Amersfoort vs Heerlen: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Heerlen costs roughly 7% less than Amersfoort. Amersfoort scores significantly higher on safety — worth weighing against the cost gap. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Heerlen is approximately 40% less expensive than Amersfoort based on cost of living including rent. This makes Heerlen a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Heerlen has a FIRE Score of 71/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 82, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Heerlen is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Amersfoort
Amersfoort is the rare Dutch city where a $3,941/mo average net salary actually keeps pace with a $1,570/mo city-center one-bedroom, and the 72/100 cost of living index makes that math work in your favor. The 90/100 safety index and 25 air quality index are genuinely excellent, and with English widely spoken plus a medium expat community in Vathorst and Bergkwartier, settling in is straightforward. It is a small city at 157 thousand people, so anyone craving big-city nightlife or a major airport at the doorstep should look elsewhere. For digital nomads scoring it 82/100 and remote workers chasing a 69/100 FIRE score, the tradeoff is a quieter, cheaper base with 200 Mbps internet and a $90/mo transit pass that covers what you need.
About Netherlands
Best for digital nomads with high income: the Netherlands offers a self-employment residency visa with a posted income floor of $1,713/month, but check the latest application details. Safety is top-tier with a 73.1 Safety Index and a US Travel Advisory Level 2, comparable to safe US metros. The trade-off: a progressive income tax up to 49.5% on local earnings, which can erode remote-work arbitrage gains.
$775/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Heerlen
Heerlen is a cheap, safe, small Dutch city that punches above its weight for remote workers and early retirees, with a cost of living index of 68/100, a safety index of 82/100, and a digital nomad score of 72/100. You can rent a one-bedroom outside the center for $953/mo, and a single adult can live on roughly $1,144/mo at the budget tier, which is remarkable given the excellent healthcare and widely spoken English. The trade-offs are real: a small expat community, damp southern Limburg weather, and a local net salary averaging $2,902/mo that makes the $1,121/mo city-center rent sting for anyone earning locally rather than remotely. If you want Amsterdam energy or a big international crowd, look elsewhere; if you want low costs, low crime, and 90 Mbps internet, Heerlen delivers.
About Netherlands
Best for digital nomads with high income: the Netherlands offers a self-employment residency visa with a posted income floor of $1,713/month, but check the latest application details. Safety is top-tier with a 73.1 Safety Index and a US Travel Advisory Level 2, comparable to safe US metros. The trade-off: a progressive income tax up to 49.5% on local earnings, which can erode remote-work arbitrage gains.
$1,202/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Amersfoort | Heerlen |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $1569.99 | $1121.42 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $1313.94 | $953.21 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $2055.94 | $1906.42 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $1719.52 | $1607.38 |
| Safety Index | 90 | 82 |
| Internet Speed | 200Mbps | 90Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Amersfoort | Heerlen |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $2,332/mo | $1,893/mo |
| Excluding rent | $1,018/mo | $940/mo |
| Rent | $1,314/mo | $953/mo |
| Groceries | $244/mo | $262/mo |
| Dining out | $236/mo | $236/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $116/mo | $110/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $332/mo | $272/mo |
| Transport | $90.00/mo | $60.00/mo |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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Amersfoort vs Heerlen -- Frequently Asked Questions
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