Moving to Netherlands from Singapore
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Singapore to Netherlands — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Singapore to Netherlands, you would find that Netherlands is 19.9% more expensive than Singapore overall. A SGD95,760 salary in Singapore would need to be roughly €35,586 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. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Amsterdam averages 56°F vs 89°F in Singapore, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Singapore to Netherlands.
What does your salary buy?
SGD95,760 → €35,586
To maintain the same standard of living in Netherlands
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 2.2 times more
Groceries
pay 8.0% less
Transportation
pay 30.4% more
Housing
pay 3.1% more
Childcare
pay 5.6% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 8.6% 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.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Singapore to Netherlands, based on official data.
people moved from Singapore to Netherlands · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Singapore to Netherlands.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Singapore performs better than Netherlands 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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Singapore 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 performs significantly better than Singapore 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
Netherlands generally does better on infrastructure, though Singapore leads in electricity per capita.
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
Singapore performs better than Netherlands across all employment & economy metrics.
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
Singapore generally does better on family life, though Netherlands leads in education spending.
Data: Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, 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 | Singapore | Amsterdam |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 89°/76°F (31°/25°C) | 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 90°/78°F (32°/26°C) | 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 89°/78°F (31°/25°C) | 69°/53°F (21°/12°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 88°/76°F (31°/25°C) | 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Singapore | Amsterdam |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 87°/76°F (30.6°/24.3°C) | 42°/33°F (5.4°/0.5°C) |
| Feb | 89°/76°F (31.5°/24.6°C) | 43°/32°F (6.0°/0.2°C) |
| Mar | 90°/77°F (32.2°/24.9°C) | 49°/36°F (9.2°/2.4°C) |
| Apr | 90°/78°F (32.4°/25.3°C) | 54°/39°F (12.4°/4.0°C) |
| May | 90°/78°F (32.3°/25.7°C) | 63°/46°F (17.1°/7.8°C) |
| Jun | 89°/78°F (31.9°/25.7°C) | 67°/51°F (19.2°/10.4°C) |
| Jul | 89°/78°F (31.4°/25.4°C) | 71°/54°F (21.4°/12.5°C) |
| Aug | 89°/78°F (31.4°/25.3°C) | 71°/54°F (21.8°/12.3°C) |
| Sep | 89°/77°F (31.6°/25.2°C) | 65°/50°F (18.4°/10.2°C) |
| Oct | 89°/77°F (31.8°/25.0°C) | 57°/45°F (14.1°/7.0°C) |
| Nov | 88°/76°F (31.2°/24.6°C) | 49°/39°F (9.2°/3.9°C) |
| Dec | 87°/76°F (30.5°/24.3°C) | 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) |
Data:
Meteorological Service Singapore,
Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Singapore 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.
Singapore passport holder visiting Netherlands
Visa Free
Netherlands passport holder visiting Singapore
Visa FreeData: 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 Singapore?
Yes — Netherlands is on average about 45% cheaper than Singapore. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Netherlands?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €8,896 in Netherlands on a SGD95,760 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, 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?
Singapore performs better than Netherlands across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Netherlands is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.1 in Singapore.
How is healthcare in Netherlands compared to Singapore?
Singapore 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 26.0 in Singapore. Netherlands scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Singapore: 89).
What's the weather like in Netherlands compared to Singapore?
The average high temperature in Amsterdam is 56°F, compared to 89°F in Singapore. Amsterdam receives around 30.7 in of rainfall per year, while Singapore gets 83.2 in.
What language do they speak in Netherlands?
The official language in Netherlands is Dutch. In Singapore, the official languages are Chinese, English, Malay and Tamil.
