The costs of living in the Netherlands

The costs of living in the Netherlands

The Costs of Living in the Netherlands
Are your bags packed and are you ready to go? Or are you still fretting over your move to the Netherlands? No matter what stage of your decision-making process you’re at, it’s a good idea to gain a little bit of insight on the subject of the costs of living in the Netherlands and to what extent it’s actually going to break the bank. Let’s take a look at the main two cost items on everyone’s list.

Where to live
Your monthly rent or mortgage costs are probably going to be biggest fixed expenses that you’ll be faced with. As you would’ve probably guessed, buying or renting accommodation in Amsterdam – and other cities in the province of Noord-Holland – is by far the most expensive. With an average purchase price of € 6000 (!) per square metre, Amsterdam takes the cake. Other expensive provinces include Utrecht and Zuid-Holland, with an average purchase price of between € 2000 and € 3000 per square metre, respectively. A general rule of thumb is the further you move away from ‘De Randstad’, the more bang you’ll be getting for your buck.

Food shopping
The prices for food shopping also differ slightly per province, but on average a Dutch household of two adults and two children spends € 500 a month on food at the supermarket (so without going out to a restaurant for diner). There are lots of alternatives to choose from when it comes to food shopping. Albert Heijn is the most famous supermarket chain in the Netherlands (and is a Dutch original), but it’s considered to be more expensive, whereas its German brothers Lidl and ALDI are more reasonably priced. Online food shopping has also become enormously popular in the last few years. Picnic is the most popular online supermarket, while Crisp is the organic, slightly more expensive alternative. These online supermarkets are a real time-saver as they deliver your shopping straight to your doorstep!

Other expenses
There are obviously many more items to consider, so click here to find out more about the costs of living in the Netherlands and take a look at the specific expenses that apply to your household!