Cost of Living Comparison Between 's-Hertogenbosch and Utrecht Cost of Living Comparison Between 's-Hertogenbosch and Utrecht

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,502 per month in 's-Hertogenbosch vs $2,947 in Utrecht, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,021 per month in 's-Hertogenbosch vs $4,160 in Utrecht, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,539 per month in 's-Hertogenbosch vs $5,373 in Utrecht, rent included.

's-Hertogenbosch is about 15% cheaper than Utrecht, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both 's-Hertogenbosch and Utrecht sit above the global median – 's-Hertogenbosch by 87%, Utrecht by 120%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
's-Hertogenbosch
Utrecht
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.22 €21.69
$21.14 €18.19
19.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.7 €73.7
$87.5 €75.3
-2.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.35 €9.76
$13.95 €12.00
-18.64%
Cappuccino
$3.92 €3.37
$4.39 €3.78
-10.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 €2.85
$3.95 €3.40
-16.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 €2.53
$3.15 €2.71
-6.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.67 €4.88
$7.03 €6.05
-19.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.29 €3.69
$5.86 €5.04
-26.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
's-Hertogenbosch
Utrecht
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 €1.07
$1.35 €1.16
-7.41%
White Bread (500g)
$2.12 €1.82
$2.52 €2.17
-15.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.68 €3.17
$3.00 €2.58
22.67%
Eggs
$4.77 €4.10
$5.39 €4.63
-11.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.80 €11.87
$14.04 €12.08
-1.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.12 €14.73
$16.53 €14.22
3.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.06 €15.53
$17.40 €14.97
3.79%
Apples (1kg)
$2.55 €2.20
$2.35 €2.02
8.51%
Banana (1kg)
$2.63 €2.26
$2.48 €2.14
6.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 €1.88
$1.93 €1.66
12.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.60 €3.95
$3.70 €3.18
24.32%
Potato (1kg)
$2.12 €1.82
$1.94 €1.67
9.28%
Onion (1kg)
$2.24 €1.93
$2.23 €1.92
0.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.31 €1.13
$1.36 €1.17
-3.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 €0.85
$1.13 €0.97
-12.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.66 €10.03
$14.32 €12.32
-18.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.49 €6.44
$7.22 €6.21
3.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56 €1.35
$1.46 €1.25
6.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 €2.92
$2.67 €2.30
27.34%
🚌 Getting Around
's-Hertogenbosch
Utrecht
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.18 €2.73
$3.48 €2.99
-8.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.1 €56.8
$75.2 €64.7
-12.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.58 €3.08
$3.68 €3.16
-2.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.08 €1.79
$2.54 €2.19
-18.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.96 €25.77
$26.59 €22.87
12.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.21 €1.90
$2.27 €1.95
-2.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K €28.3K
$39.8K €34.2K
-17.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K €27.1K
$39.8K €34.3K
-20.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
's-Hertogenbosch
Utrecht
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$185 €159
$296 €254
-37.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.13 €20.75
$26.03 €22.39
-7.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.11 €35.36
$46.51 €40.01
-11.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
's-Hertogenbosch
Utrecht
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.09 €38.78
$46.94 €40.38
-3.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.69 €13.50
$23.19 €19.95
-32.34%
Cinema Ticket
$14.64 €12.59
$15.92 €13.69
-8.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
's-Hertogenbosch
Utrecht
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,383 €2,050
$2,609 €2,245
-8.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,815 €5,862
$11.2K €9,620
-39.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
's-Hertogenbosch
Utrecht
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.2 €64.7
$115 €98.5
-34.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.7 €50.5
$60.7 €52.2
-3.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$114 €98.1
$108 €92.6
5.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$186 €160
$130 €112
42.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
's-Hertogenbosch
Utrecht
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,643 €1,413
$1,888 €1,624
-12.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,222 €1,051
$1,521 €1,308
-19.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,679 €2,304
$2,826 €2,431
-5.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,525 €2,172
$2,241 €1,928
12.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,703 €5,766
$8,022 €6,901
-16.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,964 €4,270
$5,872 €5,051
-15.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
's-Hertogenbosch
Utrecht
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,761 €3,235
$4,615 €3,970
-18.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.46
4.39
1.59%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for 's-Hertogenbosch: June 2, 2026

Last update for Utrecht: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,643 in 's-Hertogenbosch versus $1,888 in Utrecht. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 23% higher in Utrecht, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $86.0 in 's-Hertogenbosch versus $88.0 in Utrecht. Groceries tell a different story – $366 in 's-Hertogenbosch vs $358 in Utrecht – so Utrecht wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
's-Hertogenbosch vs Utrecht: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in 's-Hertogenbosch and Utrecht compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,502 in 's-Hertogenbosch, $2,947 in Utrecht – roughly 18% apart. Utrecht costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in 's-Hertogenbosch compared to Utrecht?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,754 per month in 's-Hertogenbosch and $4,420 in Utrecht. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between 's-Hertogenbosch and Utrecht?
Rent is clearly cheaper in 's-Hertogenbosch, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Utrecht – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $86.0 in 's-Hertogenbosch and $88.0 in Utrecht. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,502 in 's-Hertogenbosch and $2,947 in Utrecht. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between 's-Hertogenbosch and Utrecht?
It depends on your priorities. Utrecht has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,502 in 's-Hertogenbosch to $2,947 in Utrecht. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is 's-Hertogenbosch or Utrecht safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between 's-Hertogenbosch and Utrecht?
If budget matters most, go with 's-Hertogenbosch. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Utrecht makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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