Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Netherlands Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Netherlands

Name: Netherlands
Address: NL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,626 per month in United States vs $2,589 in Netherlands, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,830 per month in United States vs $3,821 in Netherlands, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,033 per month in United States vs $5,053 in Netherlands, rent included.

The cost of living in United States is about 1% higher than in Netherlands on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both United States and Netherlands are pricier than the global median – United States by 90%, Netherlands by 88%.

The regional cost range is wider in United States ($986–$5,298) than in Netherlands ($1,251–$3,523), so city choice matters more there.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.83 $19.83

$23.09 €19.85

-14.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.8 $78.8

$93.8 €80.6

-15.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.19 $12.19

$14.23 €12.24

-14.34%

Cappuccino

$5.59 $5.59

$4.27 €3.68

30.91%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 $2.78

$3.85 €3.31

-27.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$3.17 €2.73

-31.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.86 $5.86

$7.13 €6.13

-17.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 $8.02

$5.74 €4.93

39.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.38 €1.19

-22.46%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$2.37 €2.04

55.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$3.04 €2.62

53.29%

Eggs

$4.20 $4.20

$5.04 €4.34

-16.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.78 $12.78

$14.25 €12.26

-10.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.40 $12.40

$14.87 €12.78

-16.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.90 $16.90

$17.61 €15.14

-4.03%

Apples (1kg)

$5.23 $5.23

$2.72 €2.34

92.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$2.49 €2.14

-33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$2.12 €1.82

104.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.39 €3.77

12.98%

Potato (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.96 €1.69

43.88%

Onion (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$1.87 €1.61

66.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.33 €1.14

64.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$0.99 €0.86

128.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.35 $10.35

$14.65 €12.59

-29.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$7.17 €6.16

106.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.58 €1.35

32.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 $3.65

$2.74 €2.35

33.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 $2.38

$3.85 €3.31

-38.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.5 $64.5

$97.9 €84.2

-34.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 $3.54

$4.88 €4.20

-27.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 $1.86

$3.00 €2.58

-38.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.34 $30.34

$35.12 €30.20

-13.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$2.42 €2.08

-58.68%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.5K $35.5K

$43.7K €37.6K

-18.66%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.9K $25.9K

$40.4K €34.8K

-36.05%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$222 $222

$267 €229

-16.67%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$24.14 €20.76

153.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.7 $74.7

$52.4 €45.07

42.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.49 $44.49

$43.12 €37.08

3.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.35 $22.35

$26.57 €22.85

-15.88%

Cinema Ticket

$15.03 $15.03

$16.35 €14.05

-8.07%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,431 $1,431

$2,265 €1,948

-36.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.9K $25.9K

$9,252 €7,955

179.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.6 $53.6

$100 €86.3

-46.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.46 $43.46

$43.96 €37.80

-1.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 $91.5

$106 €91.1

-13.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$139 €120

-18.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,633 $1,633

$1,708 €1,469

-4.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,328 $1,328

$1,322 €1,137

0.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,606 $2,606

$2,639 €2,269

-1.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,206 $2,206

$2,090 €1,797

5.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,323 $3,323

$6,811 €5,856

-51.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,653 $2,653

$4,959 €4,264

-46.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,306 $4,306

$3,942 €3,389

9.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

3.86

60.88%

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

Last update for United States: September 7, 2026

Last update for Netherlands: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,604 in United States vs $1,448 in Netherlands. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,360 in Columbia, TN and $2,624 in Amsterdam.

Average salary: $4,526 in United States vs $3,749 in Netherlands. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 11% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 17% more in Netherlands.

Public transport is 230% more expensive in Netherlands.

Salaries are 21% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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

United States vs Netherlands: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Netherlands is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 32% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in United States, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United States consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Netherlands, contributing to the overall 32% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Netherlands, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Netherlands is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.