Cost of Living in Netherlands

Updated: January 01, 2025

If you've ever considered moving to Netherlands, one of the first questions that likely crossed your mind is, "What is the cost of living in Netherlands?" After all, it's essential to have a clear picture of your potential expenses before making such a life-changing decision. At this page, we'll dive into the nitty-gritty of the cost of living in Netherlands and whether the reported $2734 per month figure aligns with the average monthly salary of $3025.75.

Restaurants

Markets

Transportation

Childcare

Clothing

Rent Per Month

Buy Apartment

Salaries

Netherlands

restaurant Restaurants	Price	World Range
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	14.33 $
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	62.08 $
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	8.6 $
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	4.78 $
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	3.82 $
Cappuccino (regular)	2.89 $
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	2.45 $
Water (12 oz small bottle)	2.05 $

store Markets	Price	World Range
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	0.96 $
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	1.78 $
Rice (white), (1 lb)	1.8 $
Eggs (regular) (12)	1.86 $
Local Cheese (1 lb)	10.59 $
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	7.66 $
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	24.75 $
Apples (1 lb)	2.5 $
Banana (1 lb)	1.25 $
Oranges (1 lb)	1.33 $
Tomato (1 lb)	2.43 $
Potato (1 lb)	0.98 $
Onion (1 lb)	0.85 $
Lettuce (1 head)	0.74 $
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	0.64 $
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	5.72 $
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	1.14 $
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	1.61 $
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	7.64 $

commute Transportation	Price	World Range
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	3.06 $
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	85.96 $
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	3.82 $
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	2.24 $
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	28.65 $
Gasoline (1 gallon)	2.03 $
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	23876.86 $
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	25578.27 $

mark_as_unread Utilities (Monthly)	Price	World Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	202.06 $
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)	0.12 $
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	40.4 $

kitesurfing Sports And Leisure	Price	World Range
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	31.31 $
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	18.96 $
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	11.46 $

child_friendly Childcare	Price	World Range
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	1503.45 $
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	6823.13 $

checkroom Clothing And Shoes	Price	World Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	74.83 $
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	33.64 $
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	82.21 $
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	104.61 $

night_shelter Rent Per Month	Price	World Range
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	1158.18 $
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	907.53 $
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	1802.98 $
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	1441.58 $

home Buy Apartment Price	Price	World Range
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	5139.06 $
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	3717.55 $

account_balance_wallet Salaries And Financing	Price	World Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	3025.75 $
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	2.23 %

Dining Out

The cost of dining varies with the type of establishment. A meal at an affordable restaurant averages around 14.33 USD, while a three-course dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant generally costs 62.08 USD.

Groceries

Basic grocery prices are accessible for most essentials. For instance, a gallon of milk costs about 0.96 USD, a loaf of bread 1.78 USD, and a dozen eggs approximately 1.86 USD.

Transportation

Public transport is relatively affordable, with a single trip priced at about 3.06 USD and a monthly pass around 85.96 USD. If you plan to use public transit regularly, these passes offer great value.

Utilities

For an 85 m² apartment, monthly utility bills—including electricity, heating, water, and waste services—average around 202.06 USD.

Sports and Recreation

For those interested in fitness and leisure, a monthly gym membership averages around 31.31 USD, while an hour on a tennis court on weekends costs about 18.96 USD.

Childcare and Education

Families looking for private childcare services will find that a month at a local preschool or kindergarten costs around 1503.45 USD. For international schooling options, annual tuition can reach approximately 6823.13 USD.

Clothing and Footwear

Clothing and shoe prices vary widely. A pair of Levi's 501 jeans, for example, costs about 74.83 USD, and mid-range Nike sneakers are priced around 82.21 USD.

Apartment Rentals

Rental prices depend on location, with a one-bedroom apartment in the city center averaging 1158.18 USD per month, while one outside the center costs around 907.53 USD.

Real Estate for Purchase

If you're considering buying property, prices per square foot vary as well. In central areas, the price per square foot is roughly 5139.06 USD, while in the suburbs, it's closer to 3717.55 USD.

Average Salary and Mortgage Rates

The average monthly net salary here is about 3025.75 USD after taxes, and mortgage interest rates for a 20-year fixed-rate loan average around 2.23% annually.

Warnings & Dangers in Netherlands

OVERALL RISK: LOW

The Netherlands is generally a very safe country to travel to. Its crime rates are low, and your biggest concern in this country might be pickpockets. Use common sense and apply basic precaution measures that should minimize the chances of something going wrong.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

Transportation in the Netherlands is generally safe and reliable, but it is advised to be careful in public transportation since that's where pickpockets operate.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

There is risk of pickpockets, mostly in larger cities, but it shouldn't be too big of a problem if you take precaution measures, such as keeping your valuables in a safe place, not carrying all your money in the same place, and not carrying anything valuable in an easily accessible part of your outfit.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW

There are no significant threats of natural disasters in the Netherlands, but there have been reports of the Netherlands being prone to extreme flooding, which is why the Dutch invest heavily in infrastructure to prevent similar natural disasters from happening again.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

Mugging or kidnapping aren't common in the Netherlands, but it is still recommendable to avoid poorly lit and deserted areas, and to not accept drinks from strange people, although drink spiking is not common either.

TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM

Even though there haven't been any terrorist attacks in the Netherland's recent history, these types of attacks shouldn't be ruled out, especially since its neighboring countries France and Belgium have been targeted, so be aware of your surroundings at all times.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

As in any other tourist destination, there is the risk of getting scammed. Always check your change twice, negotiate the price of every service beforehand, and ask around about the real prices of services and other goods.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Traveling alone in the Netherlands is very easy for females. The country is very safe and friendly. Just avoid poorly lit and deserted areas and walking alone at night, with a few more basic precaution rules and your trip should go smoothly.

Cost of Living in Netherlands

Netherlands

Restaurants

Markets

Transportation

Utilities (Monthly)

Sports And Leisure

Childcare

Clothing And Shoes

Rent Per Month

Buy Apartment Price

Salaries And Financing