Cost of Living Comparison Between Amsterdam and Wilmington, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Amsterdam and Wilmington, NC

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,476 per month in Amsterdam vs $2,584 in Wilmington, NC, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,057 per month in Amsterdam vs $3,792 in Wilmington, NC, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,639 per month in Amsterdam vs $4,999 in Wilmington, NC, rent included.

Amsterdam costs about 34% more than Wilmington, NC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Amsterdam and Wilmington, NC sit above the global median – Amsterdam by 160%, Wilmington, NC by 93%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amsterdam
Wilmington, NC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.49 €20.57
$15.03 $15.03
56.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$112 €97.9
$79.8 $79.8
40.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.07 €13.20
$11.06 $11.06
36.26%
Cappuccino
$4.73 €4.15
$5.23 $5.23
-9.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 €3.02
$2.44 $2.44
41.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 €2.77
$2.30 $2.30
37.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.78 €5.93
$4.04 $4.04
67.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.14 €6.26
$5.91 $5.91
20.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amsterdam
Wilmington, NC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 €1.29
$0.93 $0.93
59.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 €2.16
$4.13 $4.13
-40.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.62 €2.30
$6.47 $6.47
-59.51%
Eggs
$5.39 €4.72
$5.52 $5.52
-2.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.78 €12.94
$10.15 $10.15
45.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.29 €12.51
$18.95 $18.95
-24.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.63 €14.57
$22.93 $22.93
-27.47%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 €2.57
$7.40 $7.40
-60.41%
Banana (1kg)
$2.58 €2.26
$1.34 $1.34
92.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 €1.92
$5.85 $5.85
-62.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.68 €4.10
$5.20 $5.20
-10.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.01 €1.76
$4.25 $4.25
-52.71%
Onion (1kg)
$2.05 €1.79
$6.04 $6.04
-66.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 €1.14
$2.33 $2.33
-44.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 €1.07
$3.19 $3.19
-61.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.37 €12.59
$7.90 $7.90
81.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.03 €7.03
$14.47 $14.47
-44.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 €1.47
$1.77 $1.77
-5.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.65
$4.97 $4.97
-39.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Amsterdam
Wilmington, NC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.02 €3.52
$1.96 $1.96
105.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$118 €103
$80.2 $80.2
47.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 €4.17
$3.94 $3.94
20.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.00 €2.63
$1.58 $1.58
89.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$65.1 €57.0
$29.38 $29.38
121.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.32 €2.03
$0.86 $0.86
169.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.3K €37.9K
$28.9K $28.9K
49.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.8K €33.9K
$25.0K $25.0K
55.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amsterdam
Wilmington, NC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$306 €268
$180 $180
70.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.54 €18.86
$54.7 $54.7
-60.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.4 €45.00
$69.4 $69.4
-25.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amsterdam
Wilmington, NC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.4 €54.7
$61.5 $61.5
1.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.70 €33.89
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.20 €15.06
$12.21 $12.21
40.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amsterdam
Wilmington, NC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,848 €2,495
$1,460 $1,460
95.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.2K €18.6K
$23.1K $23.1K
-8.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amsterdam
Wilmington, NC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €89.5
$54.9 $54.9
86.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.88 €42.81
$49.46 $49.46
-1.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 €111
$104 $104
21.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137 €120
$114 $114
20.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amsterdam
Wilmington, NC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,362 €2,069
$1,359 $1,359
73.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,995 €1,747
$1,208 $1,208
65.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,197 €3,676
$2,367 $2,367
77.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,107 €2,721
$1,932 $1,932
60.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.7K €9,376
$2,772 $2,772
286.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,066 €6,188
$2,726 $2,726
159.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amsterdam
Wilmington, NC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,465 €3,910
$3,882 $3,882
15.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.02
6.45
-37.67%

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

Last update for Amsterdam: July 11, 2026

Last update for Wilmington, NC: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,362 in Amsterdam versus $1,359 in Wilmington, NC. 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 15% 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 $80.0 in Wilmington, NC. Groceries tell a different story – $360 in Amsterdam vs $507 in Wilmington, NC – 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 Wilmington, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wilmington, NC cheaper than Amsterdam?
Yes – Amsterdam is pricier by about 34%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $3,877 in Wilmington, NC. 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 Wilmington, NC, 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 47% less in Wilmington, NC. 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 $1,460 in Wilmington, NC. 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 in Wilmington, NC?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,476 in Amsterdam and $2,584 in Wilmington, NC. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Amsterdam or Wilmington, NC more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Wilmington, NC – 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 Wilmington, NC?
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 Wilmington, NC. 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.

Amsterdam vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities