Moving to United Kingdom from Netherlands

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Netherlands to United Kingdom, you would find that United Kingdom is 3.7% cheaper than Netherlands overall. A €65,700 salary in Netherlands would need to be roughly £50,692 in United Kingdom to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Netherlands and United Kingdom.

What does your salary buy?

€65,700 £50,692

To maintain the same standard of living in United Kingdom

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 27.9% less

Groceries

pay 11.5% less

Transportation

pay 10.0% less

Housing

pay 5.7% less

Childcare

pay 31.5% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 9.1% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 0.8517 GBP (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 United Kingdom cost about 13% less than cities in Netherlands.

Netherlands

Rotterdam 72%
Eindhoven 67%
Zwolle 62%

United Kingdom

Bath 63%
Slough 61%

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 United Kingdom.

Moved in 2019
5,636

people moved from Netherlands to United Kingdom · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to United Kingdom?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in United Kingdom compared to Netherlands.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

NL
0.8
GB
1.0
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NL
3.4
GB
2.4

Netherlands generally does better on safety, though United Kingdom leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

NL
$8,195
GB
$6,606
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

NL
39.1
GB
31.7

United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Netherlands leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

NL
13.0
GB
13.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NL
6.6t
GB
4.2t

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

NL
44.4
GB
41.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NL
16.1%
GB
14.3%

Netherlands generally does better on infrastructure, though United Kingdom 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%
GB
4.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

NL
$69,300
GB
$54,100

Netherlands generally does better on employment & economy, though United Kingdom leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

NL
82.2 yrs
GB
81.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NL
3.4
GB
3.8

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

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

London Rain: 22.0 in/yr (558 mm)
60° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Amsterdam London
Jan–Mar 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) 49°/38°F (9°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) 64°/48°F (18°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 69°/53°F (21°/12°C) 72°/56°F (22°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) 53°/43°F (12°/6°C)
View all months
Month Amsterdam London
Jan 42°/33°F (5.4°/0.5°C) 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C)
Feb 43°/32°F (6.0°/0.2°C) 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C)
Mar 49°/36°F (9.2°/2.4°C) 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C)
Apr 54°/39°F (12.4°/4.0°C) 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C)
May 63°/46°F (17.1°/7.8°C) 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C)
Jun 67°/51°F (19.2°/10.4°C) 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C)
Jul 71°/54°F (21.4°/12.5°C) 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C)
Aug 71°/54°F (21.8°/12.3°C) 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C)
Sep 65°/50°F (18.4°/10.2°C) 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C)
Oct 57°/45°F (14.1°/7.0°C) 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C)
Nov 49°/39°F (9.2°/3.9°C) 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C)
Dec 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C)

Data: Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, Met Office Met Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Netherlands passport

Netherlands passport holder visiting United Kingdom

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Netherlands passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United Kingdom.
United Kingdom passport

United Kingdom passport holder visiting Netherlands

Visa Free
United Kingdom passport holders can enter Netherlands without a visa.

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 United Kingdom than Netherlands?

On average United Kingdom is about 9% less expensive than Netherlands, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to United Kingdom?

Budget about £12,673 for 3 months in United Kingdom (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 United Kingdom?

Connectivity is usually fine (United Kingdom: 41.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does United Kingdom offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is United Kingdom safe for expats?

Netherlands generally does better on safety, though United Kingdom leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in United Kingdom is 1.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Netherlands.

How is healthcare in United Kingdom compared to Netherlands?

United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Netherlands leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 31.7 doctors per 10,000 people in United Kingdom, compared to 39.1 in Netherlands. United Kingdom scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Netherlands: 85).

What's the weather like in United Kingdom compared to Netherlands?

The average high temperature in London is 60°F, compared to 56°F in Amsterdam. London receives around 22.0 in of rainfall per year, while Amsterdam gets 30.7 in.

What language do they speak in United Kingdom?

The official language in United Kingdom is English. In Netherlands, the official language is Dutch.

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At a Glance

NL GB
Population 17,400,824 67,791,400
Currency Euro (€) British Pound Sterling (£)
Languages Dutch English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +31 +44
Time zones 1 9
Emergency number 112 999