LIVING COSTS IN THE NETHERLANDS

Are you considering coming to the Netherlands to work with us? You’ve made a great choice! People in the Netherlands enjoy a very high standard of living and are among the happiest in the world. While the cost of living in the Netherlands might not be the cheapest, it is possible to live in this charming country without breaking the bank. In this article we’ll give you an idea of the cost of living in the Netherlands. Please note that these prices can change at any time, and that no rights can be derived from the following estimates.

Cost of Living Estimates:

Rent

Housing will be a large part of any Dutch residents’ budget. Due to the housing crisis, housing can be expensive and difficult to find.

Surprisingly, when renting a house, it is not always the size of the home which makes a price difference. Other features of a home such a location, age of the home, upkeep on the home, and energy efficiency often make some houses more expensive than others.

When a consultant moves to the Netherlands, Wypoon strives to find our consultants a suitable home for a maximum of 1500 euros per month. These homes are usually in areas just outside of the major cities such as Amsterdam or Rotterdam, in order to keep costs low.

Utilities & Water

Paying for utilities and water in the Netherlands is often a point of confusion. This is because the Netherlands uses a pre-payment system or “Voorschot” when paying for water and utilities.

Say for example, you have been living in a house for 1 year, and during that 1 year you used on average 100 euros worth of gas and electricity and 15 euros worth of water per month. Then, the following year your utility bill will likely be 110 euros (your average usage from last year (100 euros + increases in prices). For water, your bill might be 18 euros (your average usage from last year (15 euros) + increases in prices). If you are new in a home, your voorschot will be based on the average usage of those in your neighborhood with a similar house make up (for example: single person or family with 2 children)

After 12 months of paying your voorschot, the utility and water company will look at your actual usage and compare it to the amount of money you paid over the last year. If you paid too little, you will get a bill from the utility or water company. If you paid too much, the utility or water company will give you a refund for the water or energy not used.

Health Insurance

It is mandatory for all residents of the Netherlands to have Dutch Health Insurance. There are two main types of health insurance in the Netherlands: Basic (mandatory) and Additional or “Aanvullende”, which is optional. Children under the age of 18 do need to pay for basic or additional insurances.

• Basic Insurance

  Your basic insurance will offer you basic medical care including, but not limited to visits to your general practitioner, medical specialists, hospital visits, most prescriptions, and maternity care. Basic insurance will cost you about 120 euros per month. The deductible for basic insurance can range from 385 – 885 euros per year.

• Additional or “Aanvullende” Insurance

  Additional insurances cover expenses which are not covered by the Basic insurance. Examples of costs which might fall under the additional insurance include: dental care for adults over the age of 18, physiotherapy, glasses or contacts, and homeopathic medicine.

Transportation

• 1 litre (1/4 gallon) of gas (Euro 95) - €1.81
• Train ticket from Amsterdam to Utrecht (one way) - €8.80
• Train Ticket from Amsterdam to Rotterdam - €17.90

Phone

Similar to many other countries, in the Netherlands you can choose if you would like a “SIM only” phone plan, or a phone which comes with a phone. SIM only plans are quite cheap and can be as little as 6 euros per month for 10GB of data, unlimited SMS’s, and unlimited minutes.

A monthly plan which includes a phone will be more expensive because you will need to make a monthly payment for the device. For example, if you want a new Apple iPhone 14 with 20GB of data per month and unlimited minutes and SMS – you will pay at least 50 euros per month. Be aware that you might also need to make a down payment for the phone as well.

It is also possible to buy pre-paid SIM cards as well.

Internet and TV

Having internet access in the Netherlands is essential. Although there are many different providers of these services in the Netherlands, the biggest TV & Internet providers are KPN, Ziggo, Tele2, and T-Mobile. You are not required to use the same provider for TV and Internet, although many providers offer a discount on packages which include both TV and internet services.

Most providers offer a basic cable package which includes many channels with English-spoken TV shows in addition to the Dutch national and local channels. You may also choose to buy additional packages which may include sports channels and/or movies.

You can purchase internet packages with speeds up to 200 Mbit/sec download and 20Mbit/sec upload in the Netherlands. Many providers provide the customer with their own modem, which should support your chosen internet speed. You may also choose to buy you own.

Bank Fees

A Dutch bank account typically costs anywhere from €2 to €20 per month depending on the bank and what kind of account you need. Some banks will charge you quarterly. Basic personal bank accounts at ABN Amro, ING, and RaboBank will cost you around 3 euros per month.

Water & Garbage taxes

In the Netherlands, residents are charged with water and garbage taxes yearly. The yearly water tax consists of several types of tax including VAT and tap water tax. These taxes are used to encourage residents to limit their water usage. Garbage taxes are a yearly tax which is included in your municipal tax bill. This tax is used to fund the collection and processing of your household waste.

Food, grocery, and other costs:

Depending on your lifestyle, you will incur other costs during your stay in the Netherlands. Please see the list below to get an idea of what those costs might look like.

Food & Groceries

• Lunch + drink at a restaurant in city - €15.00
• Combo Meal at a fast-food restaurant - €10.00
• 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast - €4.39
• 1 litre (1 qt.) of whole fat milk - €1.08
• 12 eggs, large - €2.50
• 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes - €2.47
• Pack of Gouda cheese slices (250g) – €4.50
• 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples - €2.77
• 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes - €1.64
• Crate of local beer (24 bottles) - € 18.00
• 1.5 litres of Coca-Cola - €1.50
• Loaf of bread - €1.20

Personal care

• Bottle of Name Brand Shampoo – €3.99
• Bottle of Name Brand Shower Gel - €4.99
• Aquafresh Toothpaste - €2.39
• Name Brand Deodorant (Spray) - €2.50
• Box of 16 OB tampons - €3.49
• 12 rolls of Name Brand toilet paper - €3.50
• Gym Membership at a Basic Gym (1 Month) - €19.99

Entertainment

• Dinner out for two at a local café - €60.00
• Two tickets to the movies - €24.00
• Three course Dinner for two at an upscale Italian restaurant - €72.00
• Cocktail in downtown club - €12.00
• Cappuccino at a café - €2.50
• Bottle of beer at a local pub - €3.00