Europe · Amsterdam
Cost of living in Netherlands
Netherlands is 21% cheaper than the US, ranking #30 of 203 countries we cover for cost of living. The local currency is EUR (€).
World Bank data through 2024 · last reviewed 2026-06.
What drives the cost here
Price levels by category, where the world average = 100. Above 100 is pricier than the global norm; below it is cheaper.
In Netherlands, housing & utilities is the priciest category relative to the world (195), while food & groceries is the most affordable (115).
Category price levels: World Bank ICP 2021 (world average = 100) · source
What your money is worth here
A $100,000 US lifestyle would cost roughly $79,500 in Netherlands.
Quality of life
97/100 · #15 of 198Beyond cost — health, safety, and connectivity. The score is a transparent, equal-weight composite of the verified metrics below (see methodology).
About Netherlands
The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain in 1581; during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around the world. After 18 years of French domination, the Netherlands regained its independence in 1813. In 1830, Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I but suffered German invasion and occupation in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member of NATO and the EEC (now the EU) and participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999. In 2010, the former Netherlands Antilles was dissolved and the three smallest islands -- Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba -- became special municipalities in the Netherlands administrative structure. The larger islands of Sint Maarten and Curacao joined the Netherlands and Aruba as constituent countries forming the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Read the full background
In 2018, the Sint Eustatius island council (governing body) was dissolved and replaced by a government commissioner to restore the integrity of public administration. According to the Dutch Government, the intervention will be as "short as possible and as long as needed."
Background from the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived 2026-06-03.
Frequently asked
Is Netherlands expensive to live in?
Netherlands is 21% cheaper than the US, ranking #30 of the 203 countries we track. Its most expensive category relative to the world is housing & utilities; food & groceries costs the least.
How much money do you need to live in Netherlands?
A lifestyle that costs $100,000 in the United States would cost roughly $79,500 in Netherlands, going by overall price levels. The salary translator turns your own figure into a local equivalent.
Is Netherlands cheaper than the United States?
Yes. Its overall price level is 79.5, against 100 for the United States.
What is the quality of life in Netherlands?
Netherlands scores 97 out of 100 on our quality-of-life index (#15 of 198), a composite of life expectancy, safety, health, and connectivity, with life expectancy around 82 years.
Every number, sourced.
We cite the exact source and year for each figure. Derived values are computed at build time, never hand-entered.
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