Should you visit Utrecht or Amsterdam?
Should I visit Utrecht or Amsterdam? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Utrecht
Utrecht is a province in the Netherlands, and its capital city happens to be called Utrecht as well. Utrecht is a unique university city (sorry for the tongue twister). Imagine Amsterdam but smaller, and with fewer tourists. Utrecht has the same underlying historical/magical feel as Amsterdam does, but is full of locals rather than crowds of tourists. It has a population of about 300,000 making it the fourth largest city in the Netherlands.
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 Utrecht?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Utrecht is €151, while the average daily cost in Amsterdam is €133. 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 Utrecht and Amsterdam in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around €85. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Utrecht the cost is €170 on average.
A hotel room in Amsterdam is about €154 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Food
The average traveler spends about €46 per day in Utrecht for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
In Amsterdam travelers spend around €33 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Utrecht €46
Amsterdam €33
Typical Food prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Amsterdam:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amsterdam
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Amsterdam.
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Live online cooking class from Classic European 2-course meal:
$23
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Three course lunch/dinner voucher:
$42
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Withlocals the 10 Tastings: Amsterdam's Favourite Private Food Tour with a Local:
$50
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Private Pizza Canal Cruise Amsterdam:
$62
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Dinner with an Amsterdam artist on the river:
$62
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Amsterdam Nightlife Ticket & VIP Dinner at Hard Rock Café:
$63
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Amsterdam Small Group Food Tour:
$69
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Food Tour in the Albert Cuyp Market Amsterdam:
$73
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Delicious Dutch Dinner in an Amsterdam Canalhouse:
$75
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The Pizzaboat Amsterdam Min. 8 pax:
$75
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Small-Group Guided Sunset Canoe Tour in Waterland with Dinner:
$76
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Joy of Life - Bistro Dinner on an Amsterdam Canal:
$84
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Utrecht is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent €18 per person, per day, on local transportation in Utrecht.
The average price of local transportation around Amsterdam is €16 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Utrecht
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Utrecht:
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to Utrecht City - One Way:
$100
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Lelystad Airport to Utrecht City - One Way:
$92
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Rotterdam Airport to Utrecht City - One Way:
$108
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Private transfer: Utrecht Airport (UTC) to Utrecht:
$622
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Private transfer: Utrecht to Utrecht Airport (UTC):
$622
Typical Local Transportation prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amsterdam:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amsterdam
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Amsterdam:
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Ultra - Amsterdam Private Transfer from Cruise Port to Amsterdam City Centre:
$9.55
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Private Transfer from Cruise Port to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol:
$9.55
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Ultra - Amsterdam Private Transfer from City Centre to Amsterdam Cruise Port:
$9.55
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Private Departure Transfer from Amsterdam City Center to Airport Schiphol (AMS):
$32
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Private Airport Transfer from Amsterdam to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS):
$32
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Private Transfer from PTA Cruise Terminal to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS):
$32
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Transfer in Private Vehicle from Amsterdam City to Airport:
$34
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Premium Private Transfer from Amsterdam Hotels to Airport:
$35
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Private Amsterdam Airport departure Transfer:
$38
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Private Departure Transfer from Amsterdam City to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport:
$39
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Private Transfer from Amsterdam City Center to Zaanse Schans:
$40
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Amsterdam local transfers:
$42
Is it cheaper to fly into Utrecht or Amsterdam?
Prices for flights to both Amsterdam and Utrecht change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Utrecht typically cost an average of €35 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Amsterdam's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around €30 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Utrecht
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Utrecht are as follows:
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Castles, Canals and Good Folk: Explore the old city on an audio walking tour:
$5.20
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Utrecht Private Tour: City Center Mystery Exploration Game:
$5.65
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Self-Guided Sightseeing Tour of Utrecht:
$36
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Private Undercover Experience in Utrecht:
$37
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Touristic highlights of Utrecht on a Half Day (4 Hours) Private Tour:
$100
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Private Walking Tour in Utrecht:
$123
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Utrecht Private Walking Tour:
$214
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Private Tour to Giethoorn 'Venice of the North':
$235
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Private tour in Utrecht (half a day) by a local!:
$243
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Private Walking Tour in Rotterdam and Harbor Cruise:
$272
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Orchid Farm & Giethoorn | Private Tour from Utrecht:
$310
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Private Experience in Amsterdam Castle and Keukenhof Flower Park:
$310
Typical Entertainment prices in Amsterdam
Here are a few typical costs in Amsterdam for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Amsterdam
Here are a few actual costs in Amsterdam for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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A tasty stroll through Pijp: An audio tour of some of Amsterdam great food spots:
$5.00
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An Amsterdam introduction: Explore the origins of Amsterdam on an audio tour:
$5.00
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Amsterdam Red Light District Walking Audio Tour by VoiceMap:
$5.41
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Amsterdam West Specialty Coffee Spots Cycling Audio Tour by VoiceMap:
$5.41
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Vondelpark and Old West Neighbourhood Walking Audio Tour by VoiceMap:
$5.48
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Amsterdam Private Tour: Red Light District Exploration Game:
$5.65
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The Red Light District self-guided Virtual Experience: The Highlights:
$7.45
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Absolutely Tip-Based Walking Tour With Super Local Guide (2,5 Hours):
$8.09
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Amsterdam Red Light District: A Walking Audio Tour on your Phone (1hour):
$9.94
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Silent Disco Club Experience:
$9.95
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Small-Group Cheese Tasting Experience in Amsterdam:
$12
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Self-Guided City Experience:
$12
Alcohol
The average person spends about €19 on alcoholic beverages in Utrecht per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Amsterdam may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €19 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Utrecht
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Utrecht:
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Culinary lunch in Utrecht - SELF GUIDED FOOD & WINE TOUR:
$102
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Discover 3 restaurants in Utrecht - SELF GUIDED FOOD & WINE TOUR:
$128
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Experience 4 gastronomic restaurants in Utrecht - SELF GUIDED FOOD & WINE TOUR:
$152
Sample the Local Flavors in Amsterdam
Also in Amsterdam, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Distillery Tour & Tasting:
$22
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Amsterdam Bar Crawl:
$27
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Amsterdam Shared Bar Crawl:
$31
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Private Amsterdam Red Light District and pub tour:
$61
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4 hour Amsterdam Brewery Tour:
$81
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High Class Culinary Lunch in Amsterdam - Self-Guided Food & Wine Tour:
$102
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Drew's 3-Hour Amsterdam Brewery and Bar Tour to Top Rated Bars:
$106
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Discover 3 gastronomic restaurants in Amsterdam - self-guided food & wine tour:
$129
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Experience 4 Culinary Restaurants in Amsterdam Self-Guided Food & Wine Tour:
$152
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Amsterdam Bachelor Party Bar Crawl:
$488
When comparing the travel costs between Utrecht and Amsterdam, we can see that Utrecht is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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