How Much Does It Cost to Live In Netherlands?
While the Netherlands is a small country, the average living price certainly does change depending on where you are.
The Netherlands is somewhat affordable if we compare it to western Europe’s average.
However, Amsterdam, being its capital and a huge tourist destination and other big cities might be more expensive.
On average, you might spend around 1000-1200$ a month but it depends on your lifestyle and who you’re with: the costs for a family of two adults and two children easily goes up to around 1800$ – and that’s if you’re being careful about your money.
Netherlands : Cost of Living by City
RESTAURANTS
Be very smart about your money and you can save up a huge amount.
When eating out, choose inexpensive restaurants that look decent.
Here, you can find delicious meals for much less money – a meal for one in such a restaurant will cost you around 17$.
You should also know that lunch/dinner prices in fancy restaurants are all pretty much the same, so if you want to save up, just avoid the top upscale restaurants.
MARKETS
Purchasing in a grocery store or a market is the best way to enjoy a variety of food and healthy groceries.
Fresh veggies and fruit are always available at relatively low prices.
If your grocery shopping experience turns out expensive, you can reduce its general price by shopping at cheaper alternatives like the market or stores such as ALDI.
TRANSPORTATION
The usual price for a monthly pass throughout the Netherlands is somewhere around 90$, but the good thing about this is that you have access to any form of transportation you wish to use (bus, train, tram, etc.)
If you’re looking to save some money, you can always use a bike which is very common in this country.
You can buy a second-hand bike on Facebook for 120$ tops.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Utilities are rather expensive in the Netherlands, though since the country has such high standards, those that live in the Netherlands can afford them without any problems.
All the basic ones, including water, cooling, heating, and garbage services amount to up to 234.30$ a month.
Internet, isn’t cheap either, costing around 45$ a month.
SPORTS & LEISURE
Sports and fitness are not as pricey in the Netherlands as you would expect!
A membership at a fitness club for one adult costs around 33$ a month.
Keep in mind that most gyms in the Netherlands work on a yearly or a 6-month contract.
Cinema tickets, in turn, are very expensive: going to the movies will cost you around 13$ per person.
CLOTHING & SHOES
Brand-name clothes usually have the same prices as in the rest of Europe which are generally higher than in the US, while the Netherlands has even higher prices for clothes than the rest of Europe.
For example, Levi’s jeans cost about 81.11$ while quality running sneakers from brands like Nike cost about 90$.
Light pieces of clothing in chain stores like Zara cost a bit less than 35$.
RENT PER MONTH
Rent in the Netherlands is extremely expensive.
For an apartment in any of the city’s centers, you’ll have to cash out around 1300$.
If you decide to live in another part of the country, however, for example outside the so-called ‘Randstad’ (which is the area between Rotterdam, Amsterdam, The Hague, Utrecht) you could lower rent by perhaps 200-300$.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Netherlands
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $16.31 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $5.44 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $2.31 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.11 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $1.96 |
| Eggs (12) | $2.37 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $3.48 |
| Monthly Pass | $92.42 |
| Gasoline | $2.24 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $234.30 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.11 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $45.08 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $32.31 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $18.03 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $13.05 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $81.11 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $35.89 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $90.19 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $1303.31 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $1041.80 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $1967.24 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Netherlands?
In the Netherlands, as expected after this overview, the biggest chunk of the paycheck gets spent on rent which is ridiculously expensive in this country.
The next huge expense is food and a large portion of people’s salaries gets spent in markets or grocery stores.
Restaurants take up the next spot on the list, since food can get pretty pricey, and those who are well-off eat in restaurants practically every day.
Transportation is very expensive too, while also being an everyday necessity for everyone.
As usual, the smallest amount of money is spent on clothes and accessories, while sports and leisure take up almost 5% of all expenses.
Average Costs Breakdown
Netherlands: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
Those that get a minimum wage of about 1800$ might have a hard time covering all expenses, especially if they’re renting an apartment in such an expensive country.
Still, the minimum wage in the Netherlands is the third best in the EU.
However, the average monthly net salary is pretty high, and though their expenses are high too, an average citizen of the Netherlands can live comfortably and have no problem earning for a living.
Of course, those renting an apartment will always have a harder time paying off their bills and rent, but generally speaking, the Netherlands has a high living standard.
Netherlands Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Netherlands Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Cost of Living by City in Netherlands
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Amsterdam | 82.14 |
| Eindhoven | 72.82 |
| Groningen | 72.29 |
| Leiden | 74.56 |
| Maastricht | 73.87 |
| Rotterdam | 74.08 |
| The Hague (Den Haag) | 76.75 |
| Utrecht | 76.3 |
