Moving to Netherlands from California
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from California to Netherlands — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from California to Netherlands, you would find that Netherlands is 2.8% more expensive than California. A $75,000 salary in California would need to be roughly €64,359 in Netherlands to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Amsterdam averages 56°F vs 74°F in Sacramento, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from California to Netherlands.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → €64,359
To maintain the same standard of living in Netherlands
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 17.8% more
Groceries
pay 19.2% less
Transportation
pay 48.0% more
Housing
pay 22.6% less
Childcare
pay 24.0% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 7.9% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Netherlands cost about 18% less than cities in California.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from California to Netherlands, based on official data.
people moved from United States to Netherlands · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from California to Netherlands.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Netherlands performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
California performs better than Netherlands across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
California generally does better on employment & economy, though Netherlands leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Netherlands performs significantly better than California across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Sacramento | Amsterdam |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 60°/41°F (15°/5°C) | 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 79°/51°F (26°/11°C) | 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/57°F (32°/14°C) | 69°/53°F (21°/12°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 65°/44°F (18°/7°C) | 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Sacramento | Amsterdam |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54°/39°F (12.1°/3.8°C) | 42°/33°F (5.4°/0.5°C) |
| Feb | 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.2°C) | 43°/32°F (6.0°/0.2°C) |
| Mar | 65°/44°F (18.4°/6.7°C) | 49°/36°F (9.2°/2.4°C) |
| Apr | 71°/46°F (21.7°/7.9°C) | 54°/39°F (12.4°/4.0°C) |
| May | 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.6°C) | 63°/46°F (17.1°/7.8°C) |
| Jun | 87°/56°F (30.6°/13.2°C) | 67°/51°F (19.2°/10.4°C) |
| Jul | 92°/58°F (33.4°/14.7°C) | 71°/54°F (21.4°/12.5°C) |
| Aug | 91°/58°F (32.9°/14.4°C) | 71°/54°F (21.8°/12.3°C) |
| Sep | 87°/56°F (30.7°/13.2°C) | 65°/50°F (18.4°/10.2°C) |
| Oct | 78°/50°F (25.3°/10.1°C) | 57°/45°F (14.1°/7.0°C) |
| Nov | 64°/43°F (17.7°/6.0°C) | 49°/39°F (9.2°/3.9°C) |
| Dec | 54°/38°F (12.2°/3.6°C) | 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Netherlands. To live, work, or study long-term in Netherlands, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Netherlands's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Netherlands
Visa Free
Netherlands passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Netherlands than California?
Costs in Netherlands and California are broadly similar overall, though categories like rent and dining differ between cities.
How much money do I need to move to Netherlands?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €16,090 in Netherlands on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Netherlands?
Usually fine from major cities in Netherlands. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
How is healthcare in Netherlands compared to California?
Netherlands performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Netherlands compared to California?
The average high temperature in Amsterdam is 56°F, compared to 74°F in Sacramento. Amsterdam receives around 30.7 in of rainfall per year, while Sacramento gets 18.5 in.
What language do they speak in Netherlands?
The official language in Netherlands is Dutch. In California, the official language is English.
