Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nijmegen and Amsterdam

For one person, living is cheaper in Nijmegen: $2,659 a month against $3,517 in Amsterdam, rent and utilities included – about $10,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nijmegen, Netherlands
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Nijmegen
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$2,659
/mo nomad
Amsterdam
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$3,517
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nijmegen 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 Nijmegen and in Amsterdam actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,659 per month in Nijmegen vs $3,517 in Amsterdam, rent included.

  • Nijmegen $2,659
  • Amsterdam $3,517

A couple spends around $3,957 per month in Nijmegen vs $5,063 in Amsterdam, rent included.

  • Nijmegen $3,957
  • Amsterdam $5,063

A family of three spends $5,254 per month in Nijmegen vs $6,608 in Amsterdam, rent included.

  • Nijmegen $5,254
  • Amsterdam $6,608

Nijmegen is about 24% cheaper than Amsterdam, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Nijmegen and Amsterdam sit above the global median – Nijmegen by 95%, Amsterdam by 158%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nijmegen
Amsterdam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.61 €24.75
$22.34 €20.02
23.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 €89.7
$88.6 €79.4
13.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.66 €13.14
$14.80 €13.26
-0.95%
Cappuccino
$4.25 €3.81
$4.65 €4.17
-8.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 €3.36
$3.69 €3.31
1.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 €2.31
$2.90 €2.60
-11.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.72 €5.13
$7.92 €7.10
-27.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.97 €5.35
$6.54 €5.86
-8.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nijmegen
Amsterdam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 €1.32
$1.44 €1.29
2.08%
White Bread (500g)
$2.13 €1.91
$2.40 €2.15
-11.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.38 €2.13
$2.50 €2.24
-4.80%
Eggs
$5.34 €4.79
$5.15 €4.62
3.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.26 €11.88
$16.90 €15.15
-21.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.94 €12.49
$12.73 €11.41
9.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.76 €15.02
$22.87 €20.50
-26.72%
Apples (1kg)
$2.79 €2.50
$2.75 €2.46
1.45%
Banana (1kg)
$2.47 €2.21
$2.74 €2.45
-9.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 €1.90
$2.74 €2.46
-22.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.27 €4.73
$3.86 €3.46
36.53%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 €1.87
$2.52 €2.26
-17.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.34 €2.10
$1.65 €1.48
41.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.28 €1.14
$1.51 €1.35
-15.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 €0.72
$1.69 €1.51
-52.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.91 €12.47
$14.52 €13.01
-4.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.10 €6.36
$8.60 €7.71
-17.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 €1.36
$1.78 €1.60
-14.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 €2.37
$2.51 €2.25
5.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Nijmegen
Amsterdam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.37 €3.02
$3.70 €3.31
-8.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$140 €125
$117 €104
20.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.04 €3.62
$4.69 €4.20
-13.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.24 €2.90
$3.42 €3.07
-5.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$44.88 €40.22
$39.00 €34.95
15.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.36 €2.11
$2.56 €2.29
-7.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.3K €37.0K
$40.6K €36.4K
1.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.4K €35.3K
$38.9K €34.8K
1.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nijmegen
Amsterdam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$286 €256
$306 €275
-6.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.86 €20.48
$22.66 €20.30
0.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.72 €38.28
$52.8 €47.34
-19.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nijmegen
Amsterdam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.15 €28.81
$55.0 €49.25
-41.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.69 €22.12
$35.66 €31.96
-30.76%
Cinema Ticket
$15.89 €14.24
$16.48 €14.77
-3.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nijmegen
Amsterdam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,160 €2,831
$2,778 €2,489
13.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.8K
$17.0K €15.2K
-2.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nijmegen
Amsterdam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.1 €85.3
$92.7 €83.1
2.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.46 €38.95
$41.28 €36.99
5.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 €93.3
$101 €90.9
2.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$169 €152
$134 €120
26.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nijmegen
Amsterdam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,638 €1,467
$2,642 €2,368
-38.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,159 €1,039
$1,989 €1,783
-41.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,663 €2,386
$4,165 €3,732
-36.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,863 €1,669
$3,251 €2,913
-42.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,131 €5,494
$10.6K €9,457
-41.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,428 €3,968
$6,734 €6,034
-34.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nijmegen
Amsterdam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,367 €3,017
$4,625 €4,145
-27.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4
3.3
21.21%

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

Last update for Nijmegen: October 27, 2026

Last update for Amsterdam: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nijmegen
$1.2K
Amsterdam
$2K 71.6% $830
Eating Out
Nijmegen
$382
Amsterdam
$358 6.3% $24
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nijmegen
$352
Amsterdam
$382 8.6% $30
Groceries & Markets
Nijmegen
$343
Amsterdam
$381 11% $38
Clothing & Footwear
Nijmegen
$185
Amsterdam
$166 10.3% $19
Getting Around
Nijmegen
$174
Amsterdam
$153 11.9% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Nijmegen
$64
Amsterdam
$88 37.6% $24

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,638 in Nijmegen versus $2,642 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 37% higher in Amsterdam. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Nijmegen versus $89 in Amsterdam. Groceries tell a different story – $343 in Nijmegen vs $381 in Amsterdam – so Nijmegen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇳🇱 Nijmegen
🇳🇱 Amsterdam
🕒 Local time
14:06 2:06 PM
14:06 2:06 PM
Same time as Nijmegen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
177,359
881,933 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nijmegen Amsterdam 88 km
From you
  • Nijmegen
  • 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
Nijmegen vs Amsterdam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nijmegen cheaper than Amsterdam?
Yes – Amsterdam is pricier by about 32%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,988 per month in Nijmegen and $5,276 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 Nijmegen, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,638 there versus $2,642 in Amsterdam.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 17% less in Amsterdam. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $3,160 per month in Nijmegen and $2,778 in Amsterdam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Nijmegen or in Amsterdam?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,659 in Nijmegen and $3,517 in Amsterdam. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city suits remote workers better?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nijmegen costs $2,659 versus $3,517 in Amsterdam. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Which city is safer, Nijmegen or Amsterdam?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Nijmegen. If higher salaries 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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