I do get the feeling that NL/Amsterdam is one of the few exceptions to everything you are saying. I am aware of all the costs but 3 key things to note here: 1) I am not paying the real estate tax for this apartment. (This is a coulance thing from the Dutch government and is only available till the first of april for houses above 400k EU.) 2) The rents in Amsterdam are roughly the same as my mortgage. The interest rates are at an all time low at 1.4% for 20 years. 3) Interest rates can be deducted from my income so I don't have to pay tax over it (either 36% or 49%). While rent cannot be deducted.

To give you an idea about numbers. My mortgage is around 440k with a monthly payment of +/- 1500eu (includes interest). For the same apartment a 1500eu rent a month isn't unheard of. On top of this you have to pay for electricity and heating yourself and the insurance. When renting the additional tax (e.g. waste or sewer) is also added on top of the monthly payment regardless of buying or renting. The only thing that you have to pay when buying is when things break down, or the so called 'VvE' which is an organisation maintaining the building itself.

So yes I do agree with the statement that it cannot easily be compared, but in the situation of The Netherlands I feel like this is the right choice to make.

Edit: Although, if you (or anyone) disagrees with it I am curious to know why.