Amersfoort vs Friedrichshafen: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Friedrichshafen scores higher for long-term retiree livability. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Friedrichshafen is approximately 11% less expensive than Amersfoort based on cost of living including rent. This makes Friedrichshafen a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Friedrichshafen has a FIRE Score of N/A/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 90, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Friedrichshafen is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.
About Amersfoort
Amersfoort is the rare Dutch city where a $3,941/mo average net salary actually keeps pace with a $1,570/mo city-center one-bedroom, and the 72/100 cost of living index makes that math work in your favor. The 90/100 safety index and 25 air quality index are genuinely excellent, and with English widely spoken plus a medium expat community in Vathorst and Bergkwartier, settling in is straightforward. It is a small city at 157 thousand people, so anyone craving big-city nightlife or a major airport at the doorstep should look elsewhere. For digital nomads scoring it 82/100 and remote workers chasing a 69/100 FIRE score, the tradeoff is a quieter, cheaper base with 200 Mbps internet and a $90/mo transit pass that covers what you need.
About Netherlands
Best for digital nomads with high income: the Netherlands offers a self-employment residency visa with a posted income floor of $1,713/month, but check the latest application details. Safety is top-tier with a 73.1 Safety Index and a US Travel Advisory Level 2, comparable to safe US metros. The trade-off: a progressive income tax up to 49.5% on local earnings, which can erode remote-work arbitrage gains.
$775/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Friedrichshafen
Friedrichshafen is a small-town winner for retirees and anyone chasing lakeside calm, with a retiree score of 91/100 and a safety index of 90/100 against a crime index of just 10/100. The catch is cost: a single adult needs roughly $2,176/mo for a mid-range life, and a city-center one-bedroom runs $1,409/mo, which stings when the average net salary is $3,028/mo. Digital nomads get a decent 77/100 and a freelancer residence permit, but the real draw is the airport 4 km away and 200 Mbps internet. Come for the air quality and the Alps, stay if your income clears the bar.
About Germany
Germany suits retirees with steady income and no rush toward citizenship shortcuts. A EUR 1,200/mo retirement visa threshold is trivial to clear, and $942.63 rent for a city-center 1BR beats most Western Europe. Healthcare scores 71.9 with English-speaking doctors widely available. The catch: progressive tax up to 45% and no digital nomad visa is currently offered.
$824/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Amersfoort | Friedrichshafen |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $1569.99 | $1409.07 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $1313.94 | $1318.05 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $2055.94 | $1906.42 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $1719.52 | $1084.04 |
| Safety Index | 90 | 90 |
| Internet Speed | 200Mbps | 200.3Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Amersfoort | Friedrichshafen |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $2,332/mo | $2,171/mo |
| Excluding rent | $1,018/mo | $853/mo |
| Rent | $1,314/mo | $1,318/mo |
| Groceries | $244/mo | $222/mo |
| Dining out | $236/mo | $168/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $116/mo | $117/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $332/mo | $275/mo |
| Transport | $90.00/mo | $71.00/mo |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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Amersfoort vs Friedrichshafen -- Frequently Asked Questions
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