Amsterdam vs London: Cost of Living Comparison
Updated 4 June 2026
London beats Amsterdam on disposable income at every salary level in a like-for-like comparison. At €70,000, London leaves you with €92 more per month. The Dutch 30% ruling for qualifying expats can flip this result.
The trade-off: nearly identical fixed costs, very different tax rates
Amsterdam and London are the closest pair in this comparison on fixed costs. Amsterdam rent (€1,800) is €100 below London's (€1,900); Amsterdam living costs (€900) are €100 below London's (€1,000). The two cancel out — combined fixed costs land at around €2,700/month in both cities.
Income tax is the decisive factor. The Netherlands taxes a €70,000 salary at approximately 37% effective; the UK at approximately 32%. That five-point gap means London's monthly net pay (€3,967) is €292 higher than Amsterdam's (€3,675) on the same gross salary. With combined fixed costs essentially tied, the tax advantage flows straight to London's bottom line.
The numbers at key salary levels
At €50,000: Amsterdam −€75/month, London −€67 — London €8 ahead (both negative). At €60,000: Amsterdam €450, London €500 — London €50 ahead. At €70,000: Amsterdam €975, London €1,067 — London €92 ahead. At €80,000: Amsterdam €1,500, London €1,633 — London €133 ahead. At €100,000: Amsterdam €2,550, London €2,767 — London €217 ahead. The gap grows with salary because London's tax advantage compounds.
The 30% ruling changes everything
The Netherlands offers a tax incentive for international workers known as the 30% ruling. Qualifying employees can have up to 30% of their gross salary paid tax-free for a limited period (recently reformed to taper down over time). For an eligible €70,000 earner, this effectively reduces the Dutch tax rate well below London's, potentially leaving Amsterdam ahead by €500–€700 per month.
Eligibility requires being recruited from abroad and meeting a minimum salary threshold. If you qualify, the financial case for Amsterdam over London becomes strong. If you don't — for instance, an EU citizen already resident in the Netherlands, or someone changing jobs locally — London remains the marginally better financial choice.
Other considerations
London offers a deeper job market in finance, law, media, and senior tech roles, with English as the native language across every workplace. Amsterdam is smaller, more walkable, and has a thriving but more focused tech and creative industry scene. Both cities are highly international — English is the working language in most Amsterdam offices that hire from abroad.
For non-EU citizens, Amsterdam is often the easier visa story via the Netherlands' Highly Skilled Migrant route, while the UK's post-Brexit visa system is more restrictive. For EU citizens, freedom of movement to Amsterdam is uncomplicated, while moving to London now requires a Skilled Worker visa.
Frequently asked questions
Is London or Amsterdam better for disposable income?
London, at every realistic salary level — unless you qualify for the Dutch 30% ruling. The Netherlands' effective tax rate (37%) is higher than the UK's (32%), and Amsterdam's rent is only slightly lower than London's. Combined fixed costs (rent + living) are nearly identical at around €2,700/month in both cities. London's lower tax wins by €50–€220 per month depending on salary.
Does the Dutch 30% ruling change the comparison?
Yes, significantly. Qualifying international workers in the Netherlands can have 30% of their gross salary paid tax-free for up to five years (the percentage and duration have been reduced in recent reforms). That effectively brings the Amsterdam tax rate below London's and flips the result — for eligible workers, Amsterdam can leave you with several hundred euros more per month than London. The base comparison on this page assumes no special tax regime.
Is Amsterdam more expensive than London?
On rent, no — Amsterdam city-centre 1-bedroom rents (€1,800) are slightly below London's (€1,900). On day-to-day living costs (groceries, transport, dining), London is somewhat more expensive at €1,000/month vs Amsterdam's €900. The biggest differentiator is income tax: Amsterdam's effective rate is roughly 5 percentage points higher than London's at most income levels.
Should I move from London to Amsterdam?
Financially, without the 30% ruling, London is the marginally better choice on disposable income. With the 30% ruling, Amsterdam pulls clearly ahead. Non-financial considerations matter too — Amsterdam offers easier visas for non-EU citizens via the Highly Skilled Migrant route, English is widely spoken professionally, and the city is smaller and more walkable than London. Run the numbers for your specific salary in the calculator below.