Moving to Bolivia from Netherlands

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Netherlands to Bolivia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Netherlands to Bolivia, you would find that Bolivia is 76.1% cheaper than Netherlands overall. A €67,000 salary in Netherlands would need to be roughly BOB210,000 in Bolivia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Aymara, Guaraní, Quechua and Spanish.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Is Bolivia cheaper than Netherlands?

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 83.6% less

Groceries

pay 63.4% less

Transportation

pay 73.1% less

Housing

pay 82.5% less

Childcare

pay 86.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 67.7% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 13.14 BOB (October 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

What salary do you need in Bolivia?

What does your salary buy?

€67,000 → BOB210,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Bolivia

Calculate with your salary →

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Netherlands to Bolivia, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
425 ↑ 11% vs 2015

people born in Netherlands live in Bolivia · UN DESA

Who's moving to Bolivia?

Top countries of origin for Bolivia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Netherlands to Bolivia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

NL
0.7
BO
4.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NL
3.4
BO
17.6

Netherlands performs better than Bolivia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

NL
$8,195
BO
$756
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

NL
38.8
BO
12.8

Netherlands generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bolivia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

NL
13.0
BO
54.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NL
6.6t
BO
2.3t

Netherlands generally does better on environment, though Bolivia leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

NL
43.0
BO
12.1
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NL
16.7%
BO
0.2%

Netherlands generally does better on infrastructure, though Bolivia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

NL
3.9%
BO
3.0%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

NL
$73,684
BO
$5,148

Netherlands generally does better on employment & economy, though Bolivia leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

NL
82.0 yrs
BO
68.7 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NL
3.4
BO
14.2

Netherlands generally does better on family life, though Bolivia leads in education spending.

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Tax and Customs Administration - Belastingdienst (2016), Autoridad de Impugnación Tributaria (AIT), Bolivia (2016). How we calculate this

Can you move from Netherlands to Bolivia?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Netherlands and Bolivia. To live, work, or study long-term in Bolivia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Bolivia's immigration authority.

Netherlands passport

Netherlands passport holder visiting Bolivia

Visa Free
Netherlands passport holders can enter Bolivia without a visa.
Bolivia passport

Bolivia passport holder visiting Netherlands

Visa Required
Bolivia passport holders need a visa to enter Netherlands.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Bolivia than Netherlands?

Yes — Bolivia is on average about 76% cheaper than Netherlands. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Bolivia?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly BOB52,500 in Bolivia on a €67,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Bolivia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Bolivia has 12.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Bolivia safe for expats?

Netherlands performs better than Bolivia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Bolivia is 4.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.7 in Netherlands.

How is healthcare in Bolivia compared to Netherlands?

Netherlands generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bolivia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 12.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Bolivia, compared to 38.8 in Netherlands. Bolivia scores 65 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Netherlands: 85).

What language do they speak in Bolivia?

The official languages in Bolivia are Aymara, Guaraní, Quechua and Spanish. In Netherlands, the official language is Dutch.

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At a Glance

NL BO
Population 18,087,633 12,581,843
Currency Euro (€) Bolivian Boliviano (BOB)
Languages Dutch Aymara, Guaraní, Quechua, Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +31 +591
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 110