Composite profile
Overall score
84/100
Use the Utrecht profile to compare cost framing, mobility, and quality-of-life signals alongside Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
Overall84/100
Affordability70/100
Air quality80/100
Energy80/100
Netherlands / Western Europe
Utrecht, Netherlands City Intelligence
Utrecht is a compact central-Dutch metro with strong cycling infrastructure, a major rail hub, and an active university and services economy. Utrecht is a western europe city of about ~0.7M metro in Netherlands. On the composite city-intelligence score, Utrecht sits comfortably above the indexed median (84/100).
- Last updated
- 2026-05-16
- Data year
- 2025
- Population
- ~0.7M metro
Image credit: Image: Pepijntje / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall city intelligence
Strong84/100
Composite directional score across affordability, air quality, clean energy, and resilience.
Data confidence
Directional
Directional indicators pending integration of verified city-level data.
Verified utility layers
See country hub
Emergency, healthcare, and transport verification status appears on the country hub.
Utrecht data table
The table is part of the initial server-rendered HTML and mirrors the key city score cards.
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 84/100 | Composite score across major city intelligence modules. |
| Cost of Living | 70/100 | Utrecht's cost-of-living profile is a directional indicator pending integration of verified city-level data; structured benchmark context applies. |
| Air Quality | 80/100 | Utrecht's air-quality profile is a directional indicator framed against WHO and regional benchmarks; verified city-level measurements appear in the dedicated air-quality dataset section once integrated. |
| Energy | 80/100 | Utrecht's energy-readiness profile is a directional indicator that combines national policy framing with city-level adaptation context. |
| Safety | 81/100 | Utrecht's safety profile is a directional indicator; verified country-level emergency profiles attach via the country hub where available. |
| Internet Speed | 82/100 | Utrecht's connectivity profile is a directional indicator combining national digital-readiness context with widely cited speed-test references. |
| Climate Risk | 78/100 | Utrecht's climate-risk profile is a directional indicator combining regional hazard categories with national adaptation capacity. |
| Resilience | 78/100 | Climate adaptation and infrastructure continuity context. |
Safety
Deterministic safety estimates from our index — planning signals derived from country priors and city data, not official crime statistics.
Safety
Overall safety89/100
Low crime92/100
Personal safety90/100
Night safety84/100
Road safety85/100
Utrecht ranks in the upper tier of our safety index (89/100), with strong personal-safety and low night-time indicators.
Quality of Life
A composite quality-of-life estimate and its component indicators.
Quality of Life
Quality of life87/100
Healthcare92/100
Education91/100
Green space81/100
Cleanliness94/100
Infrastructure97/100
Mobility78/100
Utrecht has a very high quality-of-life estimate (87/100), with notable strengths in healthcare, public transport, green space, cleanliness and infrastructure.
Family Friendliness
How the city scores for raising a family, with the indicators that drive it.
Family Friendliness
Family friendliness88/100
Education91/100
Green space81/100
Overall safety89/100
Utrecht scores very high for family living (88/100), helped by education access, safety, parks and green space and healthcare.
Digital Nomad Suitability
Suitability for remote workers, based on connectivity, mobility, and livability.
Digital Nomad Suitability
Digital nomad suitability85/100
Walkability95/100
Cycling100/100
Infrastructure97/100
Utrecht is very high for remote workers (85/100), based on connectivity, affordability, walkability, safety and overall livability and day-to-day amenities.
Retirement Suitability
Suitability for retirement, weighing healthcare, affordability, climate, and environment.
Retirement Suitability
Retirement suitability84/100
Healthcare92/100
Cleanliness94/100
Outdoor lifestyle47/100
Utrecht is very high for retirement (84/100), appealing for healthcare access, affordability and a clean environment.
Emergency and public safety in Utrecht
Local public safety guidance for Utrecht, with the country-level emergency contacts that apply when calling for police, fire, or ambulance.
| Service | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| European emergency | 11224/7 | 112 reaches police, fire, and ambulance dispatch across the European Union from any phone, free of charge. |
For the universal emergency contacts that apply in Utrecht, including police, fire, and ambulance, see the Netherlands emergency profile.
Public safety sources
Each emergency contact above is attributed to an official emergency service or government publisher. Confirm current numbers directly with these sources.
- European Commission: 112 — The European emergency number
Used as the primary attribution for the EU-wide 112 universal emergency number on European country profiles.
Last verified: 2026-05-16
Methodology and the wider source registry are documented on the scoring methodology and data sources pages.
Healthcare and hospitals in Utrecht
Healthcare context for Utrecht, with national-level information from Netherlands where city-specific data is not yet verified. This is informational only and does not provide medical advice.
For the national healthcare and public-health context that applies in Utrecht, see the Netherlands healthcare profile.
Healthcare sources
Each entry above is attributed to an official government, public health, or recognised health-system publisher. Confirm current information directly with these sources.
- RIVM (Government of the Netherlands): RIVM — National Institute for Public Health and the Environment
Used as the primary attribution for Dutch public-health context.
Last verified: 2026-05-16
Related sections: emergency and public safety, scoring methodology, and data sources.
Transport and mobility in Utrecht
Local mobility context for Utrecht, with national-level context from Netherlands where city-specific data is not yet verified. This is informational only.
For national transport authorities and operators that apply in Utrecht, see the Netherlands transport profile.
Transport sources
Each entry above is attributed to an official transport authority, national operator, airport publisher, or government source. Confirm current information directly with these publishers.
- Government of the Netherlands: Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat
Used as the primary federal attribution for Dutch national transport context.
- Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS): Nederlandse Spoorwegen
Used as the primary attribution for Dutch national rail operator information.
Last verified: 2026-05-16
Related sections: emergency and public safety, healthcare and hospitals, cities directory, countries directory, scoring methodology, data sources.
Air quality dataset
Source-attributed air-quality dataset for Utrecht. Verified measurements are surfaced when published from accepted official datasets; transparent fallback is shown otherwise.
Air quality dataset for Utrecht
Verified data unavailableLast updated 2026-05-16 / data year 2025
Verified air-quality measurements are not yet published for this location
Source-attributed values for Utrecht will appear here after the platform integrates verified measurements from accepted official publishers. Until then, structured air-quality module context remains available on the dedicated module page.
| Metric | Value | Data year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | Verified air-quality measurements are not yet published for this location. | ||
Data provenance
Source attributionGlobal City Intelligence — air-quality dataset
Verified data unavailable- Publisher
- Global City Intelligence
- Last verified
- 2026-05-16
The air-quality dataset begins empty by design. Verified city-level measurements appear here only after they are sourced from accepted publishers (WHO, EEA, US EPA, OpenAQ, OECD, or official national/city environmental agencies).
Methodology and context
Numeric measurements appear in this section only after they are sourced from accepted official publishers. The dataset is independently validated at build time; malformed records cannot ship to production.
- Scoring methodology — how indicators across the platform are constructed.
- Data sources registry — the official sources cited by verified datasets.
- Open the Utrecht air-quality module
- Browse the clean-air city collection
Quick answers
Quick, evidence-based answers about Utrecht drawn from this profile's indexed cost, climate, safety, economy, education, healthcare and nearby-nature data. Figures are deterministic estimates for orientation — verify specifics with official sources.
Quick answers about Utrecht
Is Utrecht worth visiting?
Yes — excellent quality of life (87/100), with nearby nature such as Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park, Eemmeer.
Is Utrecht good for families?
Excellent (88/100) on safety, schools and green space.
Is Utrecht affordable?
More affordable than average; about €1,640/month for one person (estimate).
When is the best time to visit Utrecht?
Late spring to early autumn; warmest in Jul, coldest in Jan.
What are Utrecht's main industries?
Mainly tourism, technology, manufacturing.
What is the climate in Utrecht?
An oceanic climate, averaging about 9.8°C.
Does Utrecht have universities?
Higher education is strong (76/100).
What is healthcare like in Utrecht?
Healthcare access is strong (77/100).
Is Utrecht good for retirement?
Retirement suitability is strong (76/100).
What nature is near Utrecht?
Within ~170 km: Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park, Eemmeer.
Related comparisons
Pairs that share a city, comparison intent, or region — useful for users planning a wider relocation, remote-work, or business decision.
Explore Utrecht modules
City pages link to module and ranking pages so crawlers can move through the topic cluster naturally.
Cost of Living in Utrecht
Utrecht's cost-of-living profile is a directional indicator pending integration of verified city-level data; structured benchmark context applies.
Air Quality in Utrecht
Utrecht's air-quality profile is a directional indicator framed against WHO and regional benchmarks; verified city-level measurements appear in the dedicated air-quality dataset section once integrated.
Energy in Utrecht
Utrecht's energy-readiness profile is a directional indicator that combines national policy framing with city-level adaptation context.
Safety in Utrecht
Utrecht's safety profile is a directional indicator; verified country-level emergency profiles attach via the country hub where available.
Internet Speed in Utrecht
Utrecht's connectivity profile is a directional indicator combining national digital-readiness context with widely cited speed-test references.
Climate Risk in Utrecht
Utrecht's climate-risk profile is a directional indicator combining regional hazard categories with national adaptation capacity.
City rankings
Compare this city against other indexed cities in crawlable ranking tables.
Cost of living in Utrecht
Cost of living estimates for Utrecht — monthly budgets, rent, food, and transport in the local currency, plus an affordability score for comparison. Planning estimates derived from country baselines, not live prices.
Climate in Utrecht
Climate profile for Utrecht — Oceanic climate, annual average 9.8°C, comfort score 65/100. Month-by-month temperatures, rainfall, sunshine, and the best months to visit. Deterministic planning estimates, not a forecast.
Economy and jobs in Utrecht
Economy and jobs profile for Utrecht — regional center, economy score 86/100, key industries including tourism, technology, manufacturing. Employment, salary, startup, remote-work, and career indicators. Deterministic planning estimates.
Universities and education in Utrecht
Education profile for Utrecht — student city, education score 75/100, 5 representative universities, plus research, student life, and international-student indicators. Deterministic dataset, not institutional rankings.
Healthcare and retirement in Utrecht
Healthcare and retirement profile for Utrecht — regional healthcare center, healthcare score 77/100, retirement score 76/100. Medical access, specialist and emergency care, affordability, and retirement suitability. Deterministic planning estimates.
Arrival planning guide for Utrecht
Practical arrival planning context for Utrecht — links into transport, public-safety, healthcare, budgeting tools, and methodology. Not an official airport or travel instruction service.
Visual guide to Utrecht
Source-attributed visual context for Utrecht using verified Wikimedia imagery from the existing media catalog, alongside structured city intelligence and planning links. Not a tourism guide or attractions ranking.
Summer 2026 travel planning guide for Utrecht
Summer 2026 travel planning checklist for Utrecht — links into arrival planning, visual orientation, budget tools, transport, public safety, and healthcare context. Not a weather forecast, events calendar, hotel-price guide, or tourism ranking.
Weekend trip planning guide for Utrecht
Weekend trip planning checklist for Utrecht — links into arrival planning, Summer 2026 travel context, visual orientation, budget tools, transport, public safety, and healthcare context. Not an itinerary, events calendar, hotel-price guide, restaurant guide, or tourism ranking.
Nearby weekend places from Utrecht
Source-backed nearby place records for local-first weekend planning, with verification status, official source links, Wikidata identity, and visual context.
Estimate a monthly budget for Utrecht
Estimate a monthly budget for Utrecht using your own housing, food, transport, healthcare, and lifestyle inputs. Planning estimator only — not an official cost-of-living measurement.
Plan a trip budget for Utrecht
Plan a trip budget for Utrecht using your own accommodation, food, local transport, activities, travel, healthcare buffer, and emergency buffer inputs. Planning estimator only — not an official travel cost estimate.
Nearby cities from Utrecht
Where else nearby you could spend a day or a weekend from Utrecht. Links are derived from geographic proximity, shared region, shared natural-recreation areas, transport corridors, and country borders — not popularity or tourism rankings.
Hilversum, Netherlands
Same region · about 16 km from Utrecht. Explore Hilversum's city intelligence profile.
Amersfoort, Netherlands
Same region · about 19 km from Utrecht. Explore Amersfoort's city intelligence profile.
Amstelveen, Netherlands
Same region · about 30 km from Utrecht. Explore Amstelveen's city intelligence profile.
Almere, Netherlands
Same region · about 32 km from Utrecht. Explore Almere's city intelligence profile.
Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands
Same region · about 33 km from Utrecht. Explore Alphen aan den Rijn's city intelligence profile.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Same region · about 36 km from Utrecht. Explore Amsterdam's city intelligence profile.
Ede, Netherlands
Same region · about 38 km from Utrecht. Explore Ede's city intelligence profile.
Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands
Same region · about 39 km from Utrecht. Explore Haarlemmermeer's city intelligence profile.
Zoetermeer, Netherlands
Same region · about 43 km from Utrecht. Explore Zoetermeer's city intelligence profile.
Leiden, Netherlands
Lake cluster · about 44 km from Utrecht. Explore Leiden's city intelligence profile.
Related collections
Regional discovery collections that include Utrecht — named natural regions grouping nearby nature, parks, lakes, coasts, and mountains for local-first day and weekend planning.
Netherlands National Parks
National parks · 30 places across 70 cities.
Weekend Escapes near Amsterdam
Weekend escapes · 30 places across 53 cities.
Themed collections
Theme-first discovery collections that include Utrecht — grouped by outdoor interest (mountains, lakes, coasts, forests, national parks) rather than geography.
European Lake Escapes
Lake Escapes · 50 places across 80 cities.
Netherlands Lake Escapes
Lake Escapes · 10 places across 69 cities.
Netherlands Weekend Nature Retreats
Weekend Nature Retreats · 36 places across 69 cities.
Digital Nomad Cities
Digital Nomad Cities · 18 places across 14 cities.
Remote Work Cities
Remote Work Cities · 18 places across 14 cities.
Senior Friendly Cities
Senior Friendly Cities · 18 places across 14 cities.
Utrecht FAQ
Common questions about living in, visiting, working in, studying in and retiring to Utrecht, answered from the indexed cost-of-living, climate, safety, economy, education, healthcare and nearby-nature data on this profile.
Frequently asked questions about Utrecht
Is Utrecht worth visiting?
Utrecht has a very high quality-of-life estimate (87/100), with notable strengths in healthcare, public transport, green space, cleanliness and infrastructure. Visitors can also reach nature such as Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park, Eemmeer and Kromme Rijn within weekend range.
What is it like to live in Utrecht?
Utrecht has a very high quality-of-life estimate (87/100), with notable strengths in healthcare, public transport, green space, cleanliness and infrastructure. It indexes 87/100 for overall quality of life.
How much does it cost to live in Utrecht?
A single resident of Utrecht spends roughly €1,640 per month, with a one-bedroom rent near €870. Overall the city is more affordable than average for the Netherlands. These are modelled estimates, not live quotes — verify locally.
What should I know about moving to Utrecht?
Plan for below-average living costs and check current rents before relocating. Utrecht is very high for remote workers (85/100), based on connectivity, affordability, walkability, safety and overall livability and day-to-day amenities.
What is the job market like in Utrecht?
Utrecht's labour market is very strong, with opportunities concentrated in technology, tourism and hospitality and manufacturing. Utrecht has a regional economy with strengths in tourism, technology and manufacturing.
Is Utrecht good for digital nomads and remote work?
Utrecht offers strong infrastructure and amenities for remote professionals, with a remote-work score of 90/100.
What are the education options in Utrecht?
Utrecht is a student-oriented city with a mix of universities and research activity in our dataset, spanning fields such as Computer Science, Law and Social Sciences.
Is Utrecht a good place to study?
Utrecht offers a very strong student environment, supported by walkable neighborhoods, relatively affordable living and strong quality of life.
What is healthcare like in Utrecht?
Utrecht has a regional healthcare center, supported by hospitals, specialist services, and public-health infrastructure, with a healthcare score of 77/100. Residents have very strong access to healthcare across primary, specialist, and emergency care.
Is Utrecht a good place to retire?
Utrecht offers a combination of healthcare access, safety, and amenities that may appeal to retirees, with a retirement score of 76/100. Residents benefit from parks and green space, walkable streets and broad urban amenities and day-to-day services.
What is the climate like in Utrecht?
Utrecht has an oceanic climate, averaging about 9.8°C annually with roughly 821 mm of rain. The hottest month is Jul and the coldest Jan. The driest is typically Apr.
Is Utrecht a safe place to live?
Utrecht ranks in the upper tier of our safety index (89/100), with strong personal-safety and low night-time indicators.
How easy is it to get around Utrecht?
Utrecht indexes a walkability score of 95 and a cycling score of 100 out of 100. Check the local operator for live transit routes and fares.
What nature and outdoor places are near Utrecht?
Nature destinations within about 170 km of Utrecht include Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park, Eemmeer and Kromme Rijn. Each is linked with its official source on the profile.
Is Utrecht good for families?
Utrecht scores very high for family living (88/100), helped by education access, safety, parks and green space and healthcare.
What outdoor activities are there around Utrecht?
Utrecht rates 47/100 for outdoor lifestyle and 81/100 for green space. Nearby nature such as Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park, Eemmeer and Kromme Rijn supports day hikes, water activities and weekend trips.
Interpretation
Use the Utrecht profile to compare cost framing, mobility, and quality-of-life signals alongside Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Its standout dimensions are internet speed (82/100) and safety (81/100). The area most worth watching is cost of living (70/100), where the model registers practical gaps. Data year 2025; last updated 2026-05-16. Drawn from 4 institutional references.
Country context is available on the Netherlands country page. Related rankings include Overall Intelligence, Quality of Life, Remote Work. See where Utrecht appears in global rankings or read the scoring methodology.
Structured indicators on this page are directional and intended for orientation. Verified datasets are being integrated; official sources should be used for critical decisions.
Sources
4 institutional references inform this view, listed below with reliability notes. Structured indicators on this page are directional and intended for orientation; verified datasets are being integrated and official sources should be used for critical decisions.
- UN-Habitat: World Cities Report 2024
Used as a policy and methodology reference for urban exposure and resilience signals.
- European Environment Agency: Air Quality Status Report
Used where European city comparisons need monitored air-quality context.
- NASA: NASA POWER
Used as an energy-resource and weather-normalization reference.
- IPCC: AR6 WGII Chapter 6: Cities, settlements and key infrastructure
Used to explain urban climate vulnerability and adaptation scoring logic.