Expats often pay too much for a plumber, a locksmith or a tax adviser. Not because they're careless, but because they have no idea what a normal price is. Pick the job and your city, answer two or three questions, and you'll see a realistic price range, what's normally included, and the red flags to watch for. Got a quote? Compare it at the end.
It takes about a minute. You don't need to log in, and your answers stay on your device.
17 jobs expats ask about most:
All prices include VAT, checked on 30 October 2026.
Enter the total price you were quoted, including VAT.
A fair price means little if the business isn't real. Check it in the official registers first:
Typical prices from published 2026 sources, not official rates. Not affiliated with the Dutch government. The business you hire sets your actual price.
These are typical prices, including VAT, from the sources below, checked on 30 October 2026. A business may charge more for a good reason, such as a difficult job, so ask what a higher price is for. We don't recommend or check any business ourselves.
Ask for the total price, or the call-out fee and the hourly rate, by email or text message before the work starts. A fair business gives it. Rogue emergency services avoid it, then present a high bill when the work is done.
When something breaks, the top search results are often paid ads from call centres that pass the job to whoever is free, at a high price. Check that a business has a real address and a KvK number (from the Dutch business register) on its website.
A business can ask you to pay right away, but you can ask for an invoice with every cost listed and pay by bank transfer. If a bill is much too high, you can dispute it. Pay only the part you agree with, and put your reasons in writing.
Prices for 2026, checked on 30 October 2026. Every result lists the sources for that job.
For a dripping tap in Amsterdam, a fair price is €110 to €200 on a weekday. That includes the call-out fee (voorrijkosten), up to about an hour of work and VAT. On a weekday evening it's €160 to €300. Plumbers usually charge a call-out fee plus an hourly rate, so ask for both before they come.
Opening a locked door without damage costs about €85 to €170 during the day, and €150 to €300 at night or on a public holiday, outside the big cities. Rogue locksmiths often charge several hundred euros more. Ask for the total price on the phone, and don't let them drill the lock straight away.
For a €450,000 home in Amsterdam, a buying agent (aankoopmakelaar) typically charges €2,500 to €6,300, including VAT. Most offer a fixed fee. Others charge a percentage of the price, usually between 0.5% and 1.25%. A building inspection and the valuation for your mortgage come on top.
Not if the agent works for the landlord, and that's almost always the case when you find a home on Funda, Pararius or an agent's own website. Contract costs, administration costs and key money count as agency fees too. If you paid one, you can claim it back for up to 5 years, and report the agent to your municipality.
About €30 to €65 for a petrol, hybrid or electric car, and €40 to €80 for a diesel, which also needs a soot measurement. Repairs to pass the test come on top. Ask for a written list, and compare prices before you agree.
For the year you arrive or leave (the M-form), €330 to €700. For a return when you lived here the whole year, €200 to €450. A partner, a home, savings abroad or freelance income each add to the price. Ask for a fixed price, never a percentage of your refund.
We collect published prices from Dutch price comparison sites, consumer organisations and the businesses themselves, and checked them on 30 October 2026. All prices include VAT. Prices in Amsterdam and the cities around it are higher, so we adjust for your city. Where no reliable prices are published, such as for end-of-tenancy cleaning and sworn translations, we tell you the range is our own estimate.
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