Amsterdam vs San Jose: cost of living for digital nomads
Amsterdam, Netherlands and San Jose, Costa Rica, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.
The short version
- San Jose is about 42% cheaper than Amsterdam for a month of nomad living ($1,900 vs $3,290).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $900 in San Jose against $1,800 in Amsterdam.
- Amsterdam scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 7/10).
- Internet is faster in Amsterdam: 200 Mbps typical against 80 Mbps.
- Amsterdam is temperate; San Jose is tropical.
Amsterdam wins 2 of the measured lines; San Jose wins 6.
| Line | Amsterdam | San Jose |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $3,290 | $1,900 |
| Rent | $1,800 | $900 |
| Food | $620 | $480 |
| Transport | $80 | $55 |
| Coworking | $230 | $140 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 200 | 80 |
| Climate | temperate | tropical |
| City size | metro | metro |
| Setting | inland | inland |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 7/10 | 8/10 |
Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.