Lelystad vs Almelo
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Lelystad is approximately 100% less expensive than Almelo based on cost of living including rent. This makes Lelystad a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Lelystad has a FIRE Score of 64/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 67.65, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Lelystad is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.
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Best in rowNetherlands
Lelystad
Netherlands
Almelo
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Lelystad
Lelystad is a cheap, safe, and quietly practical base for a remote worker or budget-minded expat, with a cost of living index of 70/100, a safety index of 85/100, and a digital nomad score of 75/100. Rent outside the center is the real draw: $449/mo for a one-bedroom and $785/mo for a three-bedroom, which keeps a single adult's budget tier at $899/mo against a local net salary of $2,411/mo. The trade-offs are a small expat community, a retiree score of 62/100, and a flat, gray, rain-prone climate that will wear on anyone who needs sun. Come for the low overhead and English-friendly everyday life, not for big-city energy or a ready-made social scene.
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.
Almelo costs roughly 3% less than Lelystad. Beyond cost, the two cities are closely matched — lifestyle fit and visa options are likely the deciding factors. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Lelystad is approximately 100% less expensive than Almelo based on cost of living including rent. This makes Lelystad a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Lelystad has a FIRE Score of 64/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 67.65, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Lelystad is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.
About Lelystad
Lelystad is a cheap, safe, and quietly practical base for a remote worker or budget-minded expat, with a cost of living index of 70/100, a safety index of 85/100, and a digital nomad score of 75/100. Rent outside the center is the real draw: $449/mo for a one-bedroom and $785/mo for a three-bedroom, which keeps a single adult's budget tier at $899/mo against a local net salary of $2,411/mo. The trade-offs are a small expat community, a retiree score of 62/100, and a flat, gray, rain-prone climate that will wear on anyone who needs sun. Come for the low overhead and English-friendly everyday life, not for big-city energy or a ready-made social scene.
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.
$1,557/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Almelo
Almelo is a small, safe Dutch city that quietly outperforms its size: a 92/100 safety index, an 8/100 crime index, excellent healthcare, and widely spoken English make daily life easy, while a 68/100 cost of living index and $1,346/mo city-center rent keep it far cheaper than the Randstad. The trade-off is scale and access: 73 thousand people, a small expat community, and no major airport on the doorstep mean you will likely be traveling for big-city culture and long-haul flights. With an average net salary of $4,777/mo against $1,020/mo in non-rent costs for a single adult, it is a genuinely affordable base for remote workers and early retirees, though anyone craving a large international crowd will find it thin. Come for the low costs and high safety, not for the buzz.
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.
$774/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Which visa fits your move?
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| Metric | Lelystad | Almelo |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $672.85 | $1345.71 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $448.57 | $1233.57 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1345.71 | $1906.42 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $785 | $1906.42 |
| Safety Index | 67.65 | 64.71 |
| Internet Speed | 100Mbps | 175Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Lelystad | Almelo |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $1,440/mo | $2,226/mo |
| Excluding rent | $991/mo | $992/mo |
| Rent | $449/mo | $1,234/mo |
| Groceries | $244/mo | $256/mo |
| Dining out | $224/mo | $202/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $120/mo | $131/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $291/mo | $300/mo |
| Transport | $112/mo | $103/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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