Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Purmerend and Amsterdam

For one person, living is cheaper in Purmerend: $2,481 a month against $3,592 in Amsterdam, rent and utilities included – about $13,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Purmerend, Netherlands
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Purmerend
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$2,481
/mo nomad
Amsterdam
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$3,592
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,481 per month in Purmerend vs $3,592 in Amsterdam, rent included.

  • Purmerend $2,481
  • Amsterdam $3,592

A couple spends around $3,542 per month in Purmerend vs $5,063 in Amsterdam, rent included.

  • Purmerend $3,542
  • Amsterdam $5,063

A family of three spends $4,603 per month in Purmerend vs $6,533 in Amsterdam, rent included.

  • Purmerend $4,603
  • Amsterdam $6,533

Purmerend is about 31% cheaper than Amsterdam, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Purmerend and Amsterdam sit above the global median – Purmerend by 84%, Amsterdam by 166%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Purmerend
Amsterdam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.48 €14.68
$22.72 €20.24
-27.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.53 €44.12
$89.7 €79.9
-44.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.88 €11.47
$14.38 €12.81
-10.43%
Cappuccino
$4.11 €3.66
$4.65 €4.14
-11.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 €3.19
$3.88 €3.46
-7.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 €2.30
$2.97 €2.65
-13.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.99 €5.34
$7.68 €6.84
-22.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.72 €5.09
$6.80 €6.06
-15.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Purmerend
Amsterdam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 €1.22
$1.51 €1.35
-9.27%
White Bread (500g)
$2.18 €1.94
$2.36 €2.11
-7.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 €2.24
$2.50 €2.23
0.40%
Eggs
$4.85 €4.32
$5.39 €4.80
-10.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.68 €12.19
$16.70 €14.88
-18.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.71 €12.21
$12.89 €11.48
6.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.15 €15.27
$23.63 €21.05
-27.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.59 €2.31
$2.76 €2.46
-6.16%
Banana (1kg)
$2.40 €2.14
$2.81 €2.51
-14.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.95 €1.74
$2.76 €2.46
-29.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.27 €3.80
$3.89 €3.47
9.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.60
$2.43 €2.16
-26.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 €1.69
$1.71 €1.52
11.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 €1.10
$1.47 €1.31
-15.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 €0.81
$1.68 €1.50
-45.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.05 €12.52
$14.38 €12.81
-2.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.00 €6.23
$8.52 €7.59
-17.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 €1.29
$1.73 €1.54
-16.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 €2.35
$2.63 €2.34
0.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Purmerend
Amsterdam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.59 €3.20
$3.71 €3.31
-3.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$91.1 €81.2
$118 €105
-23.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.18 €3.72
$4.71 €4.19
-11.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.70 €2.40
$3.44 €3.06
-21.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.99 €25.82
$59.6 €53.1
-51.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.39 €2.13
$2.66 €2.37
-10.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.5K €36.1K
$41.4K €36.8K
-2.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K €34.4K
$38.6K €34.4K
-0.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Purmerend
Amsterdam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$261 €233
$298 €265
-12.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.37 €19.93
$23.21 €20.67
-3.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.8 €45.22
$52.9 €47.16
-4.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Purmerend
Amsterdam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.26 €36.76
$53.4 €47.56
-22.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.41 €20.85
$35.92 €32.00
-34.83%
Cinema Ticket
$15.29 €13.62
$16.96 €15.10
-9.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Purmerend
Amsterdam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,578 €2,296
$2,797 €2,492
-7.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,039 €7,161
$23.0K €20.5K
-65.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Purmerend
Amsterdam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.8 €81.8
$93.8 €83.6
-2.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.92 €39.12
$42.27 €37.65
3.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 €91.6
$98.3 €87.5
4.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136 €122
$133 €118
2.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Purmerend
Amsterdam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,441 €1,283
$2,678 €2,386
-46.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,163 €1,036
$2,065 €1,840
-43.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,340 €2,085
$4,084 €3,638
-42.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,842 €1,641
$3,160 €2,815
-41.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,646 €5,029
$10.4K €9,308
-45.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,415 €3,933
$6,719 €5,985
-34.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Purmerend
Amsterdam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,977 €3,543
$4,789 €4,266
-16.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.03
3.3
22.12%

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

Last update for Purmerend: November 3, 2026

Last update for Amsterdam: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Purmerend
$1.2K
Amsterdam
$2.1K 77.6% $902
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Purmerend
$334
Amsterdam
$374 11.9% $40
Groceries & Markets
Purmerend
$334
Amsterdam
$385 15.1% $51
Eating Out
Purmerend
$286
Amsterdam
$360 26% $74
Clothing & Footwear
Purmerend
$169
Amsterdam
$165 2.1% $3.5
Getting Around
Purmerend
$123
Amsterdam
$155 26% $32
Sport & Entertainment
Purmerend
$72
Amsterdam
$87 21.5% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,441 in Purmerend versus $2,678 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 20% 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 $50 in Purmerend versus $90 in Amsterdam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $334 vs $385 – making Purmerend the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇳🇱 Purmerend
🇳🇱 Amsterdam
🕒 Local time
20:24 8:24 PM
20:24 8:24 PM
Same time as Purmerend
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,915
881,933 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 0.891 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Purmerend Amsterdam 15 km
From you
  • Purmerend
  • 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
Purmerend vs Amsterdam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Purmerend cheaper than Amsterdam?
Yes – Amsterdam is pricier by about 45%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,722 per month in Purmerend and $5,388 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 Purmerend, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,441 there versus $2,678 in Amsterdam.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 23% less in Purmerend. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $2,578 per month in Purmerend and $2,797 in Amsterdam. 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 Purmerend or in Amsterdam?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Purmerend, where all-in costs run around $2,481, than in Amsterdam at $3,592. In Purmerend it covers expenses comfortably, while in Amsterdam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Purmerend or Amsterdam more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Purmerend – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Purmerend 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 Purmerend. 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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