πA single person spends $2,947 per month in Utrecht vs $3,129 in Amstelveen, rent included.
πA couple spends around $4,160 per month in Utrecht vs $4,018 in Amstelveen, rent included.
πA family of three spends $5,373 per month in Utrecht vs $4,906 in Amstelveen, rent included.
πUtrecht is about 6% cheaper than Amstelveen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth Utrecht and Amstelveen sit above the global median β Utrecht by 120%, Amstelveen by 134%.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Utrecht
Amstelveen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.14β¬18.20
$25.55β¬22.00
-17.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.5β¬75.4
$82.6β¬71.1
5.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.95β¬12.01
$13.81β¬11.89
1.01%
Cappuccino
$4.39β¬3.78
$4.00β¬3.44
9.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.95β¬3.40
$3.96β¬3.41
-0.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15β¬2.71
$3.22β¬2.77
-2.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.03β¬6.06
$5.89β¬5.07
19.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.86β¬5.04
$5.62β¬4.84
4.27%
π Groceries & Markets
Utrecht
Amstelveen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35β¬1.16
$1.18β¬1.02
14.41%
White Bread(500g)
$2.52β¬2.17
$1.57β¬1.35
60.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.00β¬2.59
$3.57β¬3.07
-15.97%
Eggs
$5.39β¬4.64
$4.64β¬4.00
16.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.04β¬12.09
$13.30β¬11.45
5.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.53β¬14.24
$17.09β¬14.72
-3.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.40β¬14.98
$17.45β¬15.03
-0.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35β¬2.02
$1.96β¬1.69
19.90%
Banana(1kg)
$2.48β¬2.14
$2.51β¬2.16
-1.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93β¬1.66
$1.93β¬1.67
-
Tomato(1kg)
$3.70β¬3.19
$4.26β¬3.67
-13.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.94β¬1.67
$2.10β¬1.81
-7.62%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23β¬1.92
$2.00β¬1.72
11.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36β¬1.18
$1.20β¬1.03
13.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13β¬0.98
$0.74β¬0.64
52.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.32β¬12.33
$14.51β¬12.50
-1.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.22β¬6.21
$7.04β¬6.06
2.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46β¬1.26
$1.54β¬1.32
-5.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67β¬2.30
$2.67β¬2.30
-
π Getting Around
Utrecht
Amstelveen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.48β¬3.00
$3.99β¬3.43
-12.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$75.2β¬64.7
$94.4β¬81.3
-20.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.68β¬3.17
$4.15β¬3.57
-11.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.54β¬2.19
$2.87β¬2.47
-11.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.59β¬22.89
$31.06β¬26.75
-14.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.27β¬1.95
$2.21β¬1.90
2.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.8Kβ¬34.3K
$32.1Kβ¬27.6K
24.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.8Kβ¬34.3K
$31.9Kβ¬27.4K
25.01%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Utrecht
Amstelveen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$296β¬255
$362β¬312
-18.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.03β¬22.42
$31.42β¬27.06
-17.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.51β¬40.05
$62.2β¬53.6
-25.25%
π Sport & Entertainment
Utrecht
Amstelveen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.94β¬40.42
$32.69β¬28.15
43.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.19β¬19.97
$26.35β¬22.69
-11.99%
Cinema Ticket
$15.92β¬13.71
$17.18β¬14.79
-7.33%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Utrecht
Amstelveen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,609β¬2,247
$1,989β¬1,713
31.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.2Kβ¬9,630
$20.7Kβ¬17.8K
-46.04%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Utrecht
Amstelveen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$115β¬98.6
$60.2β¬51.9
90.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.7β¬52.2
$45.63β¬39.29
32.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108β¬92.7
$91.2β¬78.6
17.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130β¬112
$142β¬122
-8.04%
π Accommodation & Living
Utrecht
Amstelveen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888β¬1,626
$2,266β¬1,951
-16.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,521β¬1,310
$1,551β¬1,336
-1.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,826β¬2,433
$2,536β¬2,184
11.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,241β¬1,930
$1,693β¬1,458
32.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,022β¬6,908
$7,916β¬6,817
1.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,872β¬5,057
$6,162β¬5,306
-4.70%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Utrecht
Amstelveen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,615β¬3,974
$4,936β¬4,251
-6.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.39
4.4
-0.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Utrecht: May 30, 2026
Last update for Amstelveen: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $1,888 in Utrecht versus $2,266 in Amstelveen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
π°Salaries run about 7% higher in Amstelveen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Utrecht versus $83.0 in Amstelveen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $358 vs $343 β making Amstelveen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Utrecht vs Amstelveen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Amstelveen cheaper than Utrecht?
Yes β Amstelveen is pricier by about 6%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $4,420 per month in Utrecht and $4,694 in Amstelveen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Utrecht, 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 26% less in Utrecht. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $2,609 per month in Utrecht and $1,989 in Amstelveen. 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 Utrecht or Amstelveen?
$3,000 is a stretch for both β monthly costs hit $2,947 in Utrecht and $3,129 in Amstelveen. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Utrecht or Amstelveen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Utrecht β lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Utrecht or Amstelveen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Utrecht. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Amstelveen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.