🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,799 in Lelystad versus $2,391 in Arlington, TX.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,847 in Lelystad versus $3,803 in Arlington, TX.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,894 in Lelystad versus $5,215 in Arlington, TX.
🌍Living in Lelystad costs roughly 25% less than in Arlington, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lelystad35% above, Arlington, TX79% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lelystad
Arlington, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.73€21.65
$19.45$19.45
27.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.5€80.1
$75.7$75.7
20.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.70€12.00
$9.96$9.96
37.55%
Cappuccino
$3.92€3.44
$5.49$5.49
-28.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19€2.80
$2.54$2.54
25.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85€1.62
$2.01$2.01
-7.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.11€4.48
$5.11$5.11
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.86€5.13
$7.17$7.17
-18.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lelystad
Arlington, TX
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$0.87$0.87
41.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.64€1.44
$3.41$3.41
-51.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.48€2.17
$4.11$4.11
-39.66%
Eggs
$4.66€4.08
$3.53$3.53
32.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.75€5.91
$12.20$12.20
-44.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.38€13.47
$11.76$11.76
30.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.67€15.48
$14.55$14.55
21.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€2.00
$4.83$4.83
-52.59%
Banana(1kg)
$2.54€2.22
$1.63$1.63
55.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$4.51$4.51
-56.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.55€3.11
$3.95$3.95
-10.13%
Potato(1kg)
$2.10€1.84
$2.41$2.41
-12.86%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88€1.65
$2.74$2.74
-31.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22€1.07
$2.03$2.03
-39.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$2.17$2.17
-61.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.15€8.89
$9.22$9.22
10.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.95€6.09
$15.25$15.25
-54.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34€1.18
$2.09$2.09
-35.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$4.45$4.45
-46.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Lelystad
Arlington, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.53€3.09
$5.38$5.38
-34.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$118€103
$39.32$39.32
199.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.15€3.64
$4.32$4.32
-3.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.45€2.14
$1.22$1.22
100.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.93€23.59
$24.08$24.08
11.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.21€1.93
$0.79$0.79
179.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.9K
$25.1K$25.1K
36.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K€33.9K
$25.9K$25.9K
49.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lelystad
Arlington, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$239€209
$204$204
17.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.92€13.07
$60.0$60.0
-75.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.65€32.10
$68.6$68.6
-46.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lelystad
Arlington, TX
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.45€38.93
$41.82$41.82
6.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.35€20.45
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.15€12.39
$13.34$13.34
6.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lelystad
Arlington, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,716€2,379
$1,421$1,421
91.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,240€5,465
$22.5K$22.5K
-72.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lelystad
Arlington, TX
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.7€87.3
$57.0$57.0
74.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.1€43.87
$45.68$45.68
9.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.0€86.7
$87.1$87.1
13.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€105
$119$119
0.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lelystad
Arlington, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693€607
$1,631$1,631
-57.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$458€401
$1,081$1,081
-57.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,406€1,231
$2,826$2,826
-50.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$821€719
$2,417$2,417
-66.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,201$2,201
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,233$2,233
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lelystad
Arlington, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,493€2,184
$3,700$3,700
-32.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.28
6.52
-34.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lelystad: July 12, 2026
Last update for Arlington, TX: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Lelystad and $1,631 in Arlington, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Arlington, TX pays 48% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $92.0 in Lelystad vs $76.0 in Arlington, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $310 vs $381, with Lelystad cheaper for home cooking.
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
Lelystad vs Arlington, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lelystad or Arlington, TX?
Lelystad wins on cost – living expenses run 33% lower than in Arlington, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lelystad the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lelystad or in Arlington, TX?
On paper, salaries run 48% lower in Arlington, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lelystad compared to Arlington, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Lelystad versus $1,631 in Arlington, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Lelystad compared to Arlington, TX?
All in, you'll spend $1,799 per month in Lelystad versus $2,391 in Arlington, TX – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Lelystad compared to Arlington, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Lelystad runs roughly 200% less than in Arlington, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lelystad or in Arlington, TX?
At $1,799 in Lelystad versus $2,391 in Arlington, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lelystad but tight or insufficient in Arlington, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Lelystad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Lelystad or Arlington, TX?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Lelystad compared to Arlington, TX?
Safety-wise, Lelystad and Arlington, TX are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lelystad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Arlington, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.