Amsterdam is climbing the world rankings, but that comes at a price. Deutsche Bank's latest report, Mapping the World's Prices 2025, shows that our capital is not only becoming increasingly expensive, but also increasingly attractive as a place to live and work. But anyone who wants to enjoy a cappuccino or buy a pair of jeans in the canal district had better bring a well-filled wallet.
Amsterdam residents can count themselves lucky: the city ranks joint third in the world for quality of life, along with Vienna. This is a significant achievement, thanks to factors like excellent healthcare, short commutes, clean air, and a reasonably favorable balance between income and costs.
Salaries in Amsterdam have risen by almost 50% over the past five years. This puts the city in 8th place worldwide for average net monthly salary. Only cities like Geneva, Zurich, and San Francisco fare better. Moreover, the Dutch have a decent amount left over: Amsterdam ranks 10th in the world for disposable income, i.e., disposable income after deducting rent.
Yet, living in Amsterdam is anything but cheap. According to the report, you pay an average of $10.792 per square meter for an apartment, placing the city 19th among the most expensive places to buy a home. Renting is no different: a two-bedroom apartment in the city center costs an average of $3 per month. That ranks 4.230th globally, just below cities like Boston, London, and San Francisco.
Expensive denim
And those aren't even the only expenses. Surprisingly enough, Amsterdam is in the top 5 of the most expensive cities in the world to buy a pair of jeans. So if you're looking to expand your jeans collection, it could become a pricey hobby.
And the number one spot for the best quality of life? That goes to Luxembourg. Short traffic jams, clean air, and even free public transport make life there pleasant.
Curious about the full report? View this here.