Back in the 1600s, Dutch settlers called it New Amsterdam. Fast forward a few centuries, and that little outpost became New York City—one of the most powerful (and expensive) cities in the world.

Meanwhile, Amsterdam stayed compact, bike-friendly, and equally attractive to global professionals.

Today, both cities offer incredible career opportunities. But how much of your salary do you actually take home after taxes?

Let’s compare 👇

🔹 $45.000 Gross Per Year

🇳🇱 Amsterdam: $37.634 (33.642 EUR)
🇺🇸 NYC: $36.326

➡️ At this level, Amsterdam takes 16.4%, while NYC deducts 19.3%.

🔹 $60.000 Gross Per Year
🇳🇱 Amsterdam: $45.364 (40.552 EUR)
🇺🇸 NYC: $47.554

➡️ NYC’s effective rate is 20.7%, slightly lower than Amsterdam’s 24.4%.

🔹 $90.000 Gross Per Year
🇳🇱 Amsterdam: $60.034 (53.666 EUR)
🇺🇸 NYC: $67.349

➡️ Amsterdam deducts a hefty 33.3%, compared to 25.2% in NYC.

🔹 $120.000 Gross Per Year
🇳🇱 Amsterdam: $73.231 (65.463 EUR)
🇺🇸 NYC: $86.621

➡️ By now, NYC holds a clear edge: 27.8% vs 39.0% in Amsterdam.

🔹 $150.000 Gross Per Year

🇳🇱 Amsterdam: $86.793 (77.587 EUR)
🇺🇸 NYC: $105.326

➡️ Amsterdam takes a significant 42.1%, while NYC stays at a more modest 29.8%.

💡 What This Means:

🇳🇱 Amsterdam: The Dutch tax system is heavily progressive, with effective rates increasing steadily—even at middle-income levels. By the time you reach higher salary bands, over 40% of your income may be taxed. In return, you get access to strong public services like healthcare, education, and pensions. Expats can benefit from the 30% ruling, which exempts a portion of income from tax for up to 5 years—but once it ends, the drop in net pay can feel significant. Combined with some of the highest housing costs in Europe, high earners may feel the squeeze despite solid gross salaries.

🇺🇸 New York City: NYC applies federal, state, and city taxes, making it one of the most heavily taxed jurisdictions in the US. However, the system is flatter than in the Netherlands, so high earners retain a larger share of their gross income. While the overall burden is still high, it increases more gradually, which means your take-home pay continues to grow with your salary. That said, NYC consistently ranks as the most expensive city in the world for rent, and many essentials—like healthcare—come with private costs. Compared to no-tax states like Texas or Florida, NYC feels heavy, but globally it still offers strong net outcomes for top earners.

🧭 Biking by the canals or crossing the Manhattan Bridge—what’s more your pace?

📌 Based on public data and April 11, 2025 exchange rates. Deviations are possible.

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