Cost of living in Amsterdam: what Brits really pay compared with London

Amsterdam isn't cheap, but it's not Zurich either. Rent is the big squeeze, much as it is in London, and health insurance is a bill the NHS never sent you. The weekly shop, on the other hand, is a pleasant surprise, and most people barely spend anything getting around.

The short version

• Free-sector rents in Amsterdam averaged EUR 25.70 per m² a month in the second quarter of 2026, the highest in the country. A 70 m² flat at that rate is about EUR 1,800 (about £1,500) [2].
• London's average private rent is £2,338 a month and the UK's £1,406 [1].
• Health insurance is compulsory: about EUR 159 a month (about £133) per adult on average in 2026, with children free [5][6].
• Food prices in the Netherlands are slightly below the EU average, at 97 on Eurostat's index [8].
• A month of unlimited trams, buses and metro in Amsterdam is EUR 129 (about £107) [9].

Pound conversions use the Bank of England spot rate of 5 November 2026 (£1 = EUR 1.2002).

Amsterdam, London and the UK side by side

London and UK rents are the ONS figures for September 2026, published on 21 October 2026 [1]. Amsterdam's are from the estate agents' association NVM's quarterly rent analysis [2].

Rent: the biggest bill by far

The NVM's analysis of the second quarter of 2026 put Amsterdam at EUR 25.70 per m² a month, the highest of any Dutch rental market and well above the national average of EUR 19.32 (about £16.10) [2]. Pararius, the big rental portal, reported an even higher EUR 28.68 per m² for Amsterdam's free sector at the end of 2025, up 9.1% in a year [3]. Different sources measure different slices of the market, so treat these as a range rather than gospel.

In practice, a one-bedroom flat of 50 m² inside the ring road works out at about EUR 1,290 to 1,430 (about £1,070 to £1,190) at those rates, and a family-sized 90 m² flat EUR 2,300 to 2,600 (about £1,920 to £2,170). That's London territory, and the bigger problem is finding anything at all, because very few free-sector flats come up. Dutch flats are also smaller than many Brits expect, steep stairs included.

Remember the extras: a deposit (usually one or two months' rent), service costs, and energy and water if they're not included. Our guide to renting in Amsterdam explains the rules on deposits, the points system for regulated rents and the scams to avoid.

Health insurance: the bill the NHS never sent you

Every resident must take out Dutch basic health insurance within four months of arriving [4]. In 2026 the average basic premium is about EUR 159 a month (about £133) per adult [6]. Children under 18 are insured for free [5], which softens the blow for families.

On top of the premium, each adult pays the first EUR 385 (about £321) of most care each year through the compulsory excess (eigen risico), although GP visits don't count towards it [7]. For 2027 premiums are expected to rise by roughly EUR 10 to 15 a month, while the government's own Q&A, updated on 4 November 2026, keeps the excess at EUR 385 for 2027 [7][6]; insurers publish their 2027 prices by 12 November.

Lower earners can claim the healthcare allowance (zorgtoeslag), worth up to about EUR 129 a month (about £107) for a single person in 2026 [6]. Our guide to healthcare in Amsterdam explains how to choose a policy.

The weekly shop

Here's the good news. Eurostat's food price level index put the Netherlands at 97.0 in 2024, against an EU average of 100 [8]. That makes Dutch supermarkets a touch cheaper than the EU norm, and most Brits find the weekly bill roughly what they're used to at home, with dairy, bread and vegetables often cheaper and eating out dearer.

Ways to keep it down:

1. Use the discounters for the basics and save the big chains for what you can't get elsewhere.
2. Shop the street markets. The Albert Cuyp market in De Pijp and the Dappermarkt in Oost are good for fruit, veg and cheese.
3. Take a bag. Plastic carrier bags cost extra.
4. Bring the British treats from home. Marmite, PG Tips and proper crumpets are imports here. See our guide to British food, shops and pubs in Amsterdam.

Getting around

Amsterdam is where you save money. Most people cycle, which costs next to nothing once you've bought a bike and a good lock. For trams, buses and the metro, the city operator GVB charges [9]:

You can tap in and out with a contactless bank card or phone; forget to tap out and you're charged a EUR 4 boarding fee (about £3.33) [9]. A London zones 1–2 Travelcard costs considerably more than GVB Vrij, and you'd still be stuck on the Central line. Many Brits here never own a car. If you do, our guide to driving in the Netherlands with a UK licence covers licences and parking.

Eating out and going out

Eating out is where Amsterdam bites. Menu prices include VAT and service, so tipping is modest compared with a London bill with 12.5% added. A few prices from a British-style café on the Singel, from its summer 2026 menu [10]:

• Full English breakfast: EUR 19.25 (about £16)
• Pot of tea for one: EUR 3.50 (about £2.90)
• Scone with clotted cream and jam: EUR 7.00 (about £5.85)
• Cappuccino: EUR 4.25 (about £3.55)

A cream tea for two is a treat rather than a habit, much as it would be in Covent Garden. Lunch is usually better value than dinner.

Making the sums work

When you compare an Amsterdam job offer with a UK one, add up the whole package: gross pay, Dutch income tax (which is steep on higher earnings), health insurance for each adult, rent and childcare. Some newcomers recruited from abroad qualify for the 30% ruling, which makes part of their salary tax-free. Our guide to the 30% ruling for Brits explains who qualifies and how it's changing.

Childcare in particular can be a very large monthly bill, so get real quotes from a kinderopvang before you sign, and check whether you'd qualify for childcare allowance. Ask in our community group for Brits in the Netherlands what families really spend each month.

Sources

1. ONS: Private rent and house prices, UK: October 2026 (21 October 2026, rents for September 2026)
2. NVM and VGM NL: Huurontwikkelingen Q2 2026 (30 July 2026)
3. NH Nieuws: Amsterdam nog steeds met afstand duurste stad, huurprijzen stijgen met 9 procent (14 January 2026, Pararius figures for Q4 2025)
4. GOV.UK: Healthcare in the Netherlands
5. Government of the Netherlands: Standard health insurance
6. Zorgwijzer: Miljoenennota 2027, zorgpremie en eigen risico (15 September 2026, citing the 2027 health ministry budget)
7. Rijksoverheid: Eigen risico zorgverzekering
8. Eurostat: Price level indices, food (prc_ppp_ind) (2024 data, EU27 = 100)
9. GVB: GVB Vrij season ticket, E-purse balance fares and Travel occasionally (2026 rates)
10. Greenwoods Amsterdam Singel: Menu (summer 2026)

Keep reading

• Renting in Amsterdam
• Healthcare and health insurance in Amsterdam
• The 30% ruling for Brits
• Sending money between the UK and abroad