What is the population of Amsterdam?

Amsterdam has a population of approximately 741,636 people.

How much does it cost to live in Amsterdam?

A single person can expect to spend around $6,723 per month in Amsterdam, including rent. A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center costs approximately $2689/month.

Is Amsterdam good for remote work and digital nomads?

Amsterdam has an average internet speed of 150.7 Mbps. It is considered a well-established digital nomad destination.

Can Americans live in Amsterdam, and what visa do they need?

US citizens have an unusually easy route: the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT). You register a Dutch business, keep at least 4,500 EUR in a Dutch business bank account for the duration of the permit, and receive a two-year self-employment residence permit that is renewable. There is no income test at first application and no Dutch-language requirement. Non-Americans typically look at the self-employed or highly skilled migrant routes instead. Note that DAFT makes you a Dutch tax resident on worldwide income. See our visa guide for the full process.

What taxes do expats pay in Amsterdam?

Dutch tax residents are taxed on worldwide income through a box system: Box 1 covers employment and business income at progressive rates, and Box 3 covers wealth (a regime that has been under active reform). Qualifying skilled migrants may use the 30% ruling to shelter part of their income, though it has been narrowed in recent years and does not apply to self-employed DAFT freelancers, who pay full income tax on profits. Dutch rates are high relative to the US, so model your situation with a Dutch tax advisor before moving.

Safety data for Amsterdam is not available in our verified data, so a definitive safety assessment cannot be provided. The city's overall score is 72, but this does not directly measure crime or safety levels.

What is healthcare like in Amsterdam?

Healthcare is excellent. Residents must buy mandatory basic health insurance (basisverzekering) from a private insurer, with an additional income-based contribution; low earners can qualify for a healthcare allowance. The system runs through a GP gatekeeper (your huisarts), who refers you onward, which can feel slower than the US for non-urgent specialist access. Quality is high and most doctors speak fluent English.

Is the internet good in Amsterdam for remote work?

Amsterdam has an average internet speed of 150.7 Mbps, making it well-suited for remote work with widespread fibre and coworking spaces.

Where do expats live in Amsterdam?

Popular expat areas include Jordaan and De Pijp (central, lively, pricey), Oud-West and Oud-Zuid (upscale and well-connected), Amsterdam-Noord (cheaper and rapidly developing, a short ferry from Centraal), and Oost (diverse and better value). Your real constraint is availability, not preference, given the tight rental market. See our neighborhood guide for a deeper breakdown.

Do you need to speak Dutch to live in Amsterdam?

No. English is spoken almost universally in Amsterdam, and you can live, work, and handle most daily life entirely in English, especially within the expat and tech worlds. Learning Dutch smooths bureaucracy, integration, and longer-term life, and is required if you later pursue the civic integration (inburgering) path to permanent residency, but it is not needed day to day.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

🏛️ Capital City

Data updated Oct 8, 2026

Follows Netherlands Residency Rules. Check Digital Nomad & Retiree Pathways →

📊 Scores

FIRE

Retiree

Digital Nomad

Best fit: Digital Nomad (score: 73)

Amsterdam sits in the Netherlands on the Europe/Amsterdam clock, a city of 742 thousand people with a temperate climate that keeps winters mild and summers comfortable. English is widely spoken here, which softens the landing for newcomers, and the expat community is large and active. The city rewards those who settle in and learn its rhythms, whether they arrive for a year or plan to stay far longer.

Rent shapes the budget more than anything else. A one-bedroom in the city center runs $2,689/mo, while the same apartment outside the center drops to $2,000/mo. Three-bedroom units follow the same pattern: $4,071/mo in the center and $3,057/mo outside it. Beyond rent, a single person spends about $1,269/mo, and a family of four about $4,526/mo. Utilities average $292/mo, internet $52/mo, and a mobile plan $23/mo. A monthly public transport pass costs $116/mo and a gym membership $59/mo. Meals out range from $22 per person at an inexpensive restaurant to $90 for a three-course mid-range dinner for two, with a cappuccino at $5. Against those numbers, the average monthly net salary is $4,799/mo, and the cost of living index sits at 78/100 against New York City. Budget-conscious singles can plan around $1,892/mo, mid-range around $2,956/mo, and comfortable living around $3,878/mo, all rent included.

Safety and healthcare rank among the city's quiet strengths. Healthcare quality is excellent, and the compact layout means daily errands and commutes rarely demand a car. Internet speeds average 151 Mbps, fast enough for remote work, streaming, and video calls without strain. The overall expat score is 73/100, with digital nomads rating it 75/100, retirees 59/100, and the FIRE-minded 56/100.

For longer stays, the Netherlands Orientation Year Visa (Zoekjaar) requires a minimum monthly income of $1,713/mo. Arrivals typically reach the city by train from elsewhere in Europe or by air into the region's main hub, and once here the train, tram, metro, and bicycle network covers nearly everything. Amsterdam suits remote workers, students, and professionals who value English-friendly daily life, strong healthcare, and a dense urban fabric, though anyone chasing a low-cost retirement or an aggressive early-exit plan will find the numbers tighter than the atmosphere suggests.

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🏚️ Cost of Living

💰 Budgets and Costs

$3,110/mo, one person, rent included

Selected: mid-range lifestyle

Amsterdam on a mid-range budget comes to about $3,110 a month for one adult, with $2,000 of that going to rent. Beyond rent the estimate covers $256 on groceries, $224 on dining out, $147 on entertainment and lifestyle, $367 on utilities and connectivity and $116 on transport.

Rent

$2,000/mo

1BR outside the centre

Groceries

$256/mo

Staples basket scaled to a full month

Dining out

$224/mo

10 inexpensive meals

Entertainment & lifestyle

$147/mo

gym, 2 cinema trips, 12 cappuccinos

Utilities & connectivity

$367/mo

utilities, mobile, internet

Transport

$116/mo

Monthly pass

Budgets (excl. rent)

Single person$1,110/mo

Excludes rent. The total above is all-in, rent included.

Estimates for one adult, built from this city's average prices and the usage shown for each tier. Your spending will differ with how often you eat out and where you live.

A 1BR in the center runs about $2689.19/mo. If your income is in another currency, bank FX fees add up. A multi-currency account can cut that cost.

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🏥 Healthcare

Excellent

Public Hospitals

Yes

Private Clinics

Yes

English-Speaking Doctors

Widely Available

See how Amsterdam's healthcare compares with Venlo

🌤️ Climate

Climate Zones

Temperate

💻 Digital Nomad

Avg Internet Speed

150.7 Mbps

Internet (monthly)

$52/mo

Coworking Availability

Abundant

Coworking Spaces Nearby

Digital Nomad Score

75/100

Coworking Spaces

Name	Notes
A Lab	Located at 2 Overhoeksplein, Amsterdam. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00.
ACS Amsterdam, Office RAI	Located at Europaplein 14, Amsterdam.
Amsterdam Desk Company	Located at 520 Keizersgracht, Amsterdam. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:30.
Baxter Building	Located at 1 Muiderstraat, Amsterdam.
BounceSpace	Located at 141 Overtoom, Amsterdam.
Boven de Balie	Located at 10 Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen, Amsterdam.
Buro De Pijp	Located at 72-H Eerste Jan Steenstraat, Amsterdam.
De Werkplek	Located at 11 Hulstweg, Amsterdam.
Deskowitz Museumplein	Located at 8 Gabriël Metsustraat, Amsterdam.
Equals Amsterdam	Located at 6 Raamgracht, Amsterdam.
Impact Hub	In Amsterdam.
Industrious	Located at Herengracht 208, Amsterdam.
KW9	Located at 9 Kromme Waal, Amsterdam.
Makerversity	Located at 5 Kattenburgerstraat, Amsterdam.
Mirabeau/Cognizant Digital Hub	Located at Paul van Vlissingenstraat 10, Amsterdam.
Netherlands eScience Center	Located at Science Park 140, Amsterdam.
Regus - Amsterdam Amstel	Located at Joop Geesinkweg 901-999, Begane Grond, 1ste, 2de & 3de Verdieping, Amsterdam.
Regus - Amsterdam, CitySide	Located at Trompenburgstraat 2c, Amsterdam.
Regus - Amsterdam, Kraanspoor	Located at Kraanspoor 50, Amsterdam.
Regus - Diemen, Campus	Located at Dalsteindreef 141, Begane grond, Diemen.
Regus \| NS station2station	Located at Orlyplein 85, Amsterdam.
Regus Amsterdam Singel	Located at Singel 250, Amsterdam.
Regus Amsterdam Teleport Towers	Located at Amsterdam Station, Gebouw, Busitel 1.
Regus Express - Amsterdam, Central NS International - Regus Express	Located at Stationsplein 19-W, Perron 2- A, Amsterdam.
Regus Vinoly	Located at 2 Gustav Mahlerplein, Amsterdam.
rent24
Spaces	Located at Herengracht 124-128, Amsterdam.
Spaces	Located at 331 Haarlemmerweg, Amsterdam.
Spaces	Located at 68 Vijzelstraat, Amsterdam.
Spaces - Amsterdam, De Walvis	Located at Grote Bickersstraat 74-78, Amsterdam.
Spaces - Amsterdam, Spaces Keizersgracht	Located at Keizersgracht 555, Amsterdam.
Spaces Amstel	Located at Mr Treublaan 7, Amsterdam.
Spaces Vijzelstraat	Located at Vijzelstraat 68-78, Amsterdam.
Spaces Zuidas	Located at Barbara Strozzilaan 201, Amsterdam.
StartDock
StartDock Coworking Herengracht	Located at 420 Herengracht, Amsterdam. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00.
Studio 020	Located at Donker Curtiusstraat 25c, Amsterdam.
The Hacker Building	Located at 551 Herengracht, Amsterdam.
The Wheelhouse	Located at 17-19 Achtergracht, Amsterdam.
TOWER 42	Located at 42 Diemerhof, Diemen.
Unitz	Located at 84 Eerste Jan Steenstraat, Amsterdam.
Werkgebouw Het Veem	Located at 410 Van Diemenstraat, Amsterdam.
WeWork Metropool	Located at Weesperstraat 61, Amsterdam.
Wework Stadhouderskade	In Amsterdam.
WeWork Strawinskylaan	Located at Strawinskylaan 4117 Amsterdam, Netherlands.
WeWork Weteringschans	Located at Weteringschans 165 C, Amsterdam.
Wicked Grounds	Located at 26 2e Schinkelstraat, Amsterdam.

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Names, locations and hours can change. Check each space's website before you visit. Places from © OpenStreetMap contributors and Foursquare Open Source Places (Apache 2.0).

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🧳 Expat Life

English Proficiency

Widely Spoken

Expat Community

Large & Active

🏘️ Neighborhoods in Amsterdam

Notable areas of Amsterdam, with descriptions adapted from public reference sources. Rent figures are Numbeo's city-wide averages, not prices for a specific area.

Conditions can change from one block to the next, and these descriptions are general guides, not safety assessments. Before choosing where to stay or live, check current travel advisories, talk to people who live there, and visit in person if you can.

Binnenstad

The Binnenstad is the medieval heart of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, located in the Centrum borough. It is divided between the Burgwallen Oude Zijde on the east and the Burgwallen Nieuwe Zijde on the west. Most foreign visitors arrive and leave here, and the area holds many of the city's prime attractions. The Oudezijde is the oldest part of Amsterdam, dating from the 13th century.

Numbeo city average, center: $2,689 (updated Oct 8, 2026)

Sources: Wikivoyage, Wikipedia

Canal District

The Canal District, or Grachtengordel, is a neighborhood in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Centrum district. It surrounds the Binnenstad and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The district consists of the area around four main canals: the Singel, Herengracht, Keizersgracht, and Prinsengracht. Many canal houses date from the Dutch Golden Age, and the buildings show different architectural styles and facades. The article also covers Leidseplein, Rembrandtplein, and Weteringschans.

Numbeo city average, center: $2,689 (updated Oct 8, 2026)

Sources: Wikivoyage, Wikipedia

Jordaan

The Jordaan is a neighborhood in Amsterdam, Netherlands, part of the Amsterdam-Centrum borough. It is bordered by the Singelgracht canal and Frederik Hendrikbuurt on the west, the Prinsengracht on the east, the Brouwersgracht on the north, and the Leidsegracht on the south. Once working-class, it is now among the most expensive, upscale locations in the Netherlands, with art galleries, specialty shops, and restaurants. Markets are held at Noordermarkt, Westerstraat, and Lindengracht.

Numbeo city average, center: $2,689 (updated Oct 8, 2026)

Sources: Wikivoyage, Wikipedia

Plantage

Plantage is a neighborhood in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Centrum borough. The Entrepotdok lies to its north, the Plantage Muidergracht to its east and south, and the Nieuwe Herengracht to its west. The Natura Artis Magistra zoo sits in the center of the neighborhood. The neighborhood is leafy, and its population was 1,980 in 2017.

Numbeo city average, center: $2,689 (updated Oct 8, 2026)

Sources: Wikivoyage, Wikipedia

Zuidoost

Amsterdam-Zuidoost is a borough of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, an exclave that shares no borders with other boroughs. It contains four residential neighborhoods, Bijlmermeer, Venserpolder, Gaasperdam and Driemond, plus the Amstel III/Bullewijk Business Park and the Amsterdam Arena entertainment and shopping district. Built in the 1960s and 70s, it is known as De Bijlmer and is home to the Ajax football team.

As this used to be the most crime-ridden area of Amsterdam (and the Netherlands as a whole), it is important to always be cautious and stay within the well-populated areas. Do not walk around alone in the dark and avoid groups of youth standing around. Generally speaking, the area around Bijlmer ArenA station and along the Bijlmerdreef is quite safe, while the further off you get from there, the unsafer it gets. The area around Holendrecht is probably the worst. It must be said though that in the last 20 years crime has lessened considerably and the area can be visited safely during daylight. Non-residents who never actually go there will tell horror-stories about Bijlmer, but not only are they generally out-of-date, but they also need some perspective: even though populist Dutch politicians claim otherwise, the Netherlands is one of the safest countries on earth, and Amsterdam one of the safest large cities. If you live in a city, chances are that it has neighbourhoods much less safe than Bijlmer. Even within Amsterdam, there are much worse neighbourhoods, such as the western suburbs of Slotermeer/Slotervaart. Objectively Bijlmer may even be safer for tourists than the centre of town - pickpocketing is by far the commonest crime tourists suffer in Amsterdam and it is endemic in the center and on the trains to and from the airport. As there are almost no tourists in Bijlmer, there are hardly any pick-pockets either!

Stay safe text from Wikivoyage, available under CC BY-SA.

Numbeo city average, outside-center: $2,000 (updated Oct 8, 2026)

Sources: Wikivoyage, Wikipedia

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Descriptions adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Location data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).