Netherlands · Cost of living · 2026
Cost of living in Netherlands
What a month actually costs in Amsterdam — rent, food, transport, utilities and health insurance. Housing is the constraint rather than day-to-day spending: the free-sector rental market is tight. Every figure below names its source so you can check it yourself rather than trust a crowd-sourced average.
Run your own numbers →🇳🇱 Amsterdam, Netherlands — monthly costs
Native euro figures with a US-dollar conversion. Each line shows where the number came from and when it was last reviewed.
| Item | Per month (EUR) | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| 1-bed apartment (city centre)Pararius quarterly rental monitor — Amsterdam free-sector asking rents 2026 (no official bedroom-level statistic is published for the free sector); derived for ~55m² · reviewed Aug 2026 | €1,650–€2,100 | $1,890–$2,406 |
| 2-bed apartment (city centre)Pararius quarterly rental monitor — Amsterdam free-sector asking rents 2026; derived for ~80m² · reviewed Aug 2026 | €2,200–€2,900 | $2,520–$3,322 |
| Groceries (couple, 1 month)Relokato editorial estimate anchored to CBS consumer price statistics for food and non-alcoholic beverages; range reflects Albert Heijn / Jumbo shopping for two adults · reviewed Aug 2026 | €500–€750 | $573–$859 |
| Dining out (2x/week, couple)Relokato editorial estimate — casual restaurant €18–25/person, mid-range €30–45/person; range reflects ~6–8 outings/month for two · reviewed Aug 2026 | €180–€340 | $206–$390 |
| GVB pass or bike + occasional transit (per adult / mo)GVB published 2026 fare table — monthly Amsterdam all-modes season ticket; low end reflects cycling with pay-as-you-go OV-chipkaart trips · reviewed Aug 2026 | €30–€110 | $34–$126 |
| Utilities + internet (essential)Relokato editorial estimate anchored to CBS average household energy prices plus published fibre packages (~€40–55/mo); range reflects an apartment for two · reviewed Aug 2026 | €180–€300 | $206–$344 |
| Mandatory basisverzekering (adult)Rijksoverheid — Zorgverzekeringswet basic health insurance: the nominal premium is set by each insurer around the government's published estimated average; enrolment is compulsory within 4 months of BSN registration. Excludes the annual eigen risico (own risk) and any zorgtoeslag entitlement · reviewed Aug 2026 | €145–€180 | $166–$206 |
The total adds the one-bedroom rent, groceries, dining out, utilities, two transit passes and two private health policies. It excludes one-off move costs, tuition, car ownership and income tax. Rent is the single biggest variable — a longer lease outside the centre typically lands well below the figure above.
Budgeting for the visa, not just the rent
Monthly cost is one number; residency has its own.
Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering) is compulsory for residents and is separate from the residence permit — the IND does not ask to see a policy, so it is easily missed. The DAFT route for US citizens is tested on a capital deposit in a Dutch business account rather than a monthly income floor. The visa checker walks through what each route requires.
Relokato is a planning tool, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Prices, tariffs and official thresholds change — always verify against the source linked beside each figure before you commit money or file anything.