🇳🇱 Netherlands · A realistic 2026 budget for newcomers — rent, food, transport, and what a month actually costs.
Wondering how far your salary goes in 's-Hertogenbosch? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.
What things cost
1-bed flat, central (Binnenstad, Het Zand, Boschveld)€1,150-1,650 / month
Utilities, internet and mobile, one person€150-220 / month
Municipal + water board taxes, single renter≈€450-550 / year in 2026, billed separately from rent
Monthly regional bus pass (Bravo/Arriva)€70-100 (most residents cycle instead)
Good to know
Population
≈160,000 in the municipality, the fourth-largest in Noord-Brabant, with roughly 400,000 in the surrounding Noordoost-Brabant region
Languages
Dutch, in a strong Brabant accent — 'houdoe' rather than 'doei'. English is standard in the professional and public-sector workplaces but less universal on the street than in Amsterdam or Eindhoven
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Time zone
CET (GMT+1), CEST (GMT+2) from late March to late October
Power plug
Types C and F, 230 V, 50 Hz
Climate
Temperate maritime with an inland southern edge — warm summers by Dutch standards, cool wet winters, and less wind than the coast
Status
Capital of the province of Noord-Brabant, and one of only four cities in the Netherlands with a full IND desk
Getting around
Bike inside the walls, train outside them — Utrecht in about half an hour, Eindhoven in twenty minutes, Amsterdam in an hour, and the A2 through the middle of it
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.
A note on budgeting
Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized 's-Hertogenbosch checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.
Plan your move to 's-Hertogenbosch
A free, AI-personalized plan — the language, culture, and setup steps timed to your move date.