Cost of living for students in the Netherlands
The most useful published benchmark is Nibud’s student budget, which Study in NL reproduces: about €1,285 a month in 2024, with Study in NL’s own summary being that students spend somewhere between €1,000 and €1,500. These are averages for students in the Netherlands as a whole, not a quote for your city, and they are estimates.
| Expense | Average per month (Nibud 2024) |
|---|---|
| Rent | €561 |
| Groceries | €244 |
| Study books and materials | €41 |
| Transportation | €67 |
| Leisure and sports | €239 |
| Basic Dutch health insurance (only if you work in the Netherlands) | €133 |
| Estimated total | €1,285 |
Source: Study in NL, quoting Nibud 2024. Tuition is not in the table. Prices have moved since 2024, so treat the figures as a floor to plan from, not a ceiling.
Rent is the swing factor
Study in NL puts a room at roughly €450 to €1,000 a month depending on the city and what the rent includes, and notes that Amsterdam is dearer than a smaller town such as Enschede. With a shortage of more than 20,000 student rooms, newcomers often pay more than the average for the first place they find. Which city you choose changes the total more than almost anything else.
The IND number is not a budget
If you need a residence permit, the IND requires you to show €1,130.77 a month for 2026. That is the legal minimum for the permit application, not a promise of what you will spend. Plan for rent, food and insurance separately.
Working while you study
Non-EU students on a study permit may work at most 16 hours a week, or full-time in June, July and August, and the employer needs a work permit (TWV) from UWV for them. Details are on the international students guide.
Health insurance
Whether you must take out Dutch insurance depends on whether you work. See health insurance.
Sources
- Study in NL — Daily student expenses and cost of living in the Netherlands — Nibud 2024 breakdown; €450–€1,000 room range
- IND — Required amounts, income requirements — €1,130.77 a month in 2026
- IND — International students and the IND — 16 hours a week or summer months; work permit from UWV
Last checked: 5 October 2026. Rules and amounts change; confirm them on the official page before you act on them. This is general information, not legal or immigration advice.
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