Should you visit London or Amsterdam?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between London and Amsterdam can help you decide which place is right for you.
London
The capital of the United Kingdom is a thriving multicultural metropolis. Steeped in iconic landmarks, world-class museums and royal parks, London is energetic, majestic, ambitious and one of the world's greatest cities. London is a cultural and fashion capital, a great place to go out, an amazing place to eat and one of those cities that is constantly changing with new and exciting things sprouting up almost every day. History and tradition greet you at every turn in the UK's capital. London is also a city with an edgy underbelly, delighting in neon pink dive bars, cheeky graffiti and mind-blowing street food. When you need a break from the action, pop into a pub or relax in one of the city's many parks. Blow through the city on a double-decker bus, and take a pinch-me-I'm-in-London walk through the West End. As one of the most visited cities in the world, London is busy, vibrant and very tourist friendly. The only problem with London is that it's very expensive; it can eat away at your budget if you aren't careful. Luckily, there are also tons of free or cheap things to do in London that can fill your time.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the capital, and most popular tourist destination in the Netherlands. There are over one million residents in the metro area. Amsterdam is most famous for its canals that criss cross across the city, but it also has a rich history, interesting culture, and liberal vibe that appeal to all types of travelers. The architecture, bridges, and cycling culture help this metropolitan area maintain its small town vibe, despite being the largest city in the country as well as the financial center.
Which city is cheaper, Amsterdam or London?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in London is £145, while the average daily cost in Amsterdam is £109. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for London and Amsterdam in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about £182 in London For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around £65. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Amsterdam the cost is £130 on average.
Food
London food costs typically run travelers around £29 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
Food in Amsterdam costs travelers about £26 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
-
Food
Meals for one day
London
£29
Amsterdam
£26
Typical Food prices in London
For London, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in London
For London, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Moroccan Couscous Dinner in Shoreditch:
$50
-
3-Hour Secret British Food Tour:
$82
-
London Gourmet Food Tour:
$125
-
London Half-Day Food Tour: International Foods of Soho:
$111
-
3-Hour Thames Jazz Dinner Cruise:
$92
-
The London Showboat: Dinner, Show & Sightseeing Cruise:
$114
-
River Thames Dinner Cruise:
$116
-
Modern British Dinner at Chef's Home in East London:
$62
-
Dinner with Filmmakers & Filmmaking Experience in London:
$74
-
4-Hour East End Food Tour:
$98
Typical Food prices in Amsterdam
Some typical examples of dining costs in Amsterdam are as follows:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amsterdam
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Amsterdam.
-
Live online cooking class from Classic European 2-course meal:
$23
-
Three course lunch/dinner voucher:
$42
-
Withlocals the 10 Tastings: Amsterdam's Favourite Private Food Tour with a Local:
$50
-
Private Pizza Canal Cruise Amsterdam:
$62
-
Dinner with an Amsterdam artist on the river:
$62
-
Amsterdam Nightlife Ticket & VIP Dinner at Hard Rock Café:
$63
-
Amsterdam Small Group Food Tour:
$69
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Food Tour in the Albert Cuyp Market Amsterdam:
$73
-
Delicious Dutch Dinner in an Amsterdam Canalhouse:
$75
-
The Pizzaboat Amsterdam Min. 8 pax:
$75
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in London than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend £20 on transportation in London on average per day.
The cost of a taxi ride in Amsterdam is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent £16 per person, per day, on local transportation in Amsterdam.
Typical Local Transportation prices in London
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in London:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in London
Also for London, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Shared City Center Transfer to London City Airport:
$30
-
Executive Transfer Between Heathrow and Central London:
$115
-
Executive Transfer Gatwick to or from Central London:
$169
-
Private Transfer: London to Southend Airport:
$173
-
Oxford Full-Day Tour from London with Train Transfers:
$57
-
Harry Potter Studios and Private Transfer from London:
$126
-
Harry Potter Warner Brothers Studio Tour & Transfers:
$117
-
Harry Potter: Warner Bros. Studio Tour with Transfer:
$118
-
London Airports: Shared Transfer to London Hotels:
$16
-
Warner Bros. Studio Tour and Transfer from London:
$118
Typical Local Transportation prices in Amsterdam
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Amsterdam are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amsterdam
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Amsterdam:
-
Private Transfer from Schiphol Airport (AMS):
$50
-
Ultra - Amsterdam Private Transfer from City Centre to Amsterdam Cruise Port:
$9.55
-
Ultra - Amsterdam Private Transfer from Cruise Port to Amsterdam City Centre:
$9.55
-
Private Transfer from Cruise Port to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol:
$9.55
-
Private Departure Transfer from Amsterdam City Center to Airport Schiphol (AMS):
$32
-
Private Airport Transfer from Amsterdam to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS):
$32
-
Private Transfer from PTA Cruise Terminal to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS):
$32
-
Transfer in Private Vehicle from Amsterdam City to Airport:
$34
-
Premium Private Transfer from Amsterdam Hotels to Airport:
$35
-
Private Amsterdam Airport departure Transfer:
$38
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in London, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of £26 per day, per person.
Entertainment and activities in Amsterdam typically cost an average of £14 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Typical Entertainment prices in London
Here are a few typical costs in London for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in London
Here are a few actual costs in London for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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90 minute Jack the Ripper Guided Walking Tour:
$14
-
Soho and Camden Market 3-Hour Tour in Spanish:
$15
-
Hidden London Walking Tour:
$17
-
World Rugby Museum Entrance Ticket:
$18
-
Notting Hill 2–Hour Walking Tour:
$20
-
South Bank 3-Hour Walking Tour and River Cruise:
$28
-
The London Time Tour Bus:
$28
-
Royal Parks and Palaces Bike Tour:
$34
-
Gangster London Walking Tour with Celebrity Guide:
$35
-
Small Group Children's Tour of Westminster in German:
$35
Typical Entertainment prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples prices from actual travelers for Amsterdam's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Amsterdam
For Amsterdam, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
From Private Giethoorn Tour by Car:
$108
-
Amsterdam 3-Hour Bike Tour: Backstreets and Hidden Gems:
$41
-
Giethoorn & Volendam Tour and 1-Hour Amsterdam Canal Cruise:
$108
-
Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam & Marken Spanish Tour:
$41
-
Giethoorn & the New Polders: Small Group Tour from Amsterdam:
$97
-
Amsterdam Combo: Madame Tussauds and Canal Cruise:
$37
-
Zaanse Schans, Volendam and Marken Full-Day Tour:
$37
-
Amsterdam Stedelijk Museum Skip-the-Line Ticket:
$22
-
From Giethoorn & Enclosing Dike Full-Day Tour:
$101
-
Skip The Line: Hard Rock Cafe Amsterdam:
$29
Alcohol
The average person spends about £12 on alcoholic beverages in London per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
The average person spends about £11 on alcoholic beverages in Amsterdam per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in London
Also in London, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
2-Hour Historic Pub Tour:
$28
-
West End Beer Tasting Pub Tour:
$68
-
Drink London! Historical Pub Walking Tour:
$35
-
2.5-Hour East End Pub Tour:
$48
-
London Pub Crawl and Nightlife Tour:
$28
-
The London Pub Crawl - Shoreditch:
$14
-
Camden Pub Crawl:
$20
-
The Original Shoreditch Pub Crawl:
$28
-
Central Daily 5-Hour Pub Crawl:
$14
-
5-Hour Shoreditch Pub Crawl:
$14
Sample the Local Flavors in Amsterdam
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Amsterdam:
-
Distillery Tour & Tasting:
$22
-
Amsterdam Bar Crawl:
$27
-
Amsterdam Shared Bar Crawl:
$31
-
Private Amsterdam Red Light District and pub tour:
$61
-
4 hour Amsterdam Brewery Tour:
$81
-
High Class Culinary Lunch in Amsterdam - Self-Guided Food & Wine Tour:
$102
-
Drew's 3-Hour Amsterdam Brewery and Bar Tour to Top Rated Bars:
$106
-
Discover 3 gastronomic restaurants in Amsterdam - self-guided food & wine tour:
$129
-
Experience 4 Culinary Restaurants in Amsterdam Self-Guided Food & Wine Tour:
$152
-
Amsterdam Bachelor Party Bar Crawl:
$488
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between London and Amsterdam, we can see that London is more expensive. And not only is Amsterdam much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Amsterdam would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Amsterdam and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in London would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in London than you might in Amsterdam.
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