Cost of Living in the Netherlands in 2026: A Practical Guide for Expats

The Netherlands has high salaries and good public services, but it is not a cheap country to live in, and the biggest cost by far is housing. This guide walks through what you can expect to pay each month, what to budget for when you arrive, and how much of your salary you will actually take home. Whether you are still deciding or you have just moved, it will help you build a realistic budget. Figures are for 2026 unless stated otherwise.

What a Monthly Budget Looks Like

To give you a feel for the numbers, here are five typical households. Each one assumes a balanced lifestyle, getting around by bike (the family has a car) and renting from a private landlord as a new tenant.

Totals include energy, water, local taxes, internet, insurance, health insurance, groceries, phone, transport, and a moderate amount for eating out, clothes and leisure. The family's total includes a car and childcare after childcare allowance, with both parents working. Your own figures could be quite different: change any line in the calculator to match your situation.

Where the money goes: a single person in Eindhoven

Rent is more than half of the total. That is typical: once you know what your housing will cost, you know most of your budget.

Housing: Your Biggest Cost

Rent varies a lot between cities, while most other costs are similar across the country. The table shows what new tenants in the private rental sector paid on average, and what a typical renting household pays in local taxes each year.

Rent: average asking price per m² for new tenancies in the unregulated sector (Pararius, Q1–Q2 2026) multiplied by 60 m², excluding energy. Rooms: Kamernet median, Q2 2026, where a reliable figure exists. Local taxes: waste and sewage tax plus water board tax for a household that rents (COELO 2026). Click a city to see its full cost-of-living breakdown.

Renting: the rules that affect your costs

• Three rental segments. Rents are linked to a points system (woningwaarderingsstelsel) that scores the size, energy label and quality of a home. In 2026, homes with up to 143 points are social housing with a maximum rent of €932.93; homes with 144 to 186 points are mid-rent, with a maximum of €1,228.07; above 186 points the rent is free. If you think your rent is too high for the home, the Rent Tribunal (Huurcommissie) can check it.
• Deposits are capped at 2 months' basic rent.
• No agency fees for tenants when the agent works for the landlord. If you are asked to pay one, you can claim it back.
• Permanent contracts are the default for new tenancies since 1 July 2024, with exceptions such as some student housing.
• Check what the rent includes. Many listings are kale huur (basic rent). Service costs, energy and furnishing can come on top. Unfurnished homes in the Netherlands are often truly empty: sometimes no flooring or light fittings.
• Social housing is hard to get for newcomers. Waiting lists in the big cities run to many years, so most expats rent in the private sector.

Buying

Buying can be cheaper per month than renting, but you need savings: Dutch lenders do not lend more than a home is worth, so buying costs come out of your own pocket. In 2025 the average home sold for about €414,579 in Rotterdam and about €681,691 in Amstelveen. Transfer tax is 2% if you will live in the home, or 0% if you are 18 to 34 and the home costs up to €555,000 (once in your life). Homeowners also pay property tax (OZB) to the municipality. Read our guide Apartment or House in the Netherlands? for the full picture, including owners' associations and leasehold.

Health Insurance

Basic health insurance (basisverzekering) is compulsory for every adult who lives or works in the Netherlands. You must take it out within 4 months of registering or starting work, and the insurer backdates the premium to that date, so waiting does not save money.

• Premium: about €157 a month on average in 2026, depending on the insurer and policy. Premiums are the same for everyone with the same policy, regardless of age or health.
• Deductible (eigen risico): the first €385 of most care each year is paid by you. GP visits are exempt. Many people set aside about €32 a month for it.
• Children under 18 are covered free on a parent's policy.
• Extras such as dental care for adults and physiotherapy are only covered by optional supplementary insurance (aanvullende verzekering).
• Healthcare allowance (zorgtoeslag): if your income is below €40,857 a year (€51,142 with a partner), you may get up to €129 a month towards the premium.

You can switch insurer every year: new premiums are published in November and you have until 31 December to switch.

Energy, Water and Local Taxes

• Gas and electricity: the average Dutch household paid about €166 a month in January 2026 (CBS). A small apartment costs less; an older, poorly insulated house more. Always check a home's energy label (A to G) before you rent: it makes a real difference to your bill. Energy prices rose sharply in 2026, so compare fixed and variable contracts before you sign.
• Drinking water: about €13 to €28 a month, depending on household size.
• Internet: about €45 a month for a typical home connection. A SIM-only mobile plan costs from about €15.
• Local taxes: municipalities charge waste and sewage tax, and water boards charge water board tax. A renting household pays roughly €640 to €1,200 a year (see the city table above). The bill usually arrives in one go in February or March, but most municipalities let you pay in monthly instalments. On a low income you may qualify for an exemption (kwijtschelding).
• Contents and liability insurance: not compulsory but very common, about €15 to €22 a month. Liability insurance (aansprakelijkheidsverzekering) is particularly worth having.

One cost you will not have: the Netherlands has no TV licence fee.

Groceries and Daily Spending

The budgeting institute Nibud estimates about €280 a month for groceries and household items per adult and about €170 per child. Supermarket prices are moderate by Western European standards, and food prices were 0.5% lower in August 2026 than a year earlier.

• Discount supermarkets (Lidl, Aldi) and store brands at Albert Heijn and Jumbo can cut your grocery bill noticeably.
• Use the supermarkets' free loyalty apps: weekly deals are significant.
• Eating out is relatively expensive. A balanced budget of about €300 a month per adult covers eating out, clothes, leisure and some travel; a more comfortable lifestyle can easily be twice that.

Getting Around

• Bike: the cheapest way to get around in most cities. Budget about €300 for a reliable second-hand bike and a good lock, plus around €15 a month for repairs. Bike theft is common, so a second lock is money well spent.
• Public transport: you can tap in and out with a contactless bank card or phone (OVpay) on all trains, trams, buses and metros. City passes cost around €100 to €130 a month; Amsterdam's GVB Vrij pass is €129. For trains, NS Flex subscriptions offer off-peak discounts or unlimited off-peak travel (NS Flex Dal Vrij: €127.95 a month in 2026).
• Car: a small car costs about €370 a month including fuel, insurance, road tax and depreciation. City parking permits come on top, and in central Amsterdam or Utrecht there can be long waiting lists for one.
• Commuting allowance: many employers reimburse commuting costs. In 2026 they can pay up to €0.25 per km tax-free, or the actual cost of public transport. Ask about it when you negotiate your contract.

Children and Childcare

Childcare is one of the biggest costs for young families, but the government covers a large part of it for working parents.

• Daycare (kinderdagverblijf) for babies and toddlers typically costs about €11.43 an hour, and out-of-school care (BSO) about €9.98. Three days of daycare a week comes to roughly €1,600 to €1,700 a month before allowance.
• Childcare allowance (kinderopvangtoeslag) reimburses up to 96% of the hourly price, up to a maximum of €11.23 an hour for daycare and €9.98 for out-of-school care in 2026. How much you get depends on household income. Usually every parent in the household must work. If your childcare costs more than the maximum rate, as it often does in Amsterdam, you pay the difference yourself.
• Child benefit (kinderbijslag): every child under 18 living in the Netherlands entitles you to a quarterly payment from the SVB, regardless of income. From 1 July 2026 it is €298.40 a quarter for children up to 5, €362.35 for ages 6 to 11 and €426.29 for ages 12 to 17.
• School: Dutch public and state-funded schools are free, although schools ask for a voluntary parental contribution. International schools charge fees, though the government-funded Dutch International Schools (DIS) are considerably cheaper than private ones.

How Much of Your Salary You Will Take Home

Your costs only tell half the story. Dutch income tax in 2026 is 35.75% on income up to €38,883, 37.56% up to €78,426 and 49.50% above that, reduced by tax credits that most employees get automatically through payroll. On top of your salary you get at least 8% holiday allowance (vakantiegeld), usually paid in May.

These estimates assume a Dutch resident taxpayer with no pension contribution. Most employers deduct a pension contribution, which lowers your net pay, and the holiday allowance is spread over 12 months here, so your regular monthly payslip will be a little lower. The statutory minimum wage is €14.99 gross an hour from 1 July 2026.

Wondering what salary to expect in your field? See Salaries in the Netherlands in 2026 for pay by sector, occupation, age and region.

If you were recruited from abroad, the 30% ruling can make a big difference: see The Dutch 30% Ruling: A Complete Guide. Not sure how you are taxed? Read Resident or Non-Resident Taxpayer? To see your take-home pay next to your costs, use the Cost of Living Calculator.

One-Off Costs When You Move

Moving to the Netherlands takes cash up front. For a single person renting a one-bedroom home, expect around €9,000 in Eindhoven to €10,500 in Amsterdam:

• Deposit: up to 2 months' basic rent.
• First month's rent: usually paid before you get the keys.
• Furniture and household setup: about €1,500 to €7,000, depending on the home and your taste. Second-hand marketplaces such as Marktplaats help a lot.
• A bike: about €300.
• Moving and shipping: get your own quote; €1,500 is a reasonable starting point for a modest move.
• Permits and documents: if you need a residence permit, check the IND fees for your situation. Registering with your municipality is free.

Remember that some costs come later: the first municipal tax bill, a final energy bill after the first year, and your health deductible if you need care.

Allowances You May Be Entitled To

• Healthcare allowance (zorgtoeslag): up to €129 a month for a single person with an income up to about €29,500, falling to zero at €40,857.
• Rent allowance (huurtoeslag): for lower incomes renting an independent home. Since 2026 there is no hard rent limit any more, but rent above €932.93 a month does not count towards the allowance.
• Childcare allowance (kinderopvangtoeslag) and child benefit (kinderbijslag): see above.

You apply for allowances online with your DigiD.

Just Arrived? A First-Months Money Checklist

1. Register with your municipality and get your citizen service number (BSN). You need it for your job, bank account and health insurance.
2. Apply for DigiD so you can deal with the tax office, allowances and your health insurer online.
3. Take out health insurance within 4 months, and check whether you qualify for healthcare allowance.
4. Check your first payslip. Make sure your tax credits, the 30% ruling (if you have it) and your pension contribution are applied correctly. See how to read a Dutch payslip.
5. Choose an energy contract if your rent does not include energy. Note the meter readings on the day you move in.
6. Arrange contents and liability insurance.
7. Set up instalments for local taxes when the first bill arrives, so it does not land as one large payment.
8. Build a buffer for yearly costs: local taxes, the health deductible, and an energy bill that can go up after the yearly settlement.

What Changes in 2027?

The 2027 budget, presented on 15 September 2026, includes several changes that affect your costs. These plans still need parliamentary approval.

• Health insurance: the average premium is expected to rise by about €12.50 to around €169 a month, and the deductible will rise from €385 to €400. The maximum healthcare allowance for a single person is expected to go up to about €140 a month to compensate lower incomes.
• 30% ruling: the maximum tax-free allowance falls from 30% to 27% for most people from 1 January 2027.
• Rents: rent limits and allowances are indexed every year; private rents for new tenants were still rising in 2026, by almost 12% in a year in Eindhoven.

Final 2027 health premiums are published by insurers in November.

Ways to Lower Your Cost of Living

• Look beyond the big city. Living in a nearby town and commuting by train can save hundreds of euros a month in rent. Use the city comparison in the calculator to see the difference.
• Negotiate your package. Commuting allowance, a relocation budget, temporary housing and the 30% ruling are often easier to negotiate than a higher salary.
• Cycle. A bike instead of a car can save over €300 a month.
• Compare health insurance and energy contracts every year.
• Buy second-hand for furniture, bikes and baby equipment.
• Claim what you are entitled to, from allowances to the Rent Tribunal if your rent is above the legal maximum for your home.

Official Sources

• Belastingdienst: 2026 income tax rates and tax credits
• Belastingdienst: the 30% facility (Expat Scheme)
• Pararius Rental Market Report (Huurmonitor) Q1 and Q2 2026
• Kamernet Rent Report Q2 2026 (rooms)
• COELO: municipal taxes per municipality 2026
• CBS: average sale price of existing homes per municipality, 2025
• CBS: the average energy bill, January 2026
• Vewin: drinking water tariffs 2026
• Zorginstituut Nederland: compulsory deductible (eigen risico)
• Rijksoverheid: childcare allowance amounts 2026
• Nibud: car costs and food budgets
• GVB: 2026 fares
• Rijksoverheid: minimum wage 2026
• Belastingdienst: healthcare allowance 2026
• SVB: child benefit from 1 July 2026
• Volkshuisvesting Nederland: maximum rent limits 2026
• CBS: inflation in August 2026
• Rijksoverheid: measures against high energy prices, including the €0.25 commuting allowance
• Rijksoverheid: healthcare plans for 2027

Figures were checked on 4 October 2026. Monthly budgets and take-home pay are estimates based on national averages and the 2026 tax rules; your own costs depend on your home, household and habits. This is general information, not personal financial or tax advice.