In this guide
This comparison covers what can be checked against official sources: work visas, income tax, healthcare, pensions and the practical first steps in each country. We do not compare salary levels, rents or living costs, because we cannot verify them to a standard we are willing to publish.
💡 Looking for a complete banking comparison? Read Best banking for expats in the Netherlands 2026 — covers ABN, ING, Bunq, Wise, Revolut & 5 others by expat use case.
Quick answer: Both countries offer employer-sponsored work visas. The tax systems, healthcare systems and pension systems differ, and the language of daily life is Dutch in the Netherlands and English in Australia. Use the official sources below for your own numbers.
Quick Overview
| Factor | Netherlands | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Main employer-sponsored work visa | Highly skilled migrant (kennismigrant) | Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482, temporary); Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186, permanent) |
| Currency | EUR | AUD |
| Language of daily life | Dutch (English is widely used in many workplaces) | English |
| Income tax | Progressive, 35.75% to 49.50% in 2026 (before the 30% ruling) | Progressive, 0% to 45% in 2026-27, plus 2% Medicare levy |
| Basic healthcare | Mandatory private basic insurance | Public scheme (Medicare) for eligible residents |
| Employer pension contribution | Depends on employer or sector | Super guarantee of 12% of ordinary time earnings (from 1 July 2025) |
Visas and Getting There
The Netherlands: highly skilled migrant route
The most common route for professional expats is the highly skilled migrant (kennismigrant) permit. Your employer must be an IND-recognised sponsor; the IND publishes a public register. The required gross monthly salary (excluding holiday allowance) in 2026 is EUR 5,942 if you are 30 or older, EUR 4,357 if you are under 30, and EUR 3,122 under the reduced criterion (IND). The amounts change every 1 January.
The EU Blue Card is also available; the salary norm in 2026 is EUR 5,942 per month, with a reduced criterion of EUR 4,754 (IND).
For a complete application from a recognised sponsor, the IND’s target decision period is 2 weeks, and the legal decision period is 90 days (IND).
Orientation year permit: you can apply for an orientation-year permit of up to one year to look for work if, within the 3 years before your application, you completed a study in the Netherlands or graduated from a foreign university that is in the top 200 of at least two general rankings (IND).
Australia: skilled visas
- Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482): a temporary visa for skilled workers sponsored by an employer (Department of Home Affairs).
- Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186): a permanent visa for skilled workers nominated by their employer (Department of Home Affairs).
- Points-tested skilled visas (189 and 190) do not need an employer sponsor. Eligibility, points and waiting times change; check the Department of Home Affairs.
If you have a job offer from a sponsor, either country can work; the Dutch route has a published 2-week target decision period for recognised sponsors. Check processing times in each country before you plan your move.
Salaries and Tax
We do not compare gross salaries, because we cannot verify comparable salary figures. We can compare the published tax rates.
Netherlands, 2026 (income tax and social insurance premiums, under AOW age):
- up to EUR 38,883: 35.75%
- EUR 38,883 to EUR 78,426: 37.56%
- above EUR 78,426: 49.50% (Belastingdienst)
The 30% ruling: if you qualify, your employer can pay up to 30% of your salary tax-free for up to 5 years; from 2027 the maximum drops to 27%, with transitional rules (Belastingdienst; Rijksoverheid). You must have lived more than 150 km from the Dutch border for more than 16 of the 24 months before your first working day, and you apply together with your employer. See our 30% ruling guide.
Australia, resident tax rates 2026-27 (ATO):
- AUD 0 to 18,200: nil
- AUD 18,201 to 45,000: 15 cents per dollar over AUD 18,200
- AUD 45,001 to 135,000: AUD 4,020 plus 30 cents per dollar over AUD 45,000
- AUD 135,001 to 190,000: AUD 31,020 plus 37 cents per dollar over AUD 135,000
- over AUD 190,000: AUD 51,370 plus 45 cents per dollar over AUD 190,000
- plus the Medicare levy of 2% of taxable income
Which rates apply depends on your tax residency. Use each tax authority’s calculator or an adviser for a net-pay comparison.
Pensions: the Australian super guarantee requires employers to pay 12% of ordinary time earnings into a super fund (from 1 July 2025; ATO). In the Netherlands, workplace pension contributions depend on your employer or sector.
Healthcare
Netherlands
Everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands must take out Dutch basic health insurance, from a private insurer, within 4 months of arriving, with cover from the day you arrive (government.nl). The average basic premium in 2026 is €157 per month, and the mandatory deductible (eigen risico) is €385 for 2026 (Rijksoverheid). You register with a GP (huisarts), who refers you to specialists. See our Dutch health insurance guide.
Australia
Australia has a public health scheme, Medicare, for eligible residents, and private health insurance is separate. A Medicare levy of 2% of taxable income applies (ATO). Eligibility depends on your visa, so check with Services Australia before you move.
Language and Daily Life
In Australia, daily life is in English. In the Netherlands, many workplaces use English, but daily life with government, schools and healthcare is mostly in Dutch. Learning some Dutch helps; see our guide to the best apps to learn Dutch.
Practical First Steps
Moving to the Netherlands
- Find housing (see our housing guide).
- Register with the municipality (gemeente): if you stay longer than 4 months you must register within 5 days of arrival, and you get a BSN (burgerservicenummer) through that registration.
- Your employer arranges your highly skilled migrant permit if you are a non-EU national.
- Take out Dutch health insurance within 4 months of arrival.
- Open a Dutch bank account; some banks let you start the application before you have a BSN.
- Register with a GP.
Moving to Australia
Check the Australian Taxation Office for a tax file number, Services Australia for Medicare, and the Department of Home Affairs for your visa conditions.
Work Permits for the Self-Employed
In the Netherlands, self-employed non-EU nationals need a self-employment residence permit, which is assessed against criteria set by the IND. US nationals can use the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) route. In Australia, self-employed people use different routes depending on the visa; check the Department of Home Affairs.
Sending Money Between the Netherlands and Australia
If you maintain finances in both countries, compare the exchange rate and fee that your bank and a transfer provider quote for the same amount before you send it.
Open a Wise account for EUR–AUD money transfers
Wise shows its exchange rate and fee before you transfer, so you can compare it with your bank’s quote.
Summary: Who Should Choose Each Destination?
Choose based on your own priorities: the employer and visa route available to you, language, climate, family needs and your tax situation. This page does not rank the two countries.
Further Reading on ExpatNetherlandsHub
- How to find a job in the Netherlands as an expat
- Best Dutch health insurance plans compared
- Short-stay furnished housing in the Netherlands
- Dutch trains guide for expats
- Netherlands vs China for expats
- Retiring in the Netherlands
- Crypto tax in the Netherlands for expats
- Best ETF platforms in the Netherlands
External source: IND — Residence permits — independent information on this topic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Netherlands or Australia better for expat salaries?
We cannot say, because net pay depends on your role, employer, family situation and tax status. In the Netherlands, income tax in 2026 is 35.75% up to EUR 38,883, 37.56% up to EUR 78,426 and 49.50% above that; qualifying expats can receive up to 30% of their salary tax-free under the 30% ruling (Belastingdienst). Australian resident rates for 2026-27 are 0% up to AUD 18,200, 15% up to AUD 45,000, 30% up to AUD 135,000, 37% up to AUD 190,000 and 45% above, plus the 2% Medicare levy (ATO). Run your own numbers with an adviser in both countries.
Which country is easier to get a work visa for - Netherlands or Australia?
Both have employer-sponsored routes. In the Netherlands, the highly skilled migrant permit needs a recognised sponsor and a minimum salary (EUR 5,942 gross per month for people aged 30 and over in 2026); for a complete application from a recognised sponsor the IND's target decision period is 2 weeks (IND). In Australia, the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) is temporary and the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) gives permanent residence; there are also points-tested routes. Check the Department of Home Affairs for current rules and processing times.
How does Dutch healthcare compare to Australian healthcare for expats?
The systems work differently. In the Netherlands you must take out basic health insurance from a private insurer; the average basic premium in 2026 is about EUR 157 a month and the mandatory deductible (eigen risico) is EUR 385 (Rijksoverheid). Australia has a public scheme, Medicare, for eligible residents, and a Medicare levy of 2% of taxable income applies (ATO). Whether you are eligible depends on your visa, so check with Services Australia.
Is the Netherlands or Australia a better country to raise children as an expat?
That depends on your family. The main practical differences are language (Australian schools teach in English, Dutch state schools teach in Dutch) and cost (international schools charge tuition fees; Dutch state schools do not charge tuition fees for compulsory-age children). Check fees on each school's own website.
Can I easily move money between the Netherlands and Australia?
Yes. Compare the exchange rate and fee that your bank and a money-transfer provider quote for the same amount before you send it. Wise is one option and shows its rate and fee before you transfer.