🇳🇱 Netherlands · 2026

Cost of Living in Utrecht

6.7% above the Netherlands average

Ranked #42 of 577 cities · More expensive than 92.7% of cities worldwide

+6.7%
Cost of Living
+7.6%
Rent
+1.0%
Groceries
+5.0%
Purchasing Power

Compared to Netherlands average · See Netherlands ranking →

Rent Prices in Utrecht

Apartment City Centre Outside Centre You Save
1-Bedroom EUR 1,667/mo ≈ $1,874 EUR 1,319/mo ≈ $1,482 21%
3-Bedroom EUR 2,857/mo ≈ $3,211 EUR 1,990/mo ≈ $2,236 30%
Numbeo · 2026-10-02

Prices of Goods & Services in Utrecht

Groceries

Apples (1kg)
EUR 2.59
Beer (0.5L, supermarket)
EUR 1.46
Bread (500g)
EUR 1.72
Local cheese (1kg)
EUR 13.49
Chicken (1kg)
EUR 12.01
Cigarettes (Marlboro)
EUR 11.75
Eggs (12)
EUR 4.38
Milk (1L)
EUR 1.33
Potatoes (1kg)
EUR 1.64
Tomatoes (1kg)
EUR 3.28
Water (1.5L)
EUR 1.26
Wine (mid-range)
EUR 7.65

Restaurants

Draft beer (0.5L)
EUR 5.95
Cappuccino
EUR 3.74
McMeal
EUR 11.75
Cheap meal
EUR 18.50
Mid-range dinner (2 people)
EUR 69.50

Clothing & Shoes

Business shoes (leather)
EUR 122.58
Jeans (Levi's 501)
EUR 93.17
Sport shoes (Nike)
EUR 99.62
Summer dress (Zara/H&M)
EUR 45.90

Leisure

Cinema ticket
EUR 13.00
Gym membership
EUR 38.20

Transportation

Gasoline (1L)
EUR 1.99
Taxi start
EUR 3.36
Monthly pass
EUR 160.50

Utilities

Basic utilities (85m²)
EUR 225.49

Prices in local currency, cross-referenced from multiple independent sources. October 2026.

Multi-Source Comparison

★★★ High Confidence

Utrecht has a cost of living index of 61.8 (New York = 100, rent included), the average of 3 of 3 data sources.

61.8
Index
3
Sources
5.9
Gap between sources

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Numbeo
58.8
Expatistan
62.0
LivingCost
64.7
ShouldIMove price index
No data

ShouldIMove price index: our own basket of real item prices plus rent.

Cost Indices

Cost of Living
+6.7% Average
Rent
+7.6% Average
Groceries
+1.0% Average
Restaurants
-1.3% Average
Purchasing Power
+5.0% Average

Living in Utrecht: What to Expect

Utrecht is very expensive by global standards (ranked #42 of 577 cities). It is 6.7% more expensive than the Netherlands average, based on 10 cities.

Groceries are average and dining out is average. The best value is restaurants and the priciest is rent.

Local purchasing power is strong: residents can afford more goods and services than in most cities.

Workers in Netherlands earning EUR 50,000 gross take home EUR 3,105/month after tax (25.5% effective rate). See full Netherlands tax calculator →

How Does Utrecht Compare?

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