Moving to Netherlands from South Carolina

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from South Carolina to Netherlands, you would find that Netherlands is 5.8% more expensive than South Carolina. A $75,000 salary in South Carolina would need to be roughly €70,600 in Netherlands to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Amsterdam averages 56°F vs 73°F in Charleston, making it significantly cooler.

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Is Netherlands cheaper than South Carolina?

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 24.2% more

Groceries

pay 25.7% less

Transportation

pay 78.7% more

Housing

pay 3.7% less

Childcare

pay 12.2% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 9.3% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 0.89 EUR (October 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.

What salary do you need in Netherlands?

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 → €70,600

To maintain the same standard of living in Netherlands

Calculate with your salary →

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from South Carolina to Netherlands.

Moved in 2023
5,729 ↑ 2% vs 2022

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

Who's moving to Netherlands?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Netherlands compared to South Carolina.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2024

share of adults with obesity

SC
35.4%
NL
14.7%

Netherlands performs significantly better than South Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2024

share of households with internet

SC
87.0%
NL
97.0%

Netherlands performs significantly better than South Carolina across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

SC
4.9%
NL
3.9%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

SC
$49,914
NL
$73,684

Netherlands generally does better on employment & economy, though South Carolina leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2024

average years of life at birth

SC
74.8 yrs
NL
82.0 yrs

Netherlands performs significantly better than South Carolina across all family life metrics.

Weather in Netherlands vs South Carolina

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Charleston Rain: 44.4 in/yr (1128 mm)
73° / 60°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Charleston Amsterdam
Jan–Mar 61°/47°F (16°/8°C) 45°/34°F (7°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 79°/67°F (26°/19°C) 61°/45°F (16°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/75°F (30°/24°C) 69°/53°F (21°/12°C)
Oct–Dec 67°/54°F (20°/12°C) 50°/40°F (10°/4°C)
View all months
Month Charleston Amsterdam
Jan 57°/43°F (13.7°/6.0°C) 42°/33°F (5.4°/0.5°C)
Feb 60°/46°F (15.3°/7.5°C) 43°/32°F (6.0°/0.2°C)
Mar 65°/52°F (18.3°/10.9°C) 49°/36°F (9.2°/2.4°C)
Apr 72°/59°F (22.2°/14.9°C) 54°/39°F (12.4°/4.0°C)
May 79°/67°F (25.9°/19.5°C) 63°/46°F (17.1°/7.8°C)
Jun 85°/74°F (29.2°/23.3°C) 67°/51°F (19.2°/10.4°C)
Jul 88°/77°F (30.9°/24.9°C) 71°/54°F (21.4°/12.5°C)
Aug 86°/76°F (30.2°/24.5°C) 71°/54°F (21.8°/12.3°C)
Sep 82°/72°F (27.8°/22.1°C) 65°/50°F (18.4°/10.2°C)
Oct 75°/62°F (23.7°/16.9°C) 57°/45°F (14.1°/7.0°C)
Nov 67°/54°F (19.6°/12.0°C) 49°/39°F (9.2°/3.9°C)
Dec 60°/46°F (15.3°/7.6°C) 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute

Can you move from South Carolina to Netherlands?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Netherlands

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

Netherlands passport holder visiting United States

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

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 Netherlands than South Carolina?

On average Netherlands is around 6% pricier than South Carolina, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Netherlands?

Budget about €17,650 for 3 months in Netherlands (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Netherlands?

From major Netherlands cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in South Carolina and Netherlands are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Netherlands compared to South Carolina?

Netherlands performs significantly better than South Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Netherlands compared to South Carolina?

The average high temperature in Amsterdam is 56°F, compared to 73°F in Charleston. Amsterdam receives around 30.7 in of rainfall per year, while Charleston gets 44.4 in.

What language do they speak in Netherlands?

The official language in Netherlands is Dutch. In South Carolina, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

NL
Population 5,570,274 18,087,633
Currency United States Dollar ($) Euro (€)
Languages English Dutch
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +31
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 112