Lelystad vs Heerlen
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Lelystad is approximately 67% less expensive than Heerlen 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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Lelystad
Netherlands
Heerlen
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.
Heerlen costs roughly 4% less than Lelystad. Lelystad scores significantly higher on safety — worth weighing against the cost gap. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Lelystad is approximately 67% less expensive than Heerlen 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 Heerlen
Heerlen is a cheap, safe, small Dutch city that punches above its weight for remote workers and early retirees, with a cost of living index of 68/100, a safety index of 82/100, and a digital nomad score of 72/100. You can rent a one-bedroom outside the center for $953/mo, and a single adult can live on roughly $1,144/mo at the budget tier, which is remarkable given the excellent healthcare and widely spoken English. The trade-offs are real: a small expat community, damp southern Limburg weather, and a local net salary averaging $2,902/mo that makes the $1,121/mo city-center rent sting for anyone earning locally rather than remotely. If you want Amsterdam energy or a big international crowd, look elsewhere; if you want low costs, low crime, and 90 Mbps internet, Heerlen delivers.
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.
$1,107/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Lelystad | Heerlen |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $672.85 | $1121.42 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $448.57 | $953.21 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1345.71 | $1906.42 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $785 | $1607.38 |
| Safety Index | 67.65 | 35.61 |
| Internet Speed | 100Mbps | 90Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Lelystad | Heerlen |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $1,440/mo | $1,893/mo |
| Excluding rent | $991/mo | $940/mo |
| Rent | $449/mo | $953/mo |
| Groceries | $244/mo | $262/mo |
| Dining out | $224/mo | $236/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $120/mo | $110/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $291/mo | $272/mo |
| Transport | $112/mo | $60.00/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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