Amsterdam vs Vienna
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Amsterdam
Vienna
The Verdict
Vienna is 21.6% less expensive than Amsterdam overall. A household earning $75,000 in Amsterdam would need approximately $61,682 in Vienna to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Amsterdam has the same purchasing power as $61,682 in Vienna.
Conversely, $75,000 in Vienna equals $91,193 in Amsterdam.
Living in Amsterdam vs Vienna
Housing Costs
Amsterdam's housing index of 138 is higher Vienna's 105, translating to median home prices of $595,000 vs $395,000. The $200,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,996 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,100/mo in Amsterdam compared to $1,275/mo in Vienna, a monthly difference of $825.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 95 in Amsterdam and 85 in Vienna. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Amsterdam vs $404/month in Vienna. Vienna offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $564/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 118 in Amsterdam and 98 in Vienna. Monthly utility bills average approximately $472 in Amsterdam vs $392 in Vienna. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 90 in Amsterdam and 82 in Vienna. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $58,000 in Amsterdam and $48,000 in Vienna. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,206 and $54,545 respectively. Vienna residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,353/month to housing in Amsterdam vs $1,120/month in Vienna. In Amsterdam, median rent of $2,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Vienna, median rent of $1,275/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 33 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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