Why consider it?
English-friendly city living, cycling and international access
Netherlands · Visit or make it home
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a city in Netherlands. Compare its dated local facts and monthly climate before choosing a time to visit or planning a move. Housing references and national earnings describe different populations; verify the costs of your own home and job before deciding.
Get to know Amsterdam
A sense of the place
Amsterdam is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands. As of 1 January 2026, it had a population of 941,873 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the urban area and 2,480,394 in the metropolitan area. Located in the Dutch province of North Holland, Amsterdam is colloquially referred to as the "Venice of the North", for its large number of canals, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Amsterdam was founded at the mouth of the Amstel river, which was dammed to control flooding. Originally a small fishing village in the 12th century, Amsterdam became a major world port during the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century, when the Netherlands was an economic powerhouse. Amsterdam was the leading centre for finance and trade, as well as a hub of secular art production. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the city expanded and new neighborhoods and suburbs were built. The city has a long tradition of openness, liberalism, and tolerance. Cycling is key to the city's modern character, and there are numerous biking paths and lanes spread throughout.
The trade-off
Housing is expensive and the rental search can dominate the decision.
Weather through the year
When to visit Amsterdam
Temperature
August has the warmest monthly average (18.0°C); February is coolest (3.5°C). These averages include nights, so daytime highs can be considerably warmer.
Rain and outdoor plans
August averages about 90 mm of rain, compared with 40 mm in April. Rainfall alone does not identify a single best month; compare temperatures with the activities you plan.
Planning time outdoors
May, June, July, August, September combine monthly mean temperatures of 12–22°C with less than 100 mm of precipitation. These are useful dates to compare for a walking-focused visit; check daylight, opening times and the forecast for your actual trip.
January, February, December have monthly means below 5°C. For a stay then, compare accommodation heating and keep indoor options in your itinerary. These figures do not establish snow cover or ski conditions.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average °C | 3.5 | 3.5 | 5.6 | 9.2 | 12.7 | 15.8 | 17.9 | 18.0 | 15.3 | 11.6 | 7.7 | 4.6 |
| Rain, mm | 75 | 64 | 53 | 40 | 57 | 63 | 81 | 90 | 70 | 78 | 76 | 81 |
Source: NASA POWER climatology · Reference period: 2001-2020. Long-term averages for the surrounding grid area. Conditions vary within a city; monthly averages are neither a forecast nor a guarantee of dry days.
Places around Amsterdam
Build your shortlist for a day out. Distances are straight-line from the city centre; check routes and opening times before setting off.
Beach
Blijburg
7.7 km from the city centre
Compare with another cityBotanical garden
Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam
Less than 1 km from the city centre
Compare with another cityForest
Penbos
6.5 km from the city centre
Compare with another cityPark
Weesperplantsoen
Less than 1 km from the city centre
Compare with another cityAverage rent in Amsterdam
What is the average rent in Amsterdam?
1,445 €/month is the recorded central one-bedroom rent reference for Amsterdam, dated 2024. This is a dated comparison measure, rather than a home available today. Check current listings in your chosen neighbourhood, then add utilities, the deposit and commuting to make a budget for your own move.
Source: Deloitte Property Index 2025 (14th edition) — 'Average Monthly Rent per sqm in EUR, 2024' (77 cities) · Reference date: 2024 · Deloitte copyright / restricted website terms
Average salary in Amsterdam
What is the average salary in Amsterdam?
6,402.1 USD/month is the gross employee-pay reference dated 2025. It describes Netherlands, not average salary in Amsterdam. Gross pay is before deductions; household earnings depend on the household model. Use a current offer and your own tax circumstances for take-home budgeting.
Source: ILO — Average gross monthly earnings of employees · Reference date: 2025 · CC BY 4.0 (ILO datasets published from 3 May 2023)
How should I compare Amsterdam with another city?
Compare the same dated measures for both cities, keeping local observations separate from national context. Start with rent, your expected income and the journeys you will make regularly. Then adjust the comparison weights to your priorities. Missing measurements do not prove an advantage; verify decisive costs and services with current local sources.
- Choose a comparison below and read its sources and dates.
- Set priorities for housing, work, transport and climate.
- Check current listings and your own income before making a decision.
Data sources, licences & reuse terms
Plan your stay
Budget and everyday decisions
A holiday budget
Compare accommodation for your actual dates in Amsterdam, then add the journey here, airport transfers, meals and the activities you want. A cheap room outside the centre can cost more overall if it adds daily transport.
Compare holiday preferences →A relocation budget
The recorded central one-bedroom rent is 1,445 €/month (2024). Compare it with properties in your chosen neighbourhood.
Include the deposit, utilities, internet and commuting. Compare those costs with your own expected take-home income.
Compare with another city →Average gross monthly earnings — country reference
6,402.1 USD/month
Average employee pay before tax and deductions, in US dollars. This country reference is not a city-specific salary or personal take-home pay.
Data period: 2025. Source: ILO — Average gross monthly earnings of employees · CC BY 4.0 (ILO datasets published from 3 May 2023)Compare with another city →Your relocation planning budget
Build a monthly budget for Amsterdam in euros. Totals are calculated from the amounts below, not live quotes. Rent starts from the recorded 2024 figure; edit it for your chosen home.
Monthly total:
First month including move:
Compare with another city →Compare the details
Amsterdam at a glance
Distance to nearest sea / coastline
20 km
Distance to the coastline does not guarantee a swimmable beach, public access or a short journey.
Data period: 2024. Source: OpenStreetMap coastline — derived distance to sea · Open Database Licence 1.0 (ODbL)Compare with another city →Public-transport provision (ordinal proxy)
8 / 10
A broad comparison of provision, not a timetable. Check routes between your accommodation and the places you will visit regularly.
Data period: 2026-08. Limited confidence. Source: Documented public-transport provision ordinal (rapid-transit systems + city size) · GooferPlaces documented estimate; no external blanket licenceCompare with another city →Seismic hazard (ordinal 0 very-low to 4 high)
1 / 4
Data period: 2020. Limited confidence. Source: EFEHR / ESHM20 — European Seismic Hazard Model 2020 · CC BY 4.0Compare with another city →Annual precipitation
838 mm/year
Annual precipitation gives a broad climate comparison. Its distribution through the year matters more for a short visit.
Data period: 1991-2020. Source: Climate normals 1991-2020 (WMO / national meteorological services, via Wikipedia climate tables) · Wikipedia compilation: CC BY-SA 4.0; original observations have source-specific termsCompare with another city →Distance to nearest mountains (>1500 m)
450 km
Distance to high terrain does not establish access to hiking trails, ski lifts or mountain transport.
Data period: 2024. Limited confidence. Source: Derived distance to mountains (>1500 m), from public elevation/peak data · Mixed elevation/OSM source terms; no single public-domain grantCompare with another city →Average annual temperature
10.5 °C
Long-term average including days and nights. Use the monthly breakdown to choose dates; this is not a weather forecast.
Data period: 1991-2020. Source: Climate normals 1991-2020 (WMO / national meteorological services, via Wikipedia climate tables) · Wikipedia compilation: CC BY-SA 4.0; original observations have source-specific termsCompare with another city →Annual sunshine hours
1,662 hours/year
Data period: 1991-2020. Source: Climate normals 1991-2020 (WMO / national meteorological services, via Wikipedia climate tables) · Wikipedia compilation: CC BY-SA 4.0; original observations have source-specific termsCompare with another city →Nearest listed airport (straight-line distance)
15 km
Straight-line distance to a listed airport, not transfer time or confirmation of scheduled flights. Check the airport serving your actual route before booking.
Data period: 2024. Source: OurAirports — airport locations · Public domainCompare with another city →Monthly rent, 1-bedroom, city centre
1,445 €/month
Advertised asking rent
A dated reference for a one-bedroom home in the centre, not a current listing. Compare actual properties, deposits, utilities and neighbourhoods before setting your budget.
Data period: 2024. Source: Deloitte Property Index 2025 (14th edition) — 'Average Monthly Rent per sqm in EUR, 2024' (77 cities) · Deloitte copyright / restricted website termsCompare with another city →Netherlands: the wider context
These are country-level figures, not measurements of Amsterdam. Use them to compare national conditions; neighbourhoods, salaries and individual services can differ substantially.
See 12 national indicators
Income level — GNI per capita, PPP (gross)
85,480 international dollars (PPP)
Purchasing-power-adjusted national income per person is not a salary or take-home pay.
Data period: 2025. Source: World Bank — GNI per capita, PPP (NY.GNP.PCAP.PP.CD) · CC BY 4.0 with World Bank additional termsCompare with another city →Household electricity price (band DC, all taxes)
0.2 EUR/kWh
Data period: 2025-S1. Source: Eurostat — Electricity prices for household consumers (nrg_pc_204) · Eurostat attribution reuse termsCompare with another city →Fixed broadband / internet quality
98.4 pct_hh_vhcn
Data period: 2024. Source: Eurostat — Broadband internet coverage by technology (isoc_cbt) · Eurostat attribution reuse termsCompare with another city →English / language accessibility
93 index
Data period: 2022. Source: Eurostat — Number of foreign languages known, self-reported (edat_aes_l21) · Eurostat attribution reuse termsCompare with another city →Healthcare / health outcome (life expectancy at birth)
81.8 years
Life expectancy describes population health outcomes; it does not measure the quality or availability of a particular hospital.
Data period: 2023. Source: Eurostat — Life expectancy at birth (tps00205 / demo_mlexpec) · Eurostat attribution reuse termsCompare with another city →Average gross monthly earnings — country reference
6,402.1 USD/month
Average employee pay before tax and deductions, in US dollars. This country reference is not a city-specific salary or personal take-home pay.
Data period: 2025. Source: ILO — Average gross monthly earnings of employees · CC BY 4.0 (ILO datasets published from 3 May 2023)Compare with another city →Net annual earnings (single, no children)
35,836.9 €/year
An annual earnings reference for the stated household model, not a promised salary or a measure of your personal take-home pay.
Data period: 2025. Source: Eurostat — Annual net earnings (earn_nt_net) · Eurostat attribution reuse termsCompare with another city →Overall tax burden (taxes + social contributions, % of GDP)
39.1 % of GDP
Taxes and social contributions as a share of the economy, not your personal income-tax rate.
Data period: 2024. Source: Eurostat — Main national accounts tax aggregates (gov_10a_taxag) · Eurostat attribution reuse termsCompare with another city →Intentional homicide rate
0.8 per 100,000 people
Homicide rates are a narrow safety indicator. They do not describe petty crime or the safety of an individual neighbourhood.
Data period: 2022. Source: Eurostat — Police-recorded offences by category (crim_off_cat) · Eurostat attribution reuse termsCompare with another city →Air quality — annual mean PM2.5
11.5 µg/m³
Data period: 2017. Limited confidence. Source: World Bank — PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure (EN.ATM.PM25.MC.M3) · CC BY 4.0 with World Bank additional termsCompare with another city →Comparative price level (household consumption)
115.1 (EU average = 100)
Data period: 2024. Source: Eurostat — Price level indices, household final consumption (tec00120 / prc_ppp_ind_1) · Eurostat attribution reuse termsCompare with another city →Education system (national)
159.1 points (0–188)
Data period: 2025. Estimate. Source: World Bank HCI+ education pillar (2025) · CC BY 4.0 with World Bank additional termsCompare with another city →Other places to compare in Netherlands
Compare Amsterdam with other cities
Read the source dates, choose your priorities and keep unavailable values separate from costs you know.
All maintained comparisons →