What €120,000 gross a year actually pays after Dutch tax in 2026 — calculated with and without the 30% ruling.
These figures come straight from Pravasi's 2026 Dutch tax engine — Box 1 income tax, the general and labour tax credits, and 8% holiday pay (vakantiegeld). The two columns show the same €120,000 salary taxed in full, and — if you are eligible — with the 30% ruling applied. Whether this salary qualifies is spelled out just below the table.
| Without 30% ruling | With 30% ruling (if eligible) | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross annual salary | €120,000 | €120,000 |
| Taxable income | €120,000 | €84,000 |
| Income tax (after credits) | €48,491 | €28,328 |
| Net annual salary | €71,509 | €91,672 |
| Net monthly salary | €5,959 | €7,639 |
| + Holiday pay / month | €800 | €800 |
| Take-home / month (incl. holiday pay) | €6,759 | €8,439 |
| Effective tax rate | 40.4% | 23.6% |
Good news: at €120,000 gross, the 70% that stays taxable clears the €48,013 taxable-salary minimum, so the 30% ruling is available — the right-hand column is the one most skilled migrants will see.
The same €120,000 salary buys very different lives across the Netherlands. The table below shows monthly take-home against typical living costs for a single person, with the 30% ruling applied, ordered most affordable first.
| City | Take-home / mo | Living costs / mo | Left to save / mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delft | €8,439 | €2,278 | €6,161 |
| Eindhoven | €8,439 | €2,283 | €6,156 |
| Rotterdam | €8,439 | €2,454 | €5,985 |
| The Hague | €8,439 | €2,560 | €5,879 |
| Utrecht | €8,439 | €2,655 | €5,784 |
| Amsterdam | €8,439 | €2,993 | €5,446 |
Living costs assume a single person renting a one-bedroom flat, with no money sent home. A family, a partner or regular remittances will change the picture — the calculator lets you set all of those.
This is a top-of-market salary. Dutch progressive tax takes a significant share of the upper portion, which is exactly where the 30% ruling — comfortably available at this income — delivers its biggest absolute saving. Take-home is comfortable in any city; the move is about career and lifestyle, not affordability.