The Netherlands has the lowest cost of doing business in Europe, and the third lowest cost in the world, according to the Competitive Alternatives 2010 study released by KPMG.
The Netherlands, which ranked seventh overall in the 2008 study, improved to third overall in the 2010 report. The cost of doing business in the Netherlands is 3.5 percent less than in the United States, and 1.7 percent less than in the United Kingdom.

The biennial report studies 10 countries in terms of cost effectiveness, using the United States as a baseline. It measures 26 cost components, including labor, taxes, real estate and utilities. It also compares factors such as infrastructure, the regulatory climate, cost of living, and overall quality of life.
“The global recession has not been the only factor impacting international business over the last two years," said Simon Harding, associate partner in KPMG's Advisory Services practice and head of its Canadian Strategic & Commercial Intelligence practice. “Divergent trends in exchange rates, utility and transportation costs, taxes, and incentives have all helped to shape the international competitiveness environment in 2010.

”The full top 10 ranking, in order of cost effectiveness, are: Mexico, Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, the UK, France, Italy, United States, Germany, and Japan.

Source: KPMG