The Best Places to Live in the Netherlands & the Cheapest Cities

One of Europe’s wealthiest and most densely populated countries, the Netherlands has plenty to offer the digital nomad and is a popular choice with many international visitors. While most visitors to the country head to Amsterdam and often don’t leave, there are plenty of other cities that offer good Dutch options for anyone looking for a base there whilst working remotely. In this post, we’re going to look at some of the best cities and cheapest places to live in the Netherlands.

Estimated living costs were updated in late 2023. As in most of Europe, prices have risen over the past couple of years and the Netherlands was already quite an expensive country but better value can still be found in some towns and cities.

Table of Contents

• 5 of the Best Cities to Live in the Netherlands & Work Remotely
  • 1. Rotterdam
  • 2. Den Haag
  • 3. Groningen
  • 4. Amsterdam
  • 5. Utrecht
• Moving to the Netherlands – Useful Resources
• What are the Cheapest Cities to Live in the Netherlands?

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5 of the Best Cities to Live in the Netherlands & Work Remotely

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1. Rotterdam

The second largest city in Holland, Rotterdam is massively overshadowed by Amsterdam in terms of international tourism, but this large port city is busy reinventing itself and it’s fast becoming the Netherlands’ best digital nomad option.

With the largest seaport in Europe, Rotterdam has always drawn in people from far and wide and with an estimated 180 nationalities living in the city, it really is something of a cultural melting pot. That’s good news for anyone looking for an international city as a base and Rotterdam does to a large extent live up to its reputation as the “Gateway to Europe” even if it has at times struggled to adapt to the post-industrial age.

Those looking for a quaint, quiet town and rolling green countryside, may want to look elsewhere but if you’re hoping for big city living and relatively low living costs compared to some of the other best places to live in the Netherlands, Rotterdam is a good bet. It has good nightlife with its centre more affordable than Amsterdam, and is also home to plenty of coworking spaces.

• Estimated Living Costs in Rotterdam (explanation below) – 1300-1900 Euros/month
• Estimated Digital Nomad Costs in Rotterdam – 1600-2850 Euros/month
• One Bedroom Apartment for short-term rental in Rotterdam – From 1700 Euros/month on Homelike

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2. Den Haag

The Netherlands is only a small country and wherever you choose to base yourself, you’ll be able to get anywhere and back in a day. Den Haag is only located 25 km northwest of Rotterdam and is another of the most important Dutch cities.

It serves as the seat of the Dutch government and is a major global legal centre as home to the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court. It’s also a popular option for anyone moving to the Netherlands from abroad and is generally viewed as one of the friendliest Dutch cities to live in.

Although it’s the third largest city in the country and part of a large metropolitan area, Den Haag (AKA The Hague) manages to retain a small town feel. Generally speaking it’s a safe, welcoming place that is spared some of the uglier elements of life in the country’s two biggest cities, and you can easily get into Rotterdam if you feel its entertainment options are not sufficient.

• Estimated Living Costs in Den Haag – 1250-1850 Euros/month
• Estimated Digital Nomad Costs in Den Haag – 1550-2800 Euros/month

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3. Groningen

Like Den Haag, Groningen also ranks as one of the cheapest cities to live in the Netherlands and it’s a great remote working option if you’re more of a small town kind of person.

This easy going, cycling-mad city is located in the north of the Netherlands and is the capital of a province of the same name. Groningen is a university town with almost 1000 years of history which makes it one of the most interesting places to visit in the country. Students make up around 25% of its population and that in turn ensures there are lots of eating, drinking and living options for anyone trying to live on a tight budget.

If you’re just starting out on your digital nomad journey and are worried about not making enough to cover your costs, the Netherlands perhaps isn’t the best place to head, but if you do, then Groningen is a city where you can certainly find affordable flatshares and keep your expenses down. It’s one of the best options for finding a happy medium between finding a lower cost of living in the Netherlands, as well as a city that still has plenty going on.

• Estimated Living Costs in Groningen – 1200-1800 Euros/month
• Estimated Digital Nomad Costs in Groningen – 1500-2700 Euros/month

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4. Amsterdam

For many people looking to move to the Netherlands, Amsterdam is still the first port of call and to an extent that’s understandable. It’s one of Europe’s most famous cities and while many people are put off by its seedier side, there is something special about Amsterdam life and experiencing its famous nightlife (and coffee shops if that’s your thing) like a local rather than a tourist.

Tourists are everywhere though in the centre of the city – a maze of canals and old streets. That contributes to the high cost of living and difficulties in finding good quality long-term accommodation at an affordable rate. You can expect to spend around 20% more by basing yourself in Amsterdam compared to an average Dutch city, which is a significant hike if you’re somebody working remotely and making the same amount of money regardless of your base.

It’s those costs which make you question whether it is really one of the best places to live in the Netherlands for foreigners. The best advice is perhaps to visit the city first for a few days and form your opinions as it’s the kind of love/hate place which really does divide opinions.

• Estimated Living Costs in Amsterdam – 1500-2300 Euros/month
• Estimated Digital Nomad Costs in Amsterdam – 1900-3450 Euros/month
• Studio Apartment for short-term rental in Amsterdam – From 2200 Euros/month on Homelike

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5. Utrecht

Utrecht is a historic city located in the heart of the Netherlands. It’s a great base for exploring the rest of the country with a major train station, which makes getting to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and De Haag easy.

The city is a real cultural hub with many museums, art galleries, theatres and music venues. That helps make it a popular base for students and young workers, including those working remotely and there are some really good coworking options such as Mindspace – a hub for startups, entrepreneurs, freelancers and creative workers.

Utrecht is not one of the cheapest places to live in the Netherlands, which is something to be aware of if you’re watching your costs. The demand for housing is high due to the city’s popularity and finding a good central apartment or room can be a real struggle. There are more affordable options available in the suburbs though and it’s not a massive city so you should still be able to get into the centre relatively quickly.

• Estimated Living Costs in Utrecht – 1350-2050 Euros/month
• Estimated Digital Nomad Costs in Utrecht – 1700-3100 Euros/month

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Estimated Living Costs Calculation:

To help calculate the cost of living in the Netherlands in the table below and the cities featured in this post above, we used Numbeo’s data to help.

The estimated living costs are only designed to be a guide but should offer a useful means of comparison and highlight which are the cheapest and most expensive cities in the Netherlands to live. The lower figure might be a realistic budget for students or young people living in a flatshare and looking to watch what they spend.

The upper figure would offer a lot more freedom in terms of finding a flat of your own and enjoying more days and evenings out. In both cases it is designed to cover the cost of rented accommodation and all living costs, although clearly it will vary a lot depending on the person.

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Moving to the Netherlands – Useful Resources

• SafetyWing offer medical travel insurance packages for remote workers in the Netherlands or anyone looking for short-term medical cover before they are fully registered in the local healthcare system.
• People tend to speak English to quite a high level, but learning Dutch is still advisable if you’re planning a long stay. Study Dutch with Rosetta Stone before you move to at least pick up some basics.
• Pararius is the self-acclaimed leading rental website in the Netherlands and is available in English. A good first port of call if you’re looking to rent an apartment.
• Use the internet in the Netherlands like you’re still at home and watch all your favourite shows with NordVPN.

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What are the Cheapest Cities to Live in the Netherlands?

City	Estimated Cost of Living (Monthly in Euros)
Amsterdam	1500-2300
Haarlem	1500-2300
Leiden	1450-2150
Utrecht	1350–2050
Breda	1350–2050
Eindhoven	1350–2050
Maastricht	1300-2000
Alkmaar	1300-2000
Rotterdam	1300-1900
Almere	1300-1900
Den Haag	1250-1850
Groningen	1200-1800
Tilburg	1200-1800
Enschede	1200-1800

It’s worth noting that none of these budgets for living in the Netherlands factor in the cost of any travel or health insurance packages. These will vary depending on your personal circumstances, nationality and ability to access free healthcare in Europe.

As you can see from the table above, the likes of Tilburg and Enschede also rival Groningen and Den Haag when it comes to offering the lowest living costs in the Netherlands, at least in terms of the main cities. However even those towns are very expensive when compared to the cheapest cities to live in Poland for example.

This is a small country though and in truth there’s not a great deal of variation in costs away from the expensive Amsterdam area. Haarlem, which forms part of the Amsterdam metropolitan area, is also expensive but overall something in the region of 1300-1900 Euros per month is a realistic base figure for living and renting in the Netherlands for most people.

Digital nomads looking for shorter term stays of a month or less can expect to spend a bit more than that, as you’ll pay more for accommodation. Finding budget-friendly daily or weekly rents in Amsterdam is not easy, so consider basing yourself in a cheaper city with good transport links.

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