Annual cost of living of a parson and
his wife in The Netherlands ca. 1650
expressed in today's US $

Household:     $
Bread 2,160
Butter 2,880
Cheese, white, cow, green, fresh and buttermilk 240
A quarter of an ox, half a pig, 4 chickens, 8 hens, 10 pidgeons and 33 lbs hotpot 3,000
Fresh and smoked fish, dried fish and herring 1,200
25 lbs rice, oats and barley 300
Peas and beans, green and dry 240
Chard, turnips, all kinds of carrots and cabbage 360
Buckwheat flour 180
20 lbs wheat flour 180
Apples, pears and other fruit 600
200 eggs 240
Various milk and cream 600
Pepper, cloves, ginger and mace 360
Other herbs and spices 180
Sugar and syrups 180
Salad greens 120
Half a bag of salt, delivered home 180
Vinegar 120
Oil and olives 120
8 half barrels of beer, delivered 1,800
70 liters (~ 100 bottles) of French wine, delivered 1,200
For the fire: 120 baskets of peat 27 guilders, plus 13 guilders for kindling wood 2,400
For light: candles and lamps 720
Mustard and matches 120
Soap 420
Pots and earthenware 120
For the washing woman and the cleaner, with food 720
Brooms, brushes, chalk, black, shell sand and pumice 180
For maintenance: iron, copper, tin, beds and blankets 720
Deliveries 60
Travel cost 600
Doctor, pharmacist, barber, blood letting and medicines 600
Books, paper, pens, ink and news papers 1,500
Give to the poor (we have to set a good example) 600
Sub Total 25,140
   
Clothing
Every 2 years a man's suit @ US $2,400. Per year 1,200
Every 10 years a coat of US $3,600. Per year: 360
Every 10 years a coat of US $2,400. Per year: 240
Every 4 years a long vest of US $480. Per year: 120
Summer and winter gloves 60
Shoes and slippers for both 480
Upper and under stockings for both 420
One hat per year 180
For wife: Every 10 years a coat of US $2,400. Per year: 240
Every 20 years a (wide) coat of US $3,600. Per year: 180
Every 3 years a skirt of US $1,440. per year: 480
Every 3 years a jacket of US $1,080. Per year: 360
Every 2 years an undershirt with sleeves of US $720. Per year: 360
Every 3 years an undershirt of US $360. Per year: 120
Sub total 4,800
   
Linen
A bed shirt each for husband and wife 480
A pair of sheets 480
Night scarfs, handkerchiefs and neckerchiefs 720
Handkerchiefs in the bag 180
Two pillow cases 240
A bolster sheet 120
Two napkins 120
Caps and bonnets 180
Night cravattes, hair braiding ribbons, tea towel 120
Ties and man's caps 120
Sub total 2,760
   
Grand total 32,700