Moving to Pakistan from Netherlands
What to Expect
Considering a move from Netherlands to Pakistan? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Netherlands to Pakistan, you would find that Pakistan is 76.3% cheaper than Netherlands overall. A €65,700 salary in Netherlands would need to be roughly PKR5,106,979 in Pakistan to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Urdu. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Islamabad averages 84°F vs 56°F in Amsterdam, making it significantly warmer.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Netherlands and Pakistan.
What does your salary buy?
€65,700 → PKR5,106,979
To maintain the same standard of living in Pakistan
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 85.2% less
Groceries
pay 70.8% less
Transportation
pay 70.3% less
Housing
pay 81.4% less
Childcare
pay 92.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 72.2% 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 Pakistan cost about 73% less than cities in Netherlands.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Pakistan compared to Netherlands.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Netherlands performs better than Pakistan across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Pakistan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Netherlands leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Netherlands generally does better on environment, though Pakistan leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Netherlands performs better than Pakistan across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Netherlands generally does better on employment & economy, though Pakistan leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Netherlands performs better than Pakistan across all family life metrics.
Data: Tax and Customs Administration - Belastingdienst, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Amsterdam | Islamabad |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) | 69°/44°F (21°/7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) | 95°/68°F (35°/20°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 69°/53°F (21°/12°C) | 94°/74°F (34°/23°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) | 78°/48°F (26°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Amsterdam | Islamabad |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°/33°F (5.4°/0.5°C) | 64°/38°F (17.9°/3.2°C) |
| Feb | 43°/32°F (6.0°/0.2°C) | 68°/43°F (19.8°/6.0°C) |
| Mar | 49°/36°F (9.2°/2.4°C) | 76°/51°F (24.5°/10.7°C) |
| Apr | 54°/39°F (12.4°/4.0°C) | 87°/60°F (30.5°/15.8°C) |
| May | 63°/46°F (17.1°/7.8°C) | 97°/69°F (36.0°/20.7°C) |
| Jun | 67°/51°F (19.2°/10.4°C) | 101°/75°F (38.4°/23.8°C) |
| Jul | 71°/54°F (21.4°/12.5°C) | 96°/76°F (35.3°/24.4°C) |
| Aug | 71°/54°F (21.8°/12.3°C) | 93°/75°F (33.7°/23.8°C) |
| Sep | 65°/50°F (18.4°/10.2°C) | 93°/70°F (33.7°/21.1°C) |
| Oct | 57°/45°F (14.1°/7.0°C) | 88°/58°F (30.9°/14.5°C) |
| Nov | 49°/39°F (9.2°/3.9°C) | 79°/47°F (25.9°/8.3°C) |
| Dec | 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) | 68°/40°F (20.2°/4.3°C) |
Royal Netherlands Meteorological InstituteVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Netherlands and Pakistan. To live, work, or study long-term in Pakistan, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Pakistan's immigration authority.
Netherlands passport holder visiting Pakistan
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Pakistan passport holder visiting Netherlands
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Pakistan than Netherlands?
On average Pakistan is about 76% less expensive than Netherlands, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Pakistan?
Budget about PKR1,276,745 for 3 months in Pakistan (based on a €65,700 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Pakistan?
Connectivity is usually fine (Pakistan: 1.3 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Pakistan offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Pakistan safe for expats?
Netherlands performs better than Pakistan across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Pakistan is 4.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Netherlands.
How is healthcare in Pakistan compared to Netherlands?
Pakistan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Netherlands leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 10.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Pakistan, compared to 39.1 in Netherlands. Pakistan scores 45 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Netherlands: 85).
What's the weather like in Pakistan compared to Netherlands?
The average high temperature in Islamabad is 84°F, compared to 56°F in Amsterdam. Islamabad receives around 49.1 in of rainfall per year, while Amsterdam gets 30.7 in.
What language do they speak in Pakistan?
The official languages in Pakistan are English and Urdu. In Netherlands, the official language is Dutch.
