Leefkosten

Leefkosten is a Dutch term for the money required to maintain a given standard of living. It encompasses expenses for housing, food and groceries, transport, healthcare and insurance, education, clothing, utilities, taxes, and discretionary spending such as leisure and culture. The concept distinguishes essential living costs from non-essential consumption and varies with household circumstances.

The size of leefkosten depends on location, household size and composition, age, and lifestyle. Urban areas typically have higher housing and transport costs than rural areas, while economies of scale reduce per-person costs for larger households. Because of these differences, there is no single universal leefkost figure; estimates depend on the chosen basket of goods and services and the assumed household profile.

Measurement and policy use: Economists employ various indices to capture leefkosten, including cost-of-living indices and the consumer price index (CPI). National and international comparisons use standardized methods, but both inflation data and cost-of-living estimates are affected by price changes, policy, and demographic trends. In national statistics, leefkosten influence assessments of real wages, pensions, and social benefits.

Applications: The concept underpins discussions of wage adequacy and poverty thresholds, and is central to the definition of a living wage—the income required to cover leefkosten for a typical household, adjusted for size and region. When leefkosten rise, purchasing power declines unless wages or benefits rise accordingly; policy responses may include indexation of benefits, tax credits, or subsidies. Leefkosten remains a dynamic measure tied to prices, policy, and demographic shifts.