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Cost of living
Monthly costs by city, tuition and transport planning.
In short
Monthly costs for international students vary hugely by city, rent is usually the biggest line item, followed by health insurance, groceries and transport, so budget by city rather than a single national number.
What to budget for
- Rent, by far the biggest cost, and the one that varies most between cities.
- Health insurance, mandatory in some circumstances, optional in others (see below).
- Groceries and daily living costs.
- Public transport, phone and internet.
- One-off setup costs: deposit, furniture, registration and agency fees.
Why health insurance isn't one-size-fits-all
Whether you need Dutch basic health insurance depends mainly on whether, and how much, you work, not simply on being a student. Don't assume either way: check your specific situation against the current rules before you arrive.
City makes a big difference
The same budget stretches very differently in Amsterdam versus Groningen or Eindhoven. See our city guides for a side-by-side comparison of rent pressure and scale before you commit to a location.