City Tax: €500-600 for couples and €400 for singles
Rental Prices: €1800+ 1BR, €2000+ 2BR
From its humble beginnings as a 13th-century fishing village on a river bed to its current role as a major hub for business, tourism, and culture, Amsterdam has long had a strong reputation as a center of culture and commerce.
Although the seat of the Dutch government is in The Hague, Amsterdam is the nominal capital. It is also the country's largest city, with a population of more than 851,000 in the city and 2.48 million in the metro area. It's also the most visited, with over 3,5 million foreign visitors a year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF2qK6TX3YY
The Amsterdam Area encompasses the city of Amsterdam and 32 of its surrounding municipalities. Amsterdam is broken up into 8 districts or boroughs (stadsdelen), which are further divided into neighbourhoods.
Centrum - The center of Amsterdam is the oldest part of the city, with ancient churches, architecture, theatres, cultural institutions, and late-night pursuits, popular among tourists and expats.
Zuid - Amsterdam' South has its business centers, iconic museums, music venues, shopping streets, and restaurants. Full of modern buildings and popular among business people, with a few rental properties to offer as most of the apartments are owned by tenants.
West - Popular city quarter stretching west of the Singelgracht canal with many hotels, ethnic restaurants, cafes, vintage shops, and outdoor markets. Amsterdam West has its own character, close enough to the city center, within a comfortable distance from the tourist crowd with its richly diverse culture and atmosphere.
Oost - The east of the city offers a change of pace, as it is home to family-friendly museums, a fun-filled zoo, and some of the city's most dazzling architecture, next to some of the most exciting bars, restaurants, and places to hang out.
Noord - Amsterdam North is located north of the River IJ, separating it from the rest of the city. This area is an inspiring and vibrant part of Amsterdam where nature, Dutch traditions, and modern-day life come together in one trendy neighborhood.
Cities in the Netherlands provide statistics on their websites for each district/hood, including crime rates.
For Amsterdam and Amstelveen, check an interactive map for crime rates. For Almere, check Neighbourhood Monitor for an in-depth overview of each hood, including crime rates ("Aantal misdrijven per 1000 inwoners").
In Amsterdam, living costs are higher than in other parts of the country, and rent prices are higher than in comparable cities in Europe.
You can check Numbeo to see some rough numbers to help you understand what you would spend on rent, groceries, transportation, leisure, and so on.