Cost of Living & Salary Comparison 2026
Overall, Los Angeles is approximately 8% cheaper than Amsterdam based on our cost of living index. Amsterdam has a COLI of 82.6 (ranked #8 of 113 cities), while Los Angeles has a COLI of 76.3 (ranked #17).
When it comes to housing, one-bedroom apartment rent in Amsterdam averages $1,800/month compared to $2,400/month in Los Angeles. That makes Amsterdam approximately 25% cheaper for rent alone.
Los Angeles has lower total deductions (30.3%) compared to Amsterdam (37.0%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Los Angeles. When evaluating a relocation, remember that total deductions directly impact your take-home pay and should be weighed alongside cost of living differences.
Full breakdown of mandatory payroll deductions for a mid-range salary as a local employee in each city.
Rates shown for local employees. Expat deductions may differ — use the main converter for personalized calculations.
If you earn €63,592 in Amsterdam, you would need approximately $69,280 in Los Angeles to maintain the same purchasing power. That is 8% less thanks to lower cost of living.
COLI-scaled lifestyle equivalents of New York mid-range salaries — not local market pay. For verified/OECD local-market figures see salary pages.
| Job Title | Amsterdam (EUR) | Los Angeles (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor (General) | €126,065 | $137,340 |
| Software Engineer | €59,530 | $64,855 |
| Product Manager | €70,036 | $76,300 |
| Lawyer | €70,036 | $76,300 |
| Data Scientist | €66,534 | $72,485 |
| Marketing Manager | €50,426 | $54,936 |
| Teacher | €33,617 | $36,624 |
| Nurse | €40,621 | $44,254 |
These are COLI lifestyle equivalents of the New York mid baseline, not typical local market pay. See methodology and profession×city salary pages for market figures with source badges.
| Neighborhood | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Canal Ring (Centrum) | 1.30x (+30%) |
| Oud-Zuid | 1.28x (+28%) |
| Jordaan | 1.25x (+25%) |
| Zuidas | 1.20x (+20%) |
| Oud-West | 1.15x (+15%) |
| Neighborhood | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Bel Air | 1.45x (+45%) |
| Malibu | 1.42x (+42%) |
| Beverly Hills | 1.40x (+40%) |
| Manhattan Beach | 1.30x (+30%) |
| Santa Monica | 1.25x (+25%) |
Use our converter with 2,400+ neighborhood adjustments for a precise salary comparison
Open Salary ConverterAmsterdam is more expensive overall. Amsterdam has a COLI of 82.6 while Los Angeles has a COLI of 76.3, making Los Angeles approximately 8% cheaper.
To maintain the same standard of living as €63,592 in Amsterdam, you would need approximately $69,280 in Los Angeles.
Average one-bedroom rent in Amsterdam is $1,800/month compared to $2,400/month in Los Angeles. Amsterdam has lower rent by approximately 25%.
Los Angeles has lower total deductions (30.3%) compared to Amsterdam (37.0%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Los Angeles.
Cost of living indices (COLI) are benchmarked to New York City = 100 and derived from Numbeo and Expatistan crowd-sourced price surveys, cross-referenced with national statistics agencies. Rent data from Numbeo Property Prices.
Salary ranges are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OES), Glassdoor, and PayScale. Tax rates are approximate effective rates for mid-range earners based on OECD Taxing Wages and national tax authorities. Exchange rates from the European Central Bank. Neighborhood multipliers are estimated from local rental indices and property data.
Last updated: 2026-08-31. Data is refreshed periodically. All figures are estimates for informational purposes only.