What is the cost of living in Amsterdam? These are things you need to know before moving to Amsterdam so in this article, I will tell you from personal experience how much you can expect to need to live here to pay for various things.
Rent This is the biggest chunk out of your income.
Amsterdam has an 8 year waiting list to get subsidised rent.
This means that everyone else has to pay exorbitant amounts of rent.
How much you pay depends on what you want.
If you desire a small apartment right in the centre then it is going to set you back close to one EUR 1,000 per month.
I don't recommend this option unless you have a partner to share with.
If you want a room then the price will depend on where you live.
In the centre, you will be forking out between EUR 500 - 700 generally.
Further out it could be as low as EUR 250.
Food The Dutch are known for being "stingy" and they do not like to spend a lot of money on essentials like food.
Although the "Albert Heijn" supermarket looks closer to what you might be expecting with a wide variety of international foods, it is quite expensive and few people shop there every time they need something.
The other supermarkets have more of a downmarket feel to them but the food is cheaper.
However, food prices are still not lower than those in the US and the UK and you will struggle to match them.
Entertainment Going out in Amsterdam is expensive indeed.
At the end of a Friday night, it is not uncommon to find that you have burned through EUR 50 which is comparable to what you would spend on a night out in London.
Of course, this depends largely on what you are spending your money on, be it booze, food or other unique things that can only be found in Amsterdam.