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Cost of living in Amsterdam in 2026 in dollars and euros
Find out about the cost of living in Amsterdam, the Netherlands before you move to the city. Here is a complete price guide.
Amsterdam is one of the European cities with the best quality of life, but it also has a high cost of living compared with similar cities. Therefore, to help you understand this better, this guide shows average prices for accommodation, healthcare, transport, and food.
You’ll also find expenses for leisure, fixed and mobile internet, and the costs you’ll face if you decide to buy a vehicle to get around the city. However, we can already tell you it isn’t the best mobility option in Amsterdam. Let’s begin this journey!
Average cost of staying in Amsterdam
Amsterdam has a diverse accommodation market, with high demand and high costs. Below, we show you the best options the Dutch city offers for your stay, whether for a long stay or just a few weeks.
- Mid-range hotels: You’ll usually find options like these in areas such as Oost, Zuid, or near Vondelpark, a little away from Amsterdam’s tourist centre. They offer rooms with a private bathroom, breakfast, and a great location to explore the city by public transport. The nightly cost ranges from €30–70 ($35–83).
- Furnished Airbnb apartments: Ideal for long and short stays, as you can rent them for days or even months. The location depends on your interests and budget. However, the most recommended and strategic areas are De Pijp and Amsterdam West. The monthly cost ranges from €2,500–5,000 ($3,000–6,000).
- Coliving: This option is one of the most popular among international visitors, students, and remote workers, as its monthly cost is more affordable and it offers ideal spaces to live, study, work, and socialise. A month can cost between €1,200–1,600 ($1,400–1,800). If you want to learn more about this type of accommodation in Amsterdam, we recommend our guide: Best coliving spaces in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Cost of food
For weekly, daily, or monthly shopping in Amsterdam, you’ll have the international chain Albert Heijn, which is reliable for product quality and also offers good value for money. Here, we show you a list of prices and products so you can get an idea of what you can buy:
- Pack of 10 biscuits: €3.95 ($4.66)
- Mature Gouda cheese 400g: €7.50 ($8.85)
- Wholemeal sliced bread 800g: €2.15 ($2.54)
- Frozen bitterballen (meat snack) x 12: €5.20 ($6.14)
- Hagelslag (chocolate sprinkles for bread): €2.80 ($3.30)
- Fresh milk 1L: €1.90 ($2.24)
- Six-pack of Heineken cans: €8.50 ($10.03)
Buying food at the supermarket will save you a little more than buying ready-made meals in an average restaurant in Amsterdam. Even so, eating out can help when you need a quick solution for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, so here are the approximate costs for this expense:
- Breakfast: It includes two eggs with ham and cheese, fruit, and coffee for €14 ($17)
- Lunch: For €19 ($22) you can get a typical Dutch sandwich (Broodje) with soup and a drink.
- Dinner: This meal is usually more expensive, as there are options from €32 ($37) for typical dishes such as Stamppot (mashed potatoes with vegetables and a sausage) or pasta, dessert, and a drink.
Transport prices in Amsterdam
Mobility is an important factor when exploring Amsterdam as a tourist and even more as a resident, so here we show you the city’s main transport options and their average prices.
| Transport | Costs in USD and EUR |
| Single metro or tram journey valid for 1 hour | $4.02 (€3.40) |
| Unlimited transport pass for 1 day | $10.64 (€9.00) |
| Unlimited transport pass for 4 days | $32.50 (€27.50) |
| Taxi base fare: | $3.89 (€3.29) |
| UberX journey of around 20 minutes | $43.73 (€37.00) |
You can also choose to get around by bicycle, as companies across the city rent different types of bikes, from standard models to assisted or electric options.
- 1-day standard bicycle rental: €9.50 ($11.22)
- 1-day electric bicycle rental: €41.50 ($49.04)
- Monthly subscription for a simple bicycle with basket: €21.00 ($24.80)
- Monthly subscription for an electric bicycle: €60.00 ($70.90).
Do you prefer having your own vehicle?
If you prefer getting around in your own car, in Amsterdam you’ll see that vehicles such as the Skoda Elroq or the Toyota Yaris fit residents’ mobility needs well, and their average cost is €34,500–36,500 ($36,000–38,000).
You should also consider car maintenance costs. For example, petrol currently costs €2.04 ($2.40) per litre, according to Global Petrol Prices, while public electric charging could cost you €0.40 ($0.47) per kWh.
On top of that, you must add the cost of compulsory insurance, which is around €45 ($53) per month, and fully comprehensive insurance, which is slightly more expensive at €90 ($106) per month, although this one is optional.
Healthcare costs
Amsterdam’s healthcare system, and the Dutch system in general, is highly efficient, which places it among the best in Europe. To access healthcare services, you need compulsory private insurance, which all residents must take out to receive treatment.
Whether you’re a tourist or a legal resident, you must have health insurance. If you come from a European Union country, you can present your European Health Insurance Card.
The cost of basic health insurance can be around €160 ($190) per month, depending on the cover your chosen provider offers. If your insurance doesn’t cover a treatment or medical procedure, you’ll need to pay for it yourself. Below, we leave you some healthcare costs in Amsterdam.
- General practitioner consultation: From €30–47 ($35–55)
- Dental check-up: Between €23–29 ($27–35)
- Dental cleaning and treatment: Between €100–200 ($118–235)
- Appendicitis operation: Between €3,390–5,923 ($4,000–7,000), depending on the complexity of the procedure and the days in hospital.
- Hospital stay: Between €800–1,000 ($950–1,200) per night.
Medicines are another cost you should consider, as some health insurance plans don’t cover them, so you’ll need to pay for them yourself. Even for minor health issues such as headaches, you should have some over-the-counter medicines. Here, we show you the price of some of them:
| Over-the-counter medicine in Amsterdam | Approximate cost in USD and EUR |
| Paracetamol (box of 20 to 30 tablets) | $0.80–2.70 €0.75–2.50 |
| Ibuprofen (400mg, box of 10 to 20 tablets) | $1.95–4.85 €1.80–4.50 |
| Cough syrup (200 ml) | $7.00–15.10 €6.50–14.00 |
| Betadine disinfectant (30ml solution) for minor wounds. | $6.40–9.85 €5.50–8.50 |
| Sterile gauze (Pack of 5-10 units) | $2.30–5.80 €2.00–5.00 |
| Plasters for covering minor or surface wounds (Mixed box of 20 or 40 units) | $1.75–5.20 €1.50–4.50 |
Internet and call plan prices
Connectivity in Amsterdam is considered high quality, allowing residents and companies to carry out different tasks such as work, use the internet for entertainment and make transfers or everyday payments without problems thanks to internet speed and coverage.
Fixed internet has fibre-optic infrastructure supplied by companies such as Odido or KPN, with plans ranging from €29 ($34) to €85 ($98) per month, depending on the internet speed you need and your budget, as you can choose from 50 Mbps to 1 Gbps.
As for mobile services, you’ll find that well-known operators such as KPN, Odido, and Vodafone also offer data and calls, depending on your needs. Plans range between €10–40 ($12–47) for between 3 GB per month and unlimited data.
You can also choose one of the Holafly monthly subscription plans that offer 25 GB or unlimited data. With either option, you can share your data with other devices and also travel to more than 170 countries worldwide thanks to their global coverage.
Important: If you are a frequent traveler and want to stay connected without worrying about expensive roaming or looking for a new SIM at every destination, Holafly’s subscription plans are for you. With a single eSIM, enjoy internet in more than 170 countries for a fixed price and no surprises on your bill. Travel without limits and connect easily and securely! 🚀🌍
Cost of leisure activities in Amsterdam
In Amsterdam, you can make the most of every hour of the day with a plan alone or with friends, as the city has a very active lifestyle all the time, even at night. Here’s a list of the most common leisure plans you can enjoy in the Dutch city and their approximate costs.
- Canal cruise and seeing the city from another view: Between €15–25 ($18–30) for a one-hour trip.
- Visit the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and discover part of the country’s history: Between €22–25 ($27–30) per person.
- Visit Anne Frank House: From €16 ($19)
- Go for a beer tasting: It costs between €21–26 ($25–31)
- Watch a film at the cinema: It costs between €15–17 ($17–21)
- Go for a coffee: From €4 ($4)
- Get a Netflix subscription: Between €14–19 ($16–22)
- Get an HBO MAX subscription: €10 ($11).
How much does it cost to live in Amsterdam?
Finally, after this tour through Amsterdam’s main living costs, you can see that it’s a city that offers great comfort, but it also requires high monthly spending.
However, the final amount will depend on several factors linked to your lifestyle and on whether you live alone, as a couple, or with your family, as expenses vary. Even so, we’ve set an approximate amount for each situation.
- Single person: Between €2,400–3,100 ($2,800–3,600) per month.
- Couple: Between €3,600–4,900 ($4,200–5,500) per month.
- A family of up to 4 members: Between €6,200–8,500 ($7,300–10,000) per month.
Frequently asked questions about the cost of living in Amsterdam
It isn’t a good idea, as it turns out more expensive because of parking, fuel, and other car maintenance costs. Besides, the city is specially designed for getting around by bicycle.
One person can spend around €450 ($500) per month in supermarket chains with traditional Amsterdam products, although some shops offer a variety of products at a lower cost or with daily discounts.
The most recommended neighbourhoods to live in Amsterdam for their peaceful atmosphere are Oud-Zuid, Watergraafsmeer, and Plantage. Other more modern and equally residential alternatives are IJburg and the Amsterdam Noord area.
Yes, it’s compulsory to take out health insurance whether you’re a resident or a tourist in Amsterdam. The only difference is that, as a resident, the insurance is local and includes all the necessary cover recommended by the government, while as a tourist you can meet the requirement with basic cover.
