Living Costs in the Netherlands
A real monthly budget breakdown for international students. No marketing fluff — just honest numbers based on Nibud data, student surveys and what people actually spend.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
2 min read
Updated Oct 5, 2026
Monthly Cost Calculator
Select a city and lifestyle to see a personalised monthly breakdown. Data from Nibud, CBS and student surveys.
Annual Cost: EU vs Non-EU
Total first-year costs including tuition.
| Non-EU student | EU student | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | €10,000–20,000 | €2,694 (statutory, 2026–27) |
| Living costs (12 months) | €12,000–18,000 | €12,000–18,000 |
| Transport perk | Full price (no DUO access) | Free OV-chipkaart (weekday or weekend) via DUO |
| Setup + flights | €900–3,000 | €900–3,000 |
| NL Scholarship (if awarded) | −€5,000 | Not eligible |
| Total first year | €18,000–36,000 | €15,000–24,000 |
What Things Actually Cost
Real Dutch prices. Lidl and Aldi are 20–30% cheaper than Albert Heijn for staples.
Money-Saving Tips
Shop at Lidl and Aldi (−30%)
The quality difference is minimal for staples, and the price difference is 20–30% — €30–50 saved a month. Use Albert Heijn only for its “bonus” deals.
Cook at home and batch cook (save €100+)
A home-cooked meal costs €2–4; eating out costs €12.50+. Eating out twice instead of five times a week saves €100–150 a month. Sunday batch cooking is a common student strategy.
Too Good To Go app (up to 70% off)
60–70% off surplus food from bakeries and supermarkets. A €4–5 “magic bag” contains €12–15 worth of food. Albert Heijn bags sell out fast — set alerts.
Bike instead of public transport (€0)
A second-hand bike costs €50–150 one-time, and €0 a month to run. Add the NS Flex 40% off-peak discount (€5 a month) for occasional train trips; an OV-chipkaart costs €7.50. EU students may get free public transport via DUO.
Kringloop shops for furnishing (up to 90% off)
Kringloopwinkels (second-hand shops) are a Dutch institution. Furnish an entire room for €50–100 — furniture, kitchen supplies, clothing and books at a fraction of retail prices.
How Does the Netherlands Compare?
Typical monthly living costs for students.
More detail: UK (Chevening), Germany (DAAD), France, Japan (MEXT).
More expensive than Germany or France, cheaper than the UK. The real difference is tuition: Germany has no tuition at public universities, while the Netherlands charges €8,000–30,000 for non-EU students. That is why securing the NL Scholarship and exploring alternative funding matters so much.
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