$65.1€57.0
$28.19€24.66
131.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.03
$2.25€1.97
3.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.3K€37.9K
$37.3K€32.6K
16.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.8K€33.9K
$39.0K€34.1K
-0.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amsterdam
Veenendaal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$306€268
$273€239
11.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.54€18.84
$21.66€18.95
-0.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.4€44.95
$52.0€45.51
-1.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amsterdam
Veenendaal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.4€54.6
$29.32€25.65
112.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.70€33.85
$23.08€20.19
67.68%
Cinema Ticket
$17.20€15.05
$14.79€12.94
16.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amsterdam
Veenendaal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,848€2,492
$1,884€1,649
51.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$21.2K€18.5K
$6,211€5,434
241.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amsterdam
Veenendaal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€89.4
$104€90.6
-1.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.88€42.77
$40.83€35.72
19.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$126€111
$112€97.9
13.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137€120
$111€97.3
23.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amsterdam
Veenendaal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,362€2,067
$1,432€1,253
64.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,995€1,745
$1,188€1,039
67.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,197€3,672
$2,314€2,025
81.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,107€2,719
$1,757€1,537
76.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$10.7K€9,366
$5,010€4,384
113.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$7,066€6,182
$4,841€4,236
45.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amsterdam
Veenendaal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,465€3,906
$2,701€2,363
65.33%
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: July 11, 2026
Last update for Veenendaal: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $2,362 in Amsterdam versus $1,432 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 65% 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 $112 in Amsterdam versus $108 in Veenendaal. Groceries tell a different story – $360 in Amsterdam vs $368 in Veenendaal – 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 Veenendaal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Veenendaal cheaper than Amsterdam?
Yes – Amsterdam is pricier by about 34%, 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 $5,214 per month in Amsterdam and $3,902 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 26% less in Veenendaal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $2,848 per month in Amsterdam and $1,884 in Veenendaal. 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 living in Amsterdam or in Veenendaal?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Veenendaal, where all-in costs run around $2,602, than in Amsterdam at $3,476. In Veenendaal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Amsterdam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
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.