Cost of living comparison

 Netherlands
compared to
 United States
United States vs. Netherlands Cost of Living Summary

United States is 13.2% more expensive than Netherlands overall.

Restaurants
pay 11.6% less in United States
Groceries
pay 42.8% more in United States
Transportation
pay 27.2% less in United States
Housing
pay 24.9% more in United States
Childcare
pay 64.5% more in United States
Entertainment and Sports
pay 10.8% more in United States
Clothing
pay 12.0% less in United States

The cost of childcare, groceries, housing, and entertainment and sports in United States are more expensive than in Netherlands. Expenses including transportation, clothing, and restaurants are lower in United States.

United States vs. Netherlands Cost Breakdown

If you lived in United States instead of Netherlands, you would:

pay 11.6% less for restaurants

 
Netherlands
United States
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $18.74
€17.85
$18.59
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$12.22
€11.63
$10.47
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.94
€2.80
$2.50
 

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pay 42.8% more for groceries

 
Netherlands
United States
Bread
1 loaf
$1.79
€1.70
$3.49
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $6.20
€5.91
$6.33
 
Milk (1 gallon) $4.40
€4.19
$3.91
 

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pay 27.2% less for transportation

 
Netherlands
United States
Gasoline (1 gallon) $7.80
€7.42
$3.61
 
Monthly public transit pass $95.88
€91.30
$65.15
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $31,938.58
€30,410.44
$31,583.67
 

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pay 24.9% more for housing

 
Netherlands
United States
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$43.11
€41.05
$67.50
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,289.16
€1,227.48
$1,655.99
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,051.87
€1,001.54
$1,423.40
 

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pay 64.5% more for childcare

 
Netherlands
United States
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $1,627.96
€1,550.07
$1,351.84
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $9,050.97
€8,617.92
$22,265.44
 

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pay 10.8% more for entertainment and sports

 
Netherlands
United States
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $5.55
€5.28
$5.78
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.60
€3.43
$5.04
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$11.52
€10.97
$9.68
 

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pay 12.0% less for clothing

 
Netherlands
United States
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$84.34
€80.31
$50.38
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$38.25
€36.42
$40.66
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$92.60
€88.17
$85.52
 

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: January 2025
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