The Hague reads 230.1 on Numbeo, the highest of 21 cities we track, combining government ministries, international courts and Scheveningen beach.
Best places to live in the Netherlands (2026)
On Numbeo’s 2026 Quality of Life Index, the best places to live in the Netherlands are The Hague (230.1), Utrecht (221.6) and Eindhoven (219.4), followed by Groningen, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. The index is Numbeo’s crowd-sourced measure combining purchasing power, safety, healthcare, living costs, housing affordability, commute times, pollution and climate. The smaller cities beat the capital mainly because housing is more affordable: Amsterdam’s property price-to-income ratio is 9.3, against 6.0 in The Hague. Numbeo’s 2026 ranking covers six Dutch cities, so smaller places such as Haarlem or Leiden are not ranked here.
The ranking: Dutch cities by Numbeo Quality of Life 2026
- The Hague: Quality of Life Index 230.1; property price-to-income ratio 6.0; purchasing power index 153.3.
- Utrecht: Quality of Life Index 221.6; property price-to-income ratio 7.1; purchasing power index 149.1.
- Eindhoven: Quality of Life Index 219.4; property price-to-income ratio 7.0; purchasing power index 144.6.
- Groningen: Quality of Life Index 216.1; property price-to-income ratio 7.3; purchasing power index 130.5.
- Rotterdam: Quality of Life Index 213.1; property price-to-income ratio 6.5; purchasing power index 130.9.
- Amsterdam: Quality of Life Index 209.4; property price-to-income ratio 9.3; purchasing power index 135.6.
Source: Numbeo Quality of Life Index by City 2026, retrieved 2 November 2026. Higher is better for the Quality of Life and purchasing power indices; a lower price-to-income ratio means more affordable housing. Numbeo figures are crowd-sourced survey data.
Quality of life in the Netherlands
The table puts the six Dutch cities Numbeo ranks side by side on the measures that matter most when choosing where to live: safety, health care, living costs and rent. Figures are in euros per month.
| City | Quality of Life | Safety | Health care | Cost of living | 1-bed centre rent | Single, ex rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Hague | 230.1 | 80 | 84 | 72.3 | €1,505 | €1,030 |
| Utrecht | 221.6 | 79 | 85.6 | 77.3 | €1,768 | €1,058 |
| Eindhoven | 219.4 | 79.1 | 80.2 | 71.7 | €1,568 | €986 |
| Groningen | 216.1 | 78.4 | 80.8 | 68.7 | €1,253 | €993 |
| Rotterdam | 213.1 | 74 | 84.3 | 74.6 | €1,848 | €1,059 |
| Amsterdam | 209.4 | 74.3 | 81.5 | 82.6 | €2,374 | €1,138 |
Sources: Numbeo Quality of Life Index by City 2026 (index columns; higher is better except cost of living, where lower is cheaper) and Numbeo cost of living pages for each city (rent and monthly costs for a single person excluding rent, Numbeo update of 1 November 2026), both retrieved 2 November 2026. Numbeo figures are crowd-sourced survey data and move between updates.
Compare the cities head to head
- Amsterdam vs Rotterdam
- The Hague vs Utrecht
- Amsterdam vs Utrecht
- The Hague vs Amsterdam
- Eindhoven vs Utrecht
- Netherlands vs Belgium
- Netherlands vs Denmark
- Germany vs Netherlands
Questions about living in the Netherlands
What is the quality of life like in the Netherlands?
High. On Numbeo’s 2026 Quality of Life Index the Netherlands reads 213.6, first among the 21 countries we track and just ahead of Denmark (212.2). Its safety index is 74.5 and its health care index 81.5; the weak spot is housing, with a property price-to-income ratio of 7.5.
Which Dutch city has the best quality of life?
The Hague, at 230.1 on Numbeo’s 2026 index, followed by Utrecht (221.6) and Eindhoven (219.4). Amsterdam is last of the six Dutch cities Numbeo ranks, at 209.4.
Is Amsterdam more expensive than other Dutch cities?
Yes, on Numbeo’s figures. A one-bedroom flat in central Amsterdam averages €2,374 a month against €1,505 in The Hague and €1,253 in Groningen, and Amsterdam’s cost of living index (82.6) is the highest of the six cities.
How does the Netherlands compare with Belgium?
The Netherlands reads 213.6 on Numbeo’s 2026 Quality of Life Index and Belgium 175.2. The Netherlands leads on safety (74.5 against 50.8) and pollution, while Belgium is cheaper for housing: a central one-bedroom flat averages €888 against €1,511.
Ranked by Numbeo Quality of Life
4 picks; highest score here: The Hague (100).
Utrecht reads 221.6, pairing a compact medieval centre, canal-side wharf cellars and the country’s busiest railway station for easy commuting nationwide.
Eindhoven reads 219.4, a technology and design city shaped by Philips, home to Dutch Design Week and a major technical university.
Amsterdam reads 209.4, still excellent, but higher living costs and pricier housing pull the capital below three smaller Dutch cities here.
The national picture
The Netherlands also tops our 21-country list on the national version of the same index.
Nationally the Netherlands reads 213.6, first among the 21 countries we track, ahead of Denmark at 212.2 on the same index.
How these scores work
Every card line is exactly 21 words, written for this guide from facts in our data and public records (founding dates, prizes, episode counts); each pick’s full verdict sits on its category Top 21. Scores (1–100) are mapped from named public aggregates, last checked 2026-11-02:
- Cities: Numbeo Quality of Life Index ÷ 2.3 (capped at 100)
- Countries: Numbeo Quality of Life Index ÷ 2.3 (capped at 100)
Links go to each subject’s official site. Disclaimer.