In this guide
This guide compares the two countries where we can, and says where we cannot. It is based on official Dutch sources for the Netherlands. For Italy we point you to the official Italian authorities instead of quoting rents, salaries or tax rates that we cannot source to them.
💡 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.
Cost of Living
We do not give a rent, grocery or restaurant price comparison between the two countries. Publicly available price figures are mostly asking prices and user-reported data from commercial sites, which are not a reliable basis for a country comparison, and costs differ a lot between Italian regions and between Dutch cities. Compare current listings and prices for the places you are considering.
For the Dutch side, see our cost of living guide. The average basic health insurance premium in 2026 is €157 per month (Rijksoverheid), and the mandatory annual deductible is €385.
Salaries and Job Market
Salaries depend on your sector, seniority and employer, and we do not publish average salary ranges for either country. For the Dutch job market, see our guide to companies hiring internationals in the Netherlands and our salary negotiation guide. For Italy, look at current job listings and ask employers for the full package, and check whether the roles you want are in English or require Italian.
Tax and Incentives
Netherlands: 30% Ruling
The Dutch 30% ruling allows qualifying employees recruited from abroad to receive up to 30% of their salary as a tax-free allowance, for up to five years. Requirements include having lived more than 150 km from the Dutch border for more than 16 of the 24 months before starting, and a salary at or above the salary norm: in 2026 €48,013 taxable salary (excluding the allowance, roughly EUR 68,590 gross including the allowance), or €36,497 for employees under 30 with a qualifying master’s degree.
The allowance is a maximum of 30% in 2025 and 2026 and is lowered to a maximum of 27% from 1 January 2027, with a transitional rule for people whose ruling was applied on or before 31 December 2023 (Rijksoverheid).
Dutch income tax box 1 rates in 2026: 35.75% up to EUR 38,883, 37.56% from EUR 38,883 to EUR 78,426, and 49.5% above that.
Italy
Italy has a tax regime for people who move their tax residency to Italy. Its conditions, rates and eligible groups have changed in recent years, so we do not quote them here. Check the current rules with the Italian tax authority (Agenzia delle Entrate) or an Italian tax advisor.
Which regime is better depends on your income, profession and household. Consult a cross-border tax advisor and ask for a calculation of your net income in both countries before committing to either.
Healthcare
Netherlands
Residents must take out basic health insurance (basisverzekering), no later than 4 months after arriving, with cover from the day you arrived (Government.nl). The average premium in 2026 is €157 per month and the mandatory deductible is €385 per year. See our Dutch healthcare guide.
Italy
Italy has a national health service (SSN, Servizio Sanitario Nazionale) for registered residents. Access, waiting times and cost depend on your residence status and your region, so check with the Italian health authorities. Some expats also take private insurance; compare quotes and conditions.
For international health coverage during your transition, SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance is one option while you set up local insurance. It does not replace Dutch basic health insurance if you are obliged to take it, so check the policy conditions and any insurance requirements attached to your residence permit.
Bureaucracy
Both countries require you to register where you live, obtain a tax number and arrange health cover. In the Netherlands, much of this runs through the gemeente (municipal registration and BSN), DigiD and the IND for permits. Check the current procedures on the official Italian sites for the Italian side (the comune, the Agenzia delle Entrate for the codice fiscale, and your consulate for visas), because procedures and waiting times differ by office.
Language
In the Dutch cities many people speak English, and many expats manage daily life in English; learning Dutch still helps with integration, friendships and career. See our Dutch language courses guide. In Italy, check how much Italian your daily life and work will need in the place you choose, especially outside the major cities.
Lifestyle: The Real Trade-Off
The Netherlands and Italy offer different daily lives, and which suits you is personal. Think about what matters on an ordinary week: the climate, food and social culture you prefer, the pace of life, how you want to travel to work, and how much of the local language you want to learn. The Netherlands is known for its cycling infrastructure and its widely English-speaking cities; Italy is known for its food, history and climate. Neither is objectively better.
International Money Management
Whether you choose the Netherlands or Italy, or keep ties in both, Wise can help with currency conversion and euro transfers. Compare the total cost of a transfer, including the exchange rate and any fee, with your bank’s offer.
See our international money transfer guide for a full comparison.
Country Comparisons in Context
This is one of many country comparison guides on ExpatNetherlandsHub. For other European options, see:
- Netherlands vs Spain
- Netherlands vs France
- Netherlands vs Germany
- Netherlands vs Belgium
- Netherlands vs UK
Community and Expat Networks
The Netherlands has international communities in its larger cities. For finding community, see our expat Facebook groups guide. For Italy, look for local expat groups and organisations in the city you choose.
Summary: What to Check
| Factor | Netherlands | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Expat tax incentive | 30% ruling, up to 5 years | Check the Agenzia delle Entrate |
| Health insurance | Mandatory basisverzekering; average premium €157 per month | National health service; check access and private insurance |
| Non-EU work permit | Highly skilled migrant: recognised sponsor and salary norm | Check Italian visa rules |
| Rent and prices | See our Dutch guides | Check current local listings |
Remote Work and Digital Nomads
The Netherlands has no visa specifically for remote workers. Non-EU remote workers who want to stay long-term in the Netherlands generally need a Dutch employer (kennismigrant route) or another permit that allows self-employment; see our freelancer ZZP guide. Italy has had a residence route for non-EU remote workers; check the current requirements with the Italian foreign ministry and your consulate.
Work Culture
According to CBS, 48.6% of employed people in the Netherlands worked part-time in 2025 (30.1% of men and 69.3% of women), so part-time work is common. See our Dutch work culture guide for the Dutch side. For Italy, working hours and conditions are set by law and by collective agreements per sector; check the contract for any job offer you receive.
Practical Relocation Details
As EU citizens, you can move freely between the Netherlands and Italy. The practical steps:
Moving to the Netherlands as an EU citizen:
- Register at the gemeente within 5 days of arrival if you will stay more than 4 months
- Receive your BSN through that registration
- Open a Dutch bank account
- Arrange basisverzekering (health insurance) no later than 4 months after arrival
- Register with a huisarts (GP)
Moving to Italy: check the current registration (anagrafe), tax code (codice fiscale) and health card steps with the Italian authorities, as the deadlines and procedures are set by Italy.
For non-EU expats
For the Netherlands, the highly skilled migrant route has a target decision period of 2 weeks for a complete application from a recognised sponsor, with a legal maximum of 90 days (IND). For Italy, check the visa type, requirements and processing times with the Italian consulate for your country.
Raising children
Compare schools, childcare and housing in the specific places you are considering. For the Dutch side, see our expat family guide.
Making the Decision: A Practical Framework
Question 1: What stage of career are you in? If you have an employer sponsor and a salary that meets the norm, the Dutch highly skilled migrant route and the 30% ruling may apply. If you work remotely or independently, check which residence routes exist for your nationality in each country.
Question 2: What does your daily life satisfaction depend on? Write down the five things that most affect how you feel on an ordinary week, and compare them with the places you are considering.
Question 3: How long are you planning to stay? For longer stays, the language you will use every day matters more. Check how much Dutch or Italian you will need.
Financial Planning for Either Move
When you first arrive in the Netherlands, you need an account your Dutch employer can pay into, often before you have your BSN. Wise gives verified customers a multi-currency account with EUR account details on a non-Dutch euro IBAN, which a Dutch employer may not refuse for salary (SEPA Regulation). For expats keeping ties in both Italy and the Netherlands, Wise’s stated exchange rate and fees are easy to compare with bank-to-bank transfers.
For health insurance during your transition between countries, SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance is one option for the gap period. Check its conditions before you rely on it.
Key Takeaways
The Netherlands and Italy suit different people for different reasons, and the honest answer to “which is better?” is that it depends on what you are optimising for. Both are EU member states with expat tax incentives worth understanding and international communities in their main cities. Compare official sources for both countries, get cross-border tax advice, and spend time in the places you are considering before you decide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive, the Netherlands or Italy?
We do not publish a cost comparison between the two countries, because we could not base one on official data from both. Costs differ widely between Italian regions and between Dutch cities, so compare current rents and prices for the specific places you are considering and set them against the salary you would earn. For the Dutch side, see our cost of living guide.
Which country has better expat tax incentives?
The Netherlands has the 30% ruling: for up to five years a qualifying employee recruited from abroad can receive up to 30% of salary as a tax-free allowance, lowered to a maximum of 27% from 1 January 2027 with a transitional rule. Italy also has a regime for people who move their tax residency to Italy, and its conditions and rates have changed in recent years. Check the current Italian rules with the Italian tax authority (Agenzia delle Entrate) and ask a cross-border tax advisor for a calculation.
Which country is easier for non-EU expats to get a visa?
It depends on the route. In the Netherlands, the highly skilled migrant (kennismigrant) permit depends on a recognised sponsor and a salary norm, and the IND's target decision period is 2 weeks for a complete application from a recognised sponsor (legal maximum 90 days). Italy has its own entry rules for work, including a quota system and routes for remote workers and start-ups. Check the Italian foreign ministry's visa portal and your consulate for the current rules.
How do the healthcare systems compare?
The Netherlands requires residents to take out basic health insurance (basisverzekering); the average premium in 2026 is EUR 157 a month and the mandatory deductible is EUR 385 a year. Italy has a national health service (SSN) for registered residents. Access, waiting times and quality vary by region and by your residence status, so check the Italian health authorities and the conditions of your residence route.
Which is better for quality of life as an expat?
It depends on what you value. Both countries are members of the EU with their own strengths: Italy is known for its food, history and climate, the Netherlands for its cycling infrastructure and its widely English-speaking cities. Spend time in the places you are considering before you decide.
Which country is better for remote workers?
It depends on your nationality, your employer and where you will be tax resident. Italy has had a residence route for non-EU remote workers, and the Netherlands has no visa specifically for remote workers. Check the requirements with the Italian foreign ministry and the IND, and ask a tax advisor where you would be tax resident.
Can I have the best of both countries?
As an EU citizen you can live in either country, but you can only be tax resident in one country at a time under the treaty rules, so get advice if you split your time or income between both.