Moving to Amsterdam - 80k yearly salary

Posted by okay-I-get@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 26 comments

Got an offer of 80k to move to Amsterdam and I want to know if this salary would be enough to find a place and live comfortably. I'm single and in my 20s, so a 1 bedroom studio would be enough.

I've heard about the housing crisis and saw some of the rent prices going around. Still, the company provides relocation support for the first month and they said everyone in the last few months managed to find a place during that time.

Should I take it? Or wait for something better down the line?

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DescriptionFancy1387@reddit

€80k is a solid offer for Amsterdam, especially with the 30% ruling. You’ll likely end up around €4.5k–€5k net/month, which is comfortable for a single. The main uncertainty is housing, finding a place in a month is possible, but not guaranteed. It depends a lot on budget and how flexible you are.

So overall: good salary, but your experience will mostly depend on rent and how quickly you secure a place.

If you want to see how it plays out with real numbers:
https://www.salarycompare.nl/80k-salary-netherlands-net

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Original-Cry-2306@reddit

I have the same situation- but I am married with not kid. Would we have a hard time?

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Wunid@reddit

Compared to the national average, that looks pretty good, but if you qualify for the 30% tax ruling, surely you must be a specialist? It depends on your experience, but that doesn’t seem like much (unless you’ve only just graduated, in which case it’s fine)

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okay-I-get@reddit (OP)

Thanks for the feedback. What would be a salary fair for a specialist?

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re-11111@reddit

80.000 EUR is not a "specialist" salary in tech in Netherlands. I'm a hiring manager, but I also don't talk in terms of "specialist". Everybody in my team is a "specialist"

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okay-I-get@reddit (OP)

let's say for a marketing role with very specific skills (within a niche where there aren't a lot of people with experience). Would that be on the lower end within your experience? From what I investigated, I think it could be low as well

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dr2152@reddit

Marketing? That's broad but Dutch employees/companies don't pay marketing people well

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Wunid@reddit

It depends on your experience and the industry. I’d say between €50,000 and €150,000.

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GettingDumberWithAge@reddit

I'm not a math wizard but 80k seems like it falls within that bracket.

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Crop_olite@reddit

This one is right I think

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gina9481@reddit

Another 30% ruling expat to make the housing crisis worse for both locals & internationals, it just never ends.

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Pokemongolover@reddit

Agreed, and for a marketeer as well. We have loads of people with a marketing degree looking for a job.

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BitterCaregiver1301@reddit

numbeo

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broodjeaardappelt@reddit

Yeah thats fine.

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altspell@reddit

You should be ok!

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echo_zephyr@reddit

What industry and how many years of experience ?

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Square_Positive_559@reddit

same question over and over. just do you calculation dude we have no idea about your lifestyle and current spends, for some people it s a very good salary for other not.

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buitenlander0@reddit

Yes, I think you'll be fine. Especially with 30% ruling. My advice would be to pay a little bit more on a rental for your 1st year, in a good location just so you can get better acclimated with the city. And then by the 2nd year I bet you could find a cheaper spot in a location that you are happy with.

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SwimmingDutch@reddit

Depends on how much you want to spend and what you consider comfortable. I expect you will be able to work from home for some of the days so why limit yourself to Amsterdam? There are many places you can look that are within a reasonable commute.

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okay-I-get@reddit (OP)

I've heard that it's pretty tough to find a place in Amsterdam atm. Any places close by you would recommend?

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loldutchpeople@reddit

Yes. That’ll work. Does the company offer you a 1 year contract at first or immediately permanent contract? The latter makes it a lot easier. Ask your future employer for a letter (including formal masthead, autograph of your boss/someone from HR) stating you’ll be employed by them (including the term, one year with intention for permanent or permanent), you can show that to your future landlord. Makes stuff a lot easier. (And you obviously know about the housing crisis, so you’ll have a hard time anyway.)

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Born_Sir5689@reddit

Of course you can live comfortobaly with this salary... if you dont have to support anyone else, you will be fine.. You should be able to save and invest with this salary. You might struggle to find the first place to go, but after you get to know people and it gets way easier to find what you are looking for

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