MigrantoCost of living in the Netherlands
Average monthly spending, by standard of living, by category, and against other countries
Monthly cost
€2,190
what a typical person spends
Spending by standard of living
€1,150richest 20%
€4,300
The Netherlands is a small, densely packed, prosperous country, and the squeeze on space is the thing that shapes its prices. With so many people and so little land, a place to live is the hardest cost to get on top of, even as wages stay strong. Life doesn't swing much between the well-off and the just-coping, though, so what you spend won't look far off what your neighbor spends.
Where people spend money in the Netherlands
Housing carries the most weight in a typical month, and in a country this crowded the competition for a decent place keeps it that way. Getting around is a steady cost, and groceries sit a little higher than you might guess. The shopping and the trips can give a little; the rent is the part that won't.
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What it costs to live in the Netherlands
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Cost of living in the Netherlands
€1,150/mo
vs €692 in your country
Take-home
€1,380
vs €1,040 in your country
Potential savings
€232
more than in your country
Standard of living
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How living costs in the Netherlands compare
On a world scale the Netherlands is plainly among the dear places to live, while within Europe it sits just under the most expensive. The driver is simple: a lot of people want to live in a small, well-run country, and that pushes the cost of being there up. For someone deciding, it's a place where the quality is high and the price reflects it.
Data source: household consumption 2023 (World Bank), International Comparison Program 2021 (World Bank), category breakdown 2022 (Eurostat), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
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Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of living in the Netherlands?
A typical person in the Netherlands spends about €2,190 a month — around €26,300 a year — on housing, groceries, transport and other everyday costs. It's a nationwide average across different regions, cities and types of housing.
What is the cost of living in the Netherlands in US dollars?
The cost of living in the Netherlands is about $2,535 a month, or roughly $30,420 a year per person.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in the Netherlands?
It all depends on your standard of living. A modest budget runs about €1,150 a month per person, a typical one around €2,190, and a comfortable life around €2,750. In big cities and for a family, costs are usually higher.
What do people spend the most on in the Netherlands?
The biggest expense is housing, at about €513 a month (23% of spending). Then come transport (€265, 12%) and groceries (€257, 12%).
Is the average salary in the Netherlands enough to live on?
In most cases yes, but without much of a cushion. Average spending is about €2,190 a month, while the average take-home pay in the Netherlands is about €2,590. For more on incomes, see salaries in the Netherlands.
Is the Netherlands an expensive country to live in?
Yes. The Netherlands is more expensive than 93% of countries worldwide and ranks 8th of 41 in Europe by cost of living.
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Living in the Netherlands
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