Moving to Netherlands from New Zealand
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from New Zealand to Netherlands — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from New Zealand to Netherlands, you would find that Netherlands is 40.7% more expensive than New Zealand overall. A NZ$128,326 salary in New Zealand would need to be roughly €88,030 in Netherlands to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
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 New Zealand to Netherlands.
What does your salary buy?
NZ$128,326 → €88,030
To maintain the same standard of living in Netherlands
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 53.2% more
Groceries
pay 11.6% more
Transportation
pay 45.2% more
Housing
pay 51.7% more
Childcare
pay 89.8% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 11.4% more
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 48% more than cities in New Zealand.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to Netherlands
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from New Zealand to Netherlands, based on official data.
people moved from New Zealand to Netherlands · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from New Zealand to Netherlands.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Netherlands performs significantly better than New Zealand 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
New Zealand 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
New Zealand performs better than Netherlands across all environment metrics.
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
New Zealand generally does better on infrastructure, though Netherlands leads in broadband per 100 people.
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
Netherlands generally does better on employment & economy, though New Zealand 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
New Zealand generally does better on family life, though Netherlands leads in infant mortality.
Data: New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, 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 | Wellington | Amsterdam |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) | 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) | 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) | 69°/53°F (21°/12°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Wellington | Amsterdam |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) | 42°/33°F (5.4°/0.5°C) |
| Feb | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) | 43°/32°F (6.0°/0.2°C) |
| Mar | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) | 49°/36°F (9.2°/2.4°C) |
| Apr | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) | 54°/39°F (12.4°/4.0°C) |
| May | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) | 63°/46°F (17.1°/7.8°C) |
| Jun | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) | 67°/51°F (19.2°/10.4°C) |
| Jul | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) | 71°/54°F (21.4°/12.5°C) |
| Aug | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) | 71°/54°F (21.8°/12.3°C) |
| Sep | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) | 65°/50°F (18.4°/10.2°C) |
| Oct | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) | 57°/45°F (14.1°/7.0°C) |
| Nov | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) | 49°/39°F (9.2°/3.9°C) |
| Dec | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) | 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) |
Data:
New Zealand National Meteorological Service,
Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand 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.
New Zealand passport holder visiting Netherlands
Visa Free
Netherlands passport holder visiting New Zealand
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 New Zealand?
No — Netherlands is on average about 34% more expensive than New Zealand. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Netherlands?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €22,008 in Netherlands on a NZ$128,326 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Netherlands?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Netherlands has 44.4 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 Netherlands safe for expats?
Netherlands performs significantly better than New Zealand across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Netherlands is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in New Zealand.
How is healthcare in Netherlands compared to New Zealand?
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Netherlands leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 39.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Netherlands, compared to 35.7 in New Zealand. Netherlands scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).
What's the weather like in Netherlands compared to New Zealand?
The average high temperature in Amsterdam is 56°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Amsterdam receives around 30.7 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.
What language do they speak in Netherlands?
The official language in Netherlands is Dutch. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
