Is Amsterdam expensive? What things really cost in 2026
Short answer
Amsterdam is one of Europe's most expensive city-break destinations, on a par with Paris and London and well above Rome, Barcelona or Lisbon. Hotels are the main reason, made dearer by one of Europe's highest tourist taxes; street food and transport are more reasonable. A mid-range day is about €220 per person.
Daily budget: backpacker, mid-range, luxury
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €65 | €115 | €220 |
| Food & drink | €30 | €55 | €110 |
| Sights & tickets | €20 | €40 | €60 |
| Local transport | €5 | €9 | €20 |
| Per person, per day | €120 | €219 | €410 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Amsterdam day-cost table.
What things cost
| Item | Typical price* |
|---|---|
| Coffee in a café | about €3–4 |
| Glass of beer (about 25 cl) in a brown café | about €3.50–5 |
| Raw herring or broodje haring | about €3.50–5 |
| Cone of fries with sauce | about €4–6 |
| Fresh stroopwafel at the Albert Cuyp | about €2–4 |
| Tram/metro fare (1 hour, GVB) | about €3.40 |
| Train from Schiphol to Centraal | roughly €6 |
| Rijksmuseum | about €25 |
| Anne Frank House (online only) | about €16 |
| Taxi from Schiphol to the centre | roughly €50–60 |
| Rijsttafel dinner | roughly €30–50 per person |
| 3★ double room, high season | roughly €190–300 |
* Approximate prices, October 2026. They change with season and exchange rates.
Where the money goes
Accommodation takes the largest share: roughly €65 per person sharing on a budget, €115 mid-range and €220 for comfort, and the city's tourist tax (about 12.5% of the room price) is added on top. Food is about €30 a day on fries, herring, market snacks and a cheap dinner in De Pijp, and €55 with a café lunch and rijsttafel or a bistro dinner. Museums are expensive, at €20–40 a day if you combine the Rijksmuseum (about €25) and Van Gogh Museum (about €22). Transport is modest at €5–9, as the centre is walkable and day tickets start around €9.
When it is cheaper
November, January and February are the cheapest months; hotel prices can be very roughly 25–40% lower than in April, May or summer. Tulip season, King's Day (27 April) and big events such as Amsterdam Dance Event in October push prices sharply up.
How to spend less
- Take the train from Schiphol to Centraal (about 15–20 minutes, roughly €6) instead of a taxi at roughly €50–60.
- Stay in Oost, De Pijp, Oud-West or just outside the ring and use trams, rather than on the canals.
- Eat from fish stalls, snack bars and the Albert Cuyp or Dappermarkt markets for lunch; save the restaurant for dinner.
- Choose a small open canal boat (about €20–30 for 75 minutes) over the big glass-roofed cruises, or ride the free ferries behind Centraal Station for water views.
- Always choose to pay in euros on card terminals to avoid poor dynamic currency conversion rates.
- If you plan several museums, compare the Museumkaart (Dutch museum pass) with individual tickets; it can pay off after about four or five big museums.
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Common questions
How much money do I need per day in Amsterdam?
About €120 per person on a budget, about €220 mid-range and about €410 for comfort, including a share of a double room, food, sights and transport.
Why are Amsterdam hotels so expensive?
High demand, limited space in the old centre and a tourist tax of about 12.5% of the room price added on top.
Is Amsterdam more expensive than Paris?
They are similar overall: a mid-range day is about €220 in Amsterdam and about €215 in Paris, with Amsterdam's hotels and taxes slightly higher.