After travelling through developing countries and those outside of the Euro Zone for so long, I always thought it would be a shock to the system when I moved to Amsterdam. In truth, it was and it wasn’t.
We had already lived in Amsterdam three times during housesitting assignments, even if only for a month or so at a time, but that had given us a good feel for the cost of food and drink and day-to-day living expenses. Through the friends we made in the city, it was also easy to figure out roughly how much we’d have to outlay for an apartment and the extras that came with that (although as I mentioned before, nothing could prepare us for the cat-and-dog nature of renting an apartment in a city like Amsterdam). But I, like most people I would assume, am always curious as to how much a destination will cost me when I get there.
So I thought I would put together a list of Amsterdam prices, and have tried to include things most visitors will purchase at least.
One Vietnamese Loempia (spring roll) – €1 ($1.27)
IAmsterdam card (24 hours) – €47 ($60)
Anne Frank House entrance – €9 ($12)
One portion of fries – €2.75 ($3.50)
Cup of coffee – Around €3 ($3.80)
Indonesian Rijstaffel Meal – €30 per person ($38)
A cinema ticket – €12 ($15)
A local beer – Bars: €3 – €4 ($3.80 – $5) Supermarket: €1 – €2 ($1.27 – $2.50)
A one hour canal cruise – €16 ($20)
Budget hotel – €30 – €90 ($38 – $114)
24 hours bike hire – €15 ($19)
Herring – €2.75 ($3.50)
One Dutch pancake – €6 – €10 ($8 – $12)
I would say that some things have surprised me in their relative expense (the cost of a Flat White coffee which is about a third of the size of the ones they serve in New Zealand for the same price, for example) whereas others have been cheaper than I expected.
If you are cooking or looking for cheap ingredients and snacks, head to any of the many markets around the city (Albert Cuyp, Ten Kate, Dappermarkt). Also try and buy water and soft drinks from supermarkets instead of bars and cafes.
If you are wanting to soak up the culture and enjoy some museums and attractions, unfortunately you’ll just have to suck it up and pay out as many don’t offer free or discount days.
My best advice for a budget break in Amsterdam? Put on your walking shoes, soak up the atmosphere around the city and splurge only on the things you really want to do. If you feel a bit “meh” about seeing Van Gogh’s paintings, then scrap that for something else you’d rather do or for a spot of people-watching in the park. There’s always something to entertain, no matter what your budget is.
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