Cost of Living & Salary Comparison 2026
Overall, Riyadh is approximately 48% cheaper than Amsterdam based on our cost of living index. Amsterdam has a COLI of 82.6 (ranked #8 of 113 cities), while Riyadh has a COLI of 42.6 (ranked #63).
When it comes to housing, one-bedroom apartment rent in Amsterdam averages $1,800/month compared to $800/month in Riyadh. That makes Riyadh approximately 56% cheaper for rent alone.
Riyadh has lower total deductions (9.8%) compared to Amsterdam (37.0%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia is a tax-free jurisdiction, which is a significant financial advantage. 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 SAR 145,051 in Riyadh to maintain the same purchasing power. That is 48% 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) | Riyadh (SAR) |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor (General) | €126,065 | SAR 287,550 |
| Software Engineer | €59,530 | SAR 135,788 |
| Product Manager | €70,036 | SAR 159,750 |
| Lawyer | €70,036 | SAR 159,750 |
| Data Scientist | €66,534 | SAR 151,762 |
| Marketing Manager | €50,426 | SAR 115,020 |
| Teacher | €33,617 | SAR 76,680 |
| Nurse | €40,621 | SAR 92,655 |
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 |
|---|---|
| King Abdullah Financial District | 1.30x (+30%) |
| Al Olaya | 1.28x (+28%) |
| Diplomatic Quarter | 1.22x (+22%) |
| Al Nakheel | 1.18x (+18%) |
| Hittin | 1.15x (+15%) |
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 Riyadh has a COLI of 42.6, making Riyadh approximately 48% cheaper.
To maintain the same standard of living as €63,592 in Amsterdam, you would need approximately SAR 145,051 in Riyadh.
Average one-bedroom rent in Amsterdam is $1,800/month compared to $800/month in Riyadh. Riyadh has lower rent by approximately 56%.
Riyadh has lower total deductions (9.8%) compared to Amsterdam (37.0%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia is a tax-free jurisdiction, which is a significant financial advantage.
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.