Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Amsterdam

For one person, living is cheaper in Austin, TX: $2,704 a month against $3,504 in Amsterdam, rent and utilities included – about $9,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,704
/mo nomad
Amsterdam
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$3,504
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Amsterdam

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Amsterdam actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,704 per month in Austin, TX vs $3,504 in Amsterdam, rent included.

  • Austin, TX $2,704
  • Amsterdam $3,504

A couple spends around $4,133 per month in Austin, TX vs $5,010 in Amsterdam, rent included.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Amsterdam $5,010

A family of three spends $5,562 per month in Austin, TX vs $6,516 in Amsterdam, rent included.

  • Austin, TX $5,562
  • Amsterdam $6,516

Austin, TX is about 23% cheaper than Amsterdam, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Austin, TX and Amsterdam sit above the global median – Austin, TX by 102%, Amsterdam by 161%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Amsterdam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.22 $20.22
$22.37 €19.96
-9.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.0 $85.0
$91.0 €81.2
-6.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.35 $12.35
$15.36 €13.71
-19.60%
Cappuccino
$5.47 $5.47
$4.60 €4.11
18.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82 $3.82
$3.74 €3.33
2.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$3.03 €2.70
-17.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.06 $8.06
$7.41 €6.62
8.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.99 $8.99
$5.68 €5.07
58.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Amsterdam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.52 €1.36
-25.66%
White Bread (500g)
$3.78 $3.78
$2.38 €2.13
58.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$2.54 €2.26
27.95%
Eggs
$4.14 $4.14
$5.24 €4.68
-20.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.08 $13.08
$16.95 €15.13
-22.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.31 $14.31
$13.41 €11.97
6.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.96 $15.96
$23.00 €20.53
-30.61%
Apples (1kg)
$4.38 $4.38
$2.75 €2.45
59.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 $1.45
$2.83 €2.52
-48.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.54 $4.54
$2.63 €2.35
72.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.19 $4.19
$3.87 €3.45
8.27%
Potato (1kg)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.39 €2.13
10.04%
Onion (1kg)
$2.36 $2.36
$1.71 €1.53
38.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.43 €1.28
23.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.78 €1.59
21.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.81 $9.81
$14.48 €12.92
-32.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.72 $14.72
$9.21 €8.22
59.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.78 €1.59
56.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 $3.48
$2.53 €2.26
37.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Amsterdam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$3.72 €3.32
-59.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.51 $40.51
$116 €104
-65.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 $2.67
$4.70 €4.19
-43.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 $1.58
$3.40 €3.04
-53.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.29 $35.29
$38.74 €34.57
-8.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$2.61 €2.33
-62.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K $35.8K
$41.7K €37.2K
-14.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K $27.2K
$38.2K €34.1K
-28.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Amsterdam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$298 €266
-26.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.0 $58.0
$22.98 €20.51
152.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.4 $68.4
$53.0 €47.26
29.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Amsterdam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.9 $57.9
$60.4 €53.9
-4.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.82 $14.82
$35.40 €31.59
-58.14%
Cinema Ticket
$14.13 $14.13
$16.86 €15.05
-16.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Amsterdam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,509 $1,509
$2,764 €2,466
-45.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$17.1K €15.3K
25.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Amsterdam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.7 $51.7
$93.3 €83.2
-44.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.05 $44.05
$41.20 €36.77
6.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 $85.1
$100 €89.3
-14.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 $105
$133 €119
-20.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Amsterdam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,932 $1,932
$2,605 €2,325
-25.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 $1,272
$1,927 €1,720
-33.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,670 $3,670
$3,903 €3,483
-5.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,525 $2,525
$3,115 €2,780
-18.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,617 $7,617
$10.3K €9,201
-26.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,199 $3,199
$6,540 €5,836
-51.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Amsterdam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,105 $5,105
$4,524 €4,038
12.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
3.27
107.65%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Last update for Amsterdam: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Amsterdam
$1.9K 51.5% $655
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$403
Amsterdam
$388 3.8% $15
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$348
Amsterdam
$356 2.2% $7.7
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$346
Amsterdam
$374 8.2% $28
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$129
Amsterdam
$165 28.5% $37
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Amsterdam
$94 9.2% $8
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$57
Amsterdam
$153 168% $96

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,932 in Austin, TX versus $2,605 in Amsterdam. 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 13% higher in Austin, TX, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Austin, TX versus $91.0 in Amsterdam. Groceries tell a different story – $403 in Austin, TX vs $388 in Amsterdam – so Amsterdam wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇳🇱 Amsterdam
🕒 Local time
00:08 12:08 AM
07:08 7:08 AM
7 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
881,933 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Amsterdam 8,170 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Amsterdam

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Austin, TX vs Amsterdam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Amsterdam cheaper than Austin, TX?
Yes – Amsterdam is pricier by about 30%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,055 per month in Austin, TX and $5,255 in Amsterdam. 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 Austin, TX, 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 187% less in Austin, TX. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,509 per month in Austin, TX and $2,764 in Amsterdam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 enough to cover costs in Austin, TX or in Amsterdam?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,704 in Austin, TX and $3,504 in Amsterdam. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Austin, TX or Amsterdam more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Austin, TX – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Austin, TX or Amsterdam?
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 Austin, TX. 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.

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