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DAFT Move Cost Calculator
How much does it actually cost to move to the Netherlands? Not the Reddit estimate — the real number, with every line item. Your business will not earn its first euro during most of this period.
Your Situation
Solo applicant
DAFT capital is separate
The € 4.500 DAFT treaty deposit must sit in a Dutch bank account and is not included in these living costs. You need it on top of everything above.
Zero revenue period
Your DAFT business has not earned its first euro during these 90 days. All of this comes from savings.
First 90 Days — Total Cost
€ 16.048
Before your business earns a single euro
Ongoing Monthly
€ 3.095
+ DAFT Deposit
€ 4.500
Month-by-Month Burn
Costs peak in months 1-2 (deposits, setup fees, housing overlap) then drop to a steady state.
Detailed Breakdown
Month 1
€ 3.883Month 2
€ 9.070Month 3
€ 3.095US vs. Netherlands Comparison
New York City
$4,927/mo
Amsterdam
€ 3.095/mo
You currently spend approximately $4,927/month in New York City. In Amsterdam, expect approximately € 3.095/month (~$3,343). The Netherlands may be more affordable in steady state — but the upfront costs are the real surprise.
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Related briefing
The True Cost of Moving to the Netherlands →The front-loaded cost curve nobody warns you about — and the cash reserve formula that keeps you solvent.
These numbers are the starting point. The real complexity is in the sequence — what to do first, what depends on what, and where Americans specifically get stuck.
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