Cost of Living Comparison Between Netherlands and India Cost of Living Comparison Between Netherlands and India

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,589 in Netherlands versus $366 in India.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,821 in Netherlands versus $581 in India.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,053 in Netherlands versus $795 in India.

Living in Netherlands is roughly 607% more expensive than in India on average.

Netherlands (88% above) and India (73% below) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in Netherlands: monthly costs span $1,251 to $3,523, compared to $228$810 in India. City choice carries more weight in Netherlands.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Netherlands
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.09 €19.85
$2.15 ₹203
973.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.8 €80.6
$10.42 ₹985
799.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.23 €12.24
$3.59 ₹340
296.38%
Cappuccino
$4.27 €3.68
$1.67 ₹158
155.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 €3.31
$0.39 ₹36.84
887.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 €2.73
$0.17 ₹15.74
1764.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.13 €6.13
$1.87 ₹177
281.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 €4.93
$3.18 ₹301
80.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Netherlands
India
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 €1.19
$0.64 ₹60.4
115.62%
White Bread (500g)
$2.37 €2.04
$0.45 ₹42.18
426.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.04 €2.62
$0.63 ₹59.3
382.54%
Eggs
$5.04 €4.34
$0.87 ₹82.6
479.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.25 €12.26
$4.62 ₹437
208.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.87 €12.78
$2.86 ₹270
419.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.61 €15.14
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 €2.34
$1.95 ₹184
39.49%
Banana (1kg)
$2.49 €2.14
$0.67 ₹63.6
271.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 €1.82
$0.99 ₹93.3
114.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.39 €3.77
$0.51 ₹47.91
760.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 €1.69
$0.35 ₹32.86
460.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 €1.61
$0.42 ₹39.25
345.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.33 €1.14
$0.44 ₹41.40
202.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 €0.86
$0.31 ₹29.47
219.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.65 €12.59
$5.14 ₹486
185.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.17 €6.16
$7.58 ₹716
-5.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.35
$1.67 ₹158
-5.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 €2.35
$2.79 ₹263
-1.79%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.36 ₹506
-
🚌 Getting Around
Netherlands
India
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.85 €3.31
$0.25 ₹23.38
1440.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$97.9 €84.2
$8.53 ₹806
1047.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.88 €4.20
$0.94 ₹88.4
419.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.00 €2.58
$0.27 ₹25.68
1011.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.12 €30.20
$1.60 ₹151
2095.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.42 €2.08
$1.12 ₹106
116.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.7K €37.6K
$12.4K ₹1.2M
251.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.4K €34.8K
$20.2K ₹1.9M
100.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Netherlands
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$267 €229
$37.28 ₹3,522
615.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.14 €20.76
$3.49 ₹330
591.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.4 €45.07
$7.20 ₹680
627.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Netherlands
India
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.12 €37.08
$14.69 ₹1,388
193.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.57 €22.85
$7.31 ₹690
263.47%
Cinema Ticket
$16.35 €14.05
$3.08 ₹291
430.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Netherlands
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,265 €1,948
$59.1 ₹5,583
3733.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,252 €7,955
$1,693 ₹160.0K
446.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Netherlands
India
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$100 €86.3
$23.25 ₹2,196
331.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.96 €37.80
$24.03 ₹2,270
82.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 €91.1
$40.99 ₹3,873
158.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139 €120
$30.46 ₹2,878
357.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Netherlands
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 €1,469
$143 ₹13.5K
1092.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,322 €1,137
$93.2 ₹8,803
1319.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,639 €2,269
$332 ₹31.3K
695.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 €1,797
$214 ₹20.2K
878.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,811 €5,856
$1,203 ₹113.7K
465.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,959 €4,264
$643 ₹60.8K
670.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Netherlands
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,942 €3,389
$441 ₹41.7K
793.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.86
8.93
-56.77%

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

Last update for Netherlands: September 7, 2026

Last update for India: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,448 in Netherlands, $121 in India. Capital cities: $2,624 in Amsterdam vs $272 in Delhi.

National salary averages: $3,749 in Netherlands, $410 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1097% higher in Netherlands.

Dining out costs 780% more in Netherlands.

Public transport is 1171% more expensive in Netherlands.

Salaries are 814% higher in Netherlands, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Netherlands.

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
Netherlands vs India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Netherlands?
At $519 per month in India and $2,387 in Netherlands, there's a 360% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in India: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Netherlands is consistently higher than in India across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or in Netherlands?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Netherlands it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or to Netherlands?
It depends on what you're after: India wins on affordability; Netherlands may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

Netherlands vs other spots: cost of living compared

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