According to official data in the Netherlands, the average salary in 2021 was about €2,800 gross per month (€2,200 net). A waiter, for example, earns an average of €1,700 per month, while a cook earns €2,700 / €2,800. But the cost of living in the Netherlands is also proportional to the salary.
In the Netherlands, the gap between low and good wages is very large, much larger than in other countries. There are low-skilled jobs, for which you get the minimum wage, and high-skilled jobs, where you can easily earn 7-8,000 € per month.
In the Netherlands, there is a statutory minimum wage that is updated twice a year and the:
- up to the age of 20 approx. 1,350 € (7.70 € – 8.70 €/hour)
- from the age of 21 approx. 1.700 € (9,70 € – 10,80 €/hour)
People living in the Netherlands and especially in the big cities are divided into:
- Very rich
- Middle class
- Relatively poor, who live in social housing
- Students, who are also crammed into basement apartments.
- Expatriates, from those who live in central apartments to those who live in shared housing to those who live in anti-squatting flats
Cost of living in the Netherlands
Rent
Rent accounts for the largest portion of costs. A one-bedroom apartment in a good location can easily cost €1,500 (with a range of €1,200 to €1,700). If you choose an apartment or a shared room, the cost can drop to €500/700 per month.
In Holland, there are several options in terms of rent:
- Social housing. These apartments are the hardest to get, with biblical waiting times. There is the social housing society, in every Dutch region you have to register for a social housing if you are of age. The maximum price for these apartments is controlled and will be around €750 until 2022. But for 18- to 23-year-olds, the price drops to €450/month
- Student rooms. The average cost of a student room is 400 € per month. Even in this case, you have to register with the regional social housing association and stay on the waiting list
- Flat. Here prices are free and the rent for a mini-flat in semi-central areas of Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam or similar cities does not fall below € 1,200.
- Room in a shared flat. A room on the open market costs between €500 and €700 per month.
Utility bills
Utilities cost about 150 € per month (gas, electricity, internet and TV)
Food
For food he calculates an average cost of about 200 € per month (50 € per week), but this is very subjective and varies according to personal needs.
Health insurance
The basic health insurance package, which is mandatory in the Netherlands, costs about €100 per mounth. It is important that the health insurance you have has an agreement with the nearest hospital where you live. Finding the best deal is easy and can be done online.
Transportation
The cost of transportation depends on where you live and where you have a job. If you need to use public transportation, you will need to buy a monthly pass which costs an average of €100 per month, but can vary depending on the distance and type of transportation. Cabs are not cheap. As soon as you get in, you already have to pay €4 and for every kilometer you drive, the taxi meter increases by €2.
Or you can opt for a free solution by buying a bike and joining the thousands of cyclists who travel the Dutch roads every day. Or you can take advantage of the bike rental systems (although they do charge for them).
Municipal taxes
Since we are in the land of taxes, we must not forget about municipal taxes. For garbage, water and sewage, a person in the Netherlands pays about €20 a month in taxes.
On top of that, there are the costs for entertainment, clothing, vacations, etc.
And if you have small children, you have to take into account the cost of kindergarten, which can easily reach 1,000 to 1,500 € per month.
Wages and cost of living in the Netherlands, conclusion
In summary, it is quite easy to find a n unskilled jobs but the salaries are quite low. In general, the first contract is always for six months and you will always receive the minimum salary required by law, i.e. around €1,400 net.
So if you come to the Netherlands without qualifications and adapt to any job, there is no shortage of job opportunities, but believe it or not, with what you earn you can hardly survive. Because the cost of living is on average 30-50% more expensive than in Italy or Spain.
The only way to lower the cost is to live outside the “Randstad” (the area between Rotterdam, Amsterdam, The Hague and Utrecht). In this case, you could lower the rent by €100-200 and you could also save a little on insurance and medical care.
Those interested in moving to the Netherlands can read the article: Moving to the Netherlands, those who want to know more about the work aspects can read the article: Working in the Netherlands
