Moving to Russia from Netherlands

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Netherlands to Russia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Netherlands to Russia, you would find that Russia is 53.0% cheaper than Netherlands overall. A €65,700 salary in Netherlands would need to be roughly RUB2,991,721 in Russia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Russian.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Netherlands and Russia.

What does your salary buy?

€65,700 RUB2,991,721

To maintain the same standard of living in Russia

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 67.0% less

Groceries

pay 41.3% less

Transportation

pay 61.0% less

Housing

pay 72.2% less

Childcare

pay 55.4% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 57.6% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 87.93 RUB (July 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.

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 Russia cost about 35% less than cities in Netherlands.

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Netherlands to Russia.

Living there in 2020
546

people born in Netherlands live in Russia · UN DESA

Who's moving to Russia?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Russia compared to Netherlands.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

NL
0.8
RU
6.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NL
3.4
RU
10.6

Netherlands performs better than Russia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

NL
$8,195
RU
$3,204
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

NL
39.1
RU
38.3

Netherlands generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Russia 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
RU
39.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NL
6.6t
RU
14.0t

Netherlands performs better than Russia across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

NL
44.4
RU
24.8
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NL
16.1%
RU
4.1%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

NL
3.6%
RU
3.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

NL
$69,300
RU
$39,800

Russia generally does better on employment & economy, though Netherlands leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

NL
82.2 yrs
RU
72.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NL
3.4
RU
6.4

Netherlands performs better than Russia 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.

Amsterdam Rain: 30.7 in/yr (780 mm)
56° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

Moscow Rain: 27.2 in/yr (691 mm)
48° / 34°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Amsterdam Moscow
Jan–Mar 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) 27°/15°F (-3°/-10°C)
Apr–Jun 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) 62°/45°F (17°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 69°/53°F (21°/12°C) 68°/52°F (20°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) 36°/26°F (2°/-3°C)
View all months
Month Amsterdam Moscow
Jan 42°/33°F (5.4°/0.5°C) 21°/10°F (-6.3°/-12.3°C)
Feb 43°/32°F (6.0°/0.2°C) 24°/12°F (-4.2°/-11.1°C)
Mar 49°/36°F (9.2°/2.4°C) 35°/22°F (1.5°/-5.6°C)
Apr 54°/39°F (12.4°/4.0°C) 51°/35°F (10.4°/1.7°C)
May 63°/46°F (17.1°/7.8°C) 65°/46°F (18.4°/7.6°C)
Jun 67°/51°F (19.2°/10.4°C) 71°/53°F (21.7°/11.5°C)
Jul 71°/54°F (21.4°/12.5°C) 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.5°C)
Aug 71°/54°F (21.8°/12.3°C) 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.0°C)
Sep 65°/50°F (18.4°/10.2°C) 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.1°C)
Oct 57°/45°F (14.1°/7.0°C) 47°/36°F (8.2°/2.1°C)
Nov 49°/39°F (9.2°/3.9°C) 34°/26°F (1.1°/-3.3°C)
Dec 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) 26°/17°F (-3.5°/-8.6°C)

Data: Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Netherlands passport

Netherlands passport holder visiting Russia

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Netherlands passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Russia.
Russia passport

Russia passport holder visiting Netherlands

Visa Required
Russia 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 Russia than Netherlands?

On average Russia is about 48% less expensive than Netherlands, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Russia?

Budget about RUB747,930 for 3 months in Russia (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 Russia?

Connectivity is usually fine (Russia: 24.8 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Russia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Russia safe for expats?

Netherlands performs better than Russia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Russia is 6.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Netherlands.

How is healthcare in Russia compared to Netherlands?

Netherlands generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Russia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 38.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Russia, compared to 39.1 in Netherlands. Russia scores 79 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Netherlands: 85).

What's the weather like in Russia compared to Netherlands?

The average high temperature in Moscow is 48°F, compared to 56°F in Amsterdam. Moscow receives around 27.2 in of rainfall per year, while Amsterdam gets 30.7 in.

What language do they speak in Russia?

The official language in Russia is Russian. In Netherlands, the official language is Dutch.

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At a Glance

NL RU
Population 17,400,824 142,021,981
Currency Euro (€) Russian Ruble (RUB)
Languages Dutch Russian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +31 +7
Time zones 1 9
Emergency number 112 112