Cost of living in Amsterdam - what to budget for in 2026

Dutch rental housing is divided into segments with different rules (2026 figures from the government):

• Social housing: initial rent up to €932.93 per month. Most belongs to housing associations, has income limits and long waiting lists, so it is rarely an option for newcomers.
• Mid-rent: up to €1,228.07 per month for contracts starting in 2026, with a maximum rent based on the home's points.
• Free sector (vrije sector): above €1,228.07, with no maximum rent. Annual increases are capped by law until 1 May 2029; the cap for 2026 is 4.4%.

What people actually pay in the private market varies widely by size and location. IN Amsterdam quotes crowd-sourced ranges (Numbeo, 2025) of about €1,500 to €2,600 a month for a one-bedroom flat in the city centre and €1,200 to €2,000 in outer areas; treat these as rough indications, not official statistics. Rooms in shared homes are cheaper: Study in NL gives €450 to €1,000 a month nationally for a student room, with Amsterdam at the top of that range.

You can check whether a regulated rent is too high with the Rent Tribunal's Huurprijscheck. See finding housing in Amsterdam.

• Deposit: usually one month's basic rent, never more than two months (!WOON).
• Temporary housing while you search; see temporary accommodation in Amsterdam.
• Furniture and household items, unless you rent furnished. Second-hand shops (kringloopwinkels) and online marketplaces help keep this down.
• Document costs: apostilles and translations bought before you move; an IDW diploma evaluation costs €148.83 (2026) if you want one.
• Residence permit fees if you are not an EU citizen, for example €423 for a highly skilled migrant permit in 2026 (often paid by the employer).

Basic health insurance is compulsory for nearly everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands. Each insurer sets its own monthly premium for the same basic package, so compare several. On top of the premium:

• The compulsory deductible (eigen risico) is €385 per year in 2026 for adults; GP care is exempt. Children under 18 pay no premium and no deductible.
• Employees also pay an income-related contribution, which the employer pays on their behalf.

If your income is low, the Benefits Service pays healthcare benefit (zorgtoeslag). For 2026 it is up to €129 per month for a single person with an assessment income up to €29,500, decreasing to zero at €41,000; couples receive up to €246 a month together. See health insurance in the Netherlands.

Many Amsterdam residents cycle for most trips, which keeps transport costs low after buying a bike. For public transport, GVB fares in 2026 are:

• Pay as you go with credit on a travel card: €1.16 base fare plus €0.217 per km;
• GVB Max: when you check in and out with a bank card or phone (OVpay), you pay at most €10.50 per day on GVB;
• GVB 1-hour ticket: €3.40.

If you commute daily, compare season tickets with GVB's advice tool. See public transport in Amsterdam.

• Energy and water: you choose your own electricity and gas supplier; prices depend on your contract and usage, so compare offers. Tap water in Amsterdam is supplied by Waternet.
• Municipal waste tax (afvalstoffenheffing): !WOON lists €352 a year for a single-person household and €469 for multi-person households (2025 amounts); check the City's tax pages for 2026. Tenants also pay the water board tax (waterschapsbelasting) to Waternet. Both are charged based on your situation on 1 January, and you receive the bills automatically once registered.
• Phone and internet: IN Amsterdam's 2024 cost guide mentioned about €25 a month for a typical SIM-only contract and about €20 to €25 for basic home internet; prices vary by provider.

Ask whether utilities and internet are included in your rent; many furnished and shared homes include them as service charges, which must be itemised once a year.

IN Amsterdam's 2024 cost guide describes Dutch schools as government-funded and free. It also noted that partly subsidised international schools charged roughly €3,600 to €8,000 a year per child and private international schools roughly €12,000 to €26,000. For childcare, parents can receive childcare benefit (kinderopvangtoeslag), calculated on a sliding scale based on income. See childcare in the Netherlands and schools in the Netherlands.

• The statutory minimum wage for employees aged 21 and over is €14.71 per hour from 1 January 2026 and €14.99 from 1 July 2026, before tax. There is no fixed monthly minimum; it depends on your hours.
• Check how and when your employer pays holiday allowance (vakantiegeld); it is often paid once a year rather than monthly.
• Employees recruited from abroad may qualify for the 30% ruling, which can make part of the salary tax-free if the salary is above €48,013 a year (2026), or €36,497 for some people under 30 with a master's degree. See the 30% ruling.
• Low and middle incomes may qualify for rent benefit and healthcare benefit. See benefits and allowances.

1. Start with net income, not gross: use your employer's salary calculation or a net salary calculator, and remember that holiday allowance arrives once a year.
2. Add housing: rent, service charges, energy, water, internet and local taxes.
3. Add fixed insurance: health insurance premium, plus the deductible as a reserve. Consider liability and contents insurance as well.
4. Add transport, phone, groceries and childcare.
5. Subtract any benefits you qualify for, but only after checking the conditions with the Benefits Service.
6. Keep a buffer of at least one month's costs for deposits and annual bills.

For students, Study in NL cites Nibud averages (2024) of roughly €1,000 to €1,500 a month in total spending, including about €244 for groceries and €67 for transport.