Cost #22/31 · Cost of living · Europe · Eurostat PLI 2024
🇳🇱 Cost of living in Netherlands
Netherlands runs pricier than most of the EU-27 across rent, groceries and transport - see where the gap is widest and how far local income actually stretches.
- Cost rank · cheapest = #1 of 31
- #22
- Affordability rank · highest purchasing power = #1 of 29
- #4
Netherlands's livability score
Livability score
49/100
Netherlands, weighted across 8 of 8 tracked dimensions
A cost-and-income composite (price-level indices plus purchasing power), not an overall quality-of-life judgment, it does not weigh climate, safety, culture, or healthcare outcomes.
- Purchasing power A €34,466
Median net income adjusted for local cost level
- Overall cost F 121
Eurostat overall price level (EU27=100)
- Rent F 130
Housing / rent price level (EU27=100)
- Groceries B+ 99
Food and non-alcoholic beverages (EU27=100)
- Healthcare F 140
Healthcare price level (EU27=100)
- Transport F 113
Transport price level (EU27=100)
- Utilities F 111
Electricity / gas / water (EU27=100)
- Restaurants F 125
Restaurants and hotels (EU27=100)
Netherlands: quiet 2024 Eurostat pass
Overall cost index barely moved (-0.1) vs 2023 - a near-flat European release print.
- Utilities index 130 111 2023 → 2024
Utilities index fell from 130 to 111 between the 2023 and 2024 Eurostat releases.
- Housing & utilities index 134 130 2023 → 2024
Housing & utilities index fell from 134 to 130 between the 2023 and 2024 Eurostat releases.
- Healthcare index 137 140 2023 → 2024
Healthcare index rose from 137 to 140 between the 2023 and 2024 Eurostat releases.
- Transport index 111 113 2023 → 2024
Transport index rose from 111 to 113 between the 2023 and 2024 Eurostat releases.
- Restaurants index 123 125 2023 → 2024
Restaurants index rose from 123 to 125 between the 2023 and 2024 Eurostat releases.
Netherlands in the 120+ cost band
On the EU-27 = 100 scale, Netherlands's overall index (121) sits in the 120+ band with 9 other published countries. The Europe-wide band mix lives on the rankings hub, not repeated here.
Where Netherlands's high price level concentrates
Bars + gauge for an above-EU overall index (121): which categories drive the premium, not a restated Europe lecture.
Netherlands - price level by category (EU-27 = 100)
🇳🇱 Netherlands vs EU-27 = 100
Gauge reads the same overall cost_index (121); the tick marks the EU average.
In Netherlands, healthcare is the most expensive category and groceries the least.
Why Netherlands reads expensive on Eurostat
Netherlands's overall consumer price level is 21% above the EU-27 average. (How this index is built →)
Healthcare is the priciest category in Netherlands, at index 140, ahead of groceries at index 99 relative to the EU basket.
That price gap trims real purchasing power here: because prices run above the EU average, the headline income of €34,466 is worth closer to €28,484 once translated into EU-27-average terms.
Cities in Netherlands
National averages hide the big-city premium. See real monthly rent, groceries and transit costs for Netherlands's cities.
Eurostat PLI Basket · similar price levels and purchasing power
Two peer sets for Netherlands: nearest overall price-level indices (EU-27 = 100) and nearest cost-adjusted incomes (median net income ÷ cost index). The cost band block above stays cohort-based; these neighborhoods vary by entity.
Similar overall cost index
Nearest countries by Eurostat price level (121 here, EU-27 = 100).
PLI neighbourhood · Netherlands
Similar purchasing power
Nearest countries by cost-adjusted income (€28,484 here).
What to do with this Netherlands data
Netherlands ranks #4 of 29 for cost-adjusted purchasing power. A raw price index alone does not tell you whether income stretches further here than elsewhere.
- Run the numbers for Netherlands in the calculator
- Compare Netherlands vs Austria side by side
- See the full best-value ranking
- Browse every country we track
These are Eurostat comparative price-level averages for the whole country, not a personal budget. Regional and city-level costs can differ substantially from the national figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Netherlands expensive to live in?
Netherlands's overall cost of living is 21% above the EU-27 average (index 121). Healthcare is the priciest category and groceries the cheapest.
What are housing & utilities costs in Netherlands?
Netherlands's housing & utilities price index is 130, above the EU norm.
How does income compare to costs in Netherlands?
That price gap trims real purchasing power here: because prices run above the EU average, the headline income of €34,466 is worth closer to €28,484 once translated into EU-27-average terms.
PlainCostOfLiving is rendered directly from Eurostat comparative price levels and median equivalised net income, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-08-20. Primary sources: Eurostat comparative price levels (prc_ppp_ind) and Eurostat median equivalised net income (ilc_di03).