Cost of Living in Amsterdam

I think some of these prices are very optimistic.

Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre can't be 1,704 € like this page says
I've been looking for months and the average price I find is 2.000-2.500 €
Rents are just beyond absurd

Hi, I've read many articles about how much part-time positions are common in Netherlands and how that makes Dutch so happy with a great work life balance. But I'm not sure of buying it so I'm searching information.

Yeah, Amsterdam is the capital city, but rent are so high that I do not think anyone can SURVIVE on a part-time job, since rent will be higher than income. Are there really people that live on part-time jobs in Netherland and are they outside big cities? So many articles about students that sustain with part-tima positions, are them all misrepresentation?

I do not hide that a part-time lifestyle will suit me in order to enjoy life or to continue professional education and Netherland is the only Country with so many part-time jobs

Hey other Anonymous

I have no idea were you guys take your informations from.
You claim to be living in Amsterdam for all your life and sustain that expats cannot buy property in Amsterdam.
Can you share a link to the law you mention ? I find it improbable banks approving loans for home you cannot legally own, and notary offices legalizing this illegal sell. :)

I do own a property in Amsterdam and I can for sure let you know that you can easily buy one if you have the required capital.

All your comments seem to me just frustration that you're being priced out of your own city. It sucks I get it, but that life, please move on and do not spread misinformation.

To anonymous post Jan 8 2021

Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands obviously.Any investments anywhere within the eurozone wouldn't be wise especially since the UK separated itself from the eurozone trying to monopolize. FORTUNATELY Brexit is in full control and yes the pound is still alive and well.The euro has always had a very bad track record and the euro continues on a downward spiral against the USD.Currently the euro value is 81 cents against the dollar.Over the past 6 months the euro has been losing value against the USD. When any country in Europe signs on to be a member of the eurozone they're automatically locked into a set percentage rate monthly just for using the euro and once a member they are legally bound no matter how badly that countries economy is doing ITS A TRAP.The eurozone must recoup losses of currency value through taxation whether it be through payroll deductions or real-estate taxes.Just renting an apartment or house anywhere within the eurozone tenants are taxed monthly just as the owner of the rental property is taxed heavily. So everyone is taxed on everything and let's not forget VAT value added tax which is currently at 19% on anything purchased.
Is living in the EUROZONE a good idea? ABSOLUTELY NOT !!!
Hopefully this factual information helped your decision.

Actually foreigners cannot own property in Amsterdam. Hopefully you didn't get taken by someone scrupulous it happens often in Amsterdam.

Guys,

I have been working in a US based multinational company from India.

Have 6 years of work experience and I am making close to €40k in India.

Willing to relocate to Amterdam. Do you think it would be a good move, considering the cost of living in EU.

Hey Anonymous,
What do you mean Amsterdam doesn't pay that? It certainly does. I also work for a major Corp here in Amsterdam, I've lived here for over 10 years. Salary slides quite a ways, but many of my colleagues own houses, net salaries over 3k per month. Sure, not everyone loves like that. But it's attainable for skilled expats.

Costs if living per month can range from 1k - 1.5k, depending on how you live, how much you drink and how much you like to indulge.

The expensive part is living on your own. Costs have gone down because of a drop in demand for rental accommodation from expats, but generally living in your own apartment is 1300++

I have been living in Amsterdam for 6 years, I am french.

I started my first job with 42.5k EUR a year (24 yo), which gives about 2.4k net. I was single, rent is about 800 euros a month in a shared flat (it is the jungle to find flats and frustrating but everyone ends up finding), As a single, going out and restaurant every weekend, you need 1000 euros to live, so you still manage to save 500-600 euros per month.

Income : 2400 eur
+30 ruling : 2900 eur (this lasts 5 years as an expat)
Rent: 850 eur
Living costs: 1000 eur incl bars and restaurants

Remaining per month : 1050 eur per month- (this is honestly what i was able to save)

Think that you won t have transportation costs (biking everywhere), going out is cheap in bars and clubs, resturants are pricey but cheaper than London and you have a lot of options. Indeed a pint is 5-7 eur, cheaper than Paris.

My advice: Amsterdam is well suited for professionals (not students, not interns) with a master degree working for big companies. I started there as an intern, it was fun but very tough (you change 6 times flat per year...).

Ok, it does not pay as much as Dubai or Switzerland pour better than France and UK and living here is beautiful, lots of fun, lots of diversity.

If you have secured a job and want to move to Ams now it's good time- I've never seen so many apartments available. It doesn't mean the prices are lower, maybe just a bit in some cases, but still you have a much better chance to find something than in the last couple of years.

The '1300' apartment withing ring is possible, but it's only the asking price you'll see in the apartment listing- it usually means you need to cover 'servicekosten' and bills yourself- count at least EUR250 per month.

Since most companies subsidize or pay fully for public transportation if you live further than 10km from work, many people opt for smaller towns around Amsterdam (but not Haarlem, as it's almost as expensive as Ams in the well connected neighborhoods).

In general, if you're at the beginning of your career and really want to live in Amsterdam, you'll need to be ok with sharing a flat (or perhaps having a small studio somewhere around Amsterdam and commute, but finding such a studio won't be easy). If you earn at least 3k EUR net, then you may be able to afford a studio or 1 bedroom place.

Wow, so many trolls posting below, like #ActuallyRealAmsterdam. ***Amsterdam is absurdly expensive.*** Someone said rent within the ring is about 1.300EUR? Maybe for a bedroom in a shared apartment, or if you rented an apartment for that price a decade ago, when such prices were realistic.

The city has been turned into a haven for corporations and foreigners. The Netherlands is a tax haven for companies that don't like to pay taxes, and foreigners get a lower tax rate if they go work there, or if they're illegal immigrants who used the keyword "refugee" when they beelined for the country.

But if you have an average, decent, hard working citizen you're screwed. You just can't afford the exorbitant rents and taxes. To top it off health care is pretty appalling and dental isn't covered, so many people end up having to go to Germany or eastern Europe to get proper care.

For a single person to live a half decent life in Amsterdam, they need to NET at the very least 3.500EUR.

Amsterdam is not cheap but having lived in seven other European cities it falls somewhere in the middle - by my own experience. Buying property is definitely preferred to renting, though, as rental prices are ridiculous in my humble opinion (similar to London), but mortgages are both cheap (low interest) and are tax deductible.

Amsterdam is a lovely, reasonably affordable place if you can stand the terrible weather.

All of Europe is expensive especially since the Euro isn't going to rebound.After reading many posts about cost of living and wages it's obvious the majority aren't playing with a full deck. Currency value is and always will be the deciding factor to everything, period no matter which currency it is.

You are getting majorly scammed on your rent if you pay +- 3000 per month for a single appartment.

Also Health Care is very affordable, if you add your dental plan you are highly covered for 180 per month in total (high estimate)

Clothes you can find everywhere and there are a lot of high quality online stores available.

#Anonymous on Mar 12, 2019 :
Hi,
To be honest I’m always surprised when reading about how much money people can save from 75k € gross annual salary in Amsterdam...
Maybe I have higher demands on a living standard as don’t have and don’t wanna children (I think this planet is overcrowded + I’m not a housewife type) and prefer to enjoy life and fancy vacation ....but from my experience, living in Amsterdam- 10 mins from Central station, renting 85sqm apartment as a single person and I spent more than 50% of salary on rental costs ...food and transportation is more expensive than in London ...
Health care super expensive ...the most expensive are dentists. Fashion & clothes are terrible for women- hard to find high quality and ellegant dresses for reasonable prices and the offer of female shoes is here just disaster - no style as many Dutch women go to work by bicycle so sorry for saying that but any even average woman from
Eastern Europe feels in Amsterdam like a miss of the world. Fortunately there is still an option to order clothes from Italian websites. Clothes for men are of a good quality. Whenever possible it’s much more cost effective to buy own property as rental costs especially if you want a good standard and don’t wanna a shared house or live in a suburb are crazy here in Amsterdam.

"..even average woman from
Eastern Europe feels in Amsterdam like a miss of the world."

HELLO?!

Do you even know how we look like 'no good shoes in Netherlands'ignorant person?

Hi guys,
I am living in Sydney, Australia waiting for my citizenship to be processed and to finish my bachelors in nursing in a few months. I don't see myself settling here as life is just too busy and I have zero social life plus my heart doesn't feel at home. I am looking into moving to Europe to practice as an RN and Netherlands is one of the countries on top of my list. I guess my questions are;
1. how hard/easy is it to find a job as an immigrant with zero Dutch language?
2. what is the average salary of an RN?

I am planning on pursuing masters after I am all settled. Any suggestions and views are welcome. Thank you

I'm from the East visited Amsterdam on five different occasions to possibly live there and other parts of Netherlands.On average I make 35k € monthly.I didn't find the Netherlands to be acceptable due to the mindset of people in general.

Amsterdam is expensive. I live a relatively upscale lifestyle at 6k€ gross / month, and manage to save about 15k per year. My mortgage for my 375k€ 2018-purchased 60m² apt in the city center is 1700€/month. After benefits it's roughly 1500€/month. I needed a down payment of more than 15k€.

My salary is roughly 2.5x the avg salary here.

Amsterdam is most expensive city I've visited in Europe to be honest. £7 for a pint, and £20 for two kebab meals. #ripoff

So finish my 3 comments below I totally agree with the view and comment of #PersonActuallyLuvingInAmsterdam underneath.
Amsterdam is really expensive and don’t understand comments that Amsterdam is cheap ... those people must either live in a parallel universe or in a social houses.
Real estate market is insane and tenants have often to bid like in auction and pay more to get a good apartment to rent.

So if you wanna live a good life incl. vacations, leisure activities, etc. it’s almost impossible to save something from 75k annually and at least 90k is perceived as a good salary incl. 30% ruling.