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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,992 per month in Utrecht vs $2,533 in 's-Hertogenbosch, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,240 per month in Utrecht vs $4,059 in 's-Hertogenbosch, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,489 per month in Utrecht vs $5,585 in 's-Hertogenbosch, rent included.

Utrecht costs about 18% more than 's-Hertogenbosch, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Utrecht and 's-Hertogenbosch sit above the global median – Utrecht by 124%, 's-Hertogenbosch by 90%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.90 €18.26

$25.24 €22.05

-17.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.8 €74.9

$88.5 €77.3

-3.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.83 €12.08

$11.78 €10.29

17.40%

Cappuccino

$4.62 €4.04

$4.05 €3.54

14.07%

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

$4.08 €3.57

$3.29 €2.87

24.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 €2.83

$2.88 €2.51

12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 €6.10

$5.75 €5.03

21.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 €4.93

$4.29 €3.75

31.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 €1.18

$1.20 €1.05

12.50%

White Bread (500g)

$2.43 €2.12

$2.12 €1.85

14.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.08 €2.69

$3.74 €3.27

-17.65%

Eggs

$5.30 €4.63

$4.94 €4.32

7.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.05 €12.27

$13.71 €11.98

2.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.20 €14.15

$17.46 €15.25

-7.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.28 €15.10

$17.97 €15.70

-3.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 €2.06

$2.64 €2.31

-10.61%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 €2.23

$2.49 €2.17

2.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 €1.71

$2.21 €1.93

-11.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.76 €3.29

$4.58 €4.00

-17.90%

Potato (1kg)

$2.02 €1.77

$2.08 €1.82

-2.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 €1.95

$2.27 €1.99

-1.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 €1.19

$1.31 €1.14

3.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 €1.00

$0.98 €0.86

17.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.39 €12.57

$12.06 €10.54

19.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.69 €5.85

$7.35 €6.42

-8.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 €1.27

$1.55 €1.36

-6.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 €2.38

$3.40 €2.97

-19.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.45 €3.01

$3.30 €2.88

4.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.1 €65.6

$66.3 €58.0

13.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.70 €3.23

$3.69 €3.23

0.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.42 €2.11

$2.15 €1.88

12.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.76 €23.38

$29.67 €25.92

-9.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.30 €2.01

$2.28 €2.00

0.88%

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

$41.0K €35.8K

$33.0K €28.8K

24.31%

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

$39.7K €34.7K

$31.9K €27.9K

24.41%

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

$288 €252

$182 €159

58.38%

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

$26.02 €22.73

$23.47 €20.50

10.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.92 €41.86

$41.15 €35.95

16.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.99 €41.93

$45.37 €39.64

5.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.07 €20.16

$16.19 €14.14

42.50%

Cinema Ticket

$16.04 €14.02

$14.62 €12.78

9.71%

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

$2,628 €2,296

$2,470 €2,158

6.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.0K €9,593

$6,805 €5,946

61.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$118 €103

$76.0 €66.4

54.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.7 €54.8

$58.1 €50.7

7.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 €93.9

$117 €102

-8.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 €114

$183 €160

-29.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,887 €1,648

$1,664 €1,453

13.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,523 €1,331

$1,219 €1,065

24.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,924 €2,555

$2,724 €2,380

7.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,309 €2,017

$2,482 €2,169

-7.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,310 €6,387

$6,798 €5,940

7.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,072 €4,432

$4,953 €4,328

2.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,271 €3,732

$3,649 €3,188

17.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.39

4.46

-1.57%

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

Last update for Utrecht: July 13, 2026

Last update for 's-Hertogenbosch: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,887 in Utrecht versus $1,664 in 's-Hertogenbosch. 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 17% 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 Utrecht versus $89.0 in 's-Hertogenbosch. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $356 vs $367 – making Utrecht the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Utrecht vs 's-Hertogenbosch: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,992 in Utrecht, $2,533 in 's-Hertogenbosch – roughly 18% apart. Utrecht costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,487 per month in Utrecht and $3,799 in 's-Hertogenbosch. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Utrecht – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $86.0 in Utrecht and $89.0 in 's-Hertogenbosch. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,992 in Utrecht and $2,533 in 's-Hertogenbosch. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Utrecht has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,533 in 's-Hertogenbosch to $2,992 in Utrecht. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

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.