The Netherlands is popular with Indian students for English-taught degrees, but daily life there is not cheap, and rent is the cost that catches most people out. Before you accept an offer, you need two numbers: the amount the Dutch immigration service (IND) asks you to prove for your residence permit, and a realistic monthly budget for your city. This guide sets out both, using the IND, Study in NL (the official portal run by Nuffic) and the universities' own estimates, as published at the time of writing.
- The IND currently asks university (WO) and HBO students to show 1,130.77 euros a month for the residence permit, and lists a study permit fee of 254 euros
- Study in NL says students spend an average of 1,000 to 1,500 euros a month
- The IND amounts are set for one calendar year at a time.
What Is the Cost of Living in the Netherlands for International Students?
The cost of living in the Netherlands for international students is about 1,000 to 1,500 euros a month, excluding tuition, according to Study in NL. University estimates fall in a similar band, from about 800 euros in cheaper cities to over 1,600 euros in Leiden and The Hague. Rent decides most of the difference.
Study in NL bases its breakdown on figures from Nibud, the Dutch National Institute for Family Finance Information. These are averages, so your own spending depends on the room you find, whether you cook, and how often you travel. Plan for the upper end in your first months, when you also pay deposits and set-up costs.
| Monthly item (Study in NL, Nibud figures) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Rent | 561 euros |
| Groceries | 244 euros |
| Study books and materials | 41 euros |
| Transport | 67 euros |
| Leisure and sports | 239 euros |
| Basic Dutch health insurance (when working) | 133 euros |
| Total of the items above | 1,285 euros |
The 1,285 euro total is our own sum of the listed items; Study in NL does not print a total. Students who do not work can usually use cheaper private student insurance instead of the 133 euro Dutch policy, which lowers the figure.
How Much Money Do You Need to Show for the Dutch Student Residence Permit?
For study at a university (WO) or a university of applied sciences (HBO), the IND currently asks for 1,130.77 euros a month. Over twelve months that comes to about 13,569 euros, by our own calculation. MBO students need 928.58 euros a month. Tuition is not part of this amount, and the IND fee for the permit is 254 euros.
The IND says these amounts are valid from 1 January to 31 December of the current year and are updated each January. Your Dutch university acts as your sponsor and applies for the permit for you, so it will tell you how to prove the money. Many universities ask you to transfer the amount, or the part not covered by a scholarship or sponsor letter, before they start the application.
Treat the IND figure as the legal minimum, not a comfortable budget. In most big student cities a year of real spending is higher, mainly because of rent.
Cost of living in Germany for Indian studentsRead →How Do Living Costs Differ Between Dutch University Cities?
Universities publish their own monthly estimates. Leiden puts Leiden and The Hague at 1,214 to 1,644 euros, Utrecht at 1,000 to 1,400 euros, Twente about 1,300 euros, and Groningen 800 to 1,000 euros on average. Amsterdam does not print a figure and points students to Study in NL instead.
| University (city) | Monthly estimate, excluding tuition | Rent in the estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Leiden University (Leiden and The Hague) | 1,214 to 1,644 euros | 400 to 800 euros |
| Utrecht University (Utrecht) | 1,000 to 1,400 euros | 500 to 1,100 euros |
| University of Twente (Enschede) | About 1,300 euros | 561 euros |
| University of Groningen (Groningen) | 800 to 1,000 euros on average | 450 to 650 euros |
| Study in NL (national average) | 1,000 to 1,500 euros | 450 to 1,000 euros for a room |
Leiden warns that rooms at the lower end of its range are scarce, so students should be ready to pay at the upper end. Twente says housing in Enschede is generally cheaper than in other Dutch student cities. Groningen's own itemised list adds up to more than its headline average, so budget above 1,000 euros there too. If you are choosing between offers, compare the university's estimate for its own city rather than one national figure.
How Much Is Rent for Students in the Netherlands?
Study in NL says an average student room costs somewhere between 450 and 1,000 euros a month, depending on the city, what the rent includes and any arrangement your institution has. Rooms in shared houses are cheapest, while studios and one-bedroom flats in Amsterdam, Utrecht or The Hague cost far more.
Housing is the hardest part of moving to the Netherlands. The Embassy of India in The Hague advises Indian students to arrange accommodation before they arrive because of a considerable housing shortage. Start with your university's housing office and its partner providers, and apply as soon as you accept your offer.
- Ask whether utilities such as gas, electricity and water are included in the rent
- Expect a deposit; Twente says it is usually about one month's rent
- Check that you can register at the address with the municipality, because you need this for your citizen service number (BSN)
- Never pay a deposit for a room you have not verified, and be wary of listings that ask for money before a viewing or contract
What One-Time Costs Should You Budget for When You Arrive?
Budget separately for the IND permit fee of 254 euros, a rent deposit of about one month's rent, furnishing a room, a bicycle and the first month's insurance. Utrecht lists about 500 euros for one-off costs such as a bike and a higher phone bill, and Twente estimates about 750 euros for furnishings.
These costs land in your first few weeks, before any part-time income starts. Carry enough money to cover them on top of your monthly budget, as the Embassy of India also advises students to bring sufficient funds and proof of tuition, deposit and accommodation payments. A second-hand bike is the cheapest way to get around most Dutch cities; Groningen puts a decent one at 80 to 110 euros.
Study in Europe: countries, costs and options for Indian studentsRead →How Much Does Health Insurance Cost for Students in the Netherlands?
If you only study, you cannot take Dutch public health insurance, so you need private student cover. Utrecht puts insurance at 40 to 110 euros a month and Groningen at 100 to 120 euros, including liability cover. If you take a part-time job, Dutch basic insurance becomes compulsory; Study in NL lists it at 133 euros a month.
Study in NL states that students in the Netherlands only for study are legally not allowed to take Dutch public health insurance. Once you work, even part-time, you must switch to a Dutch basic policy. You can then apply to the Tax Office for healthcare allowance (zorgtoeslag), which depends on your income. Choose an insurer that makes switching between student cover and Dutch basic cover easy.
Can a Part-Time Job Help You Cover Living Costs?
Yes, partly. Non-EU students can work up to 16 hours a week through the year, or full time in June, July and August, but not both in the same year, and the employer needs a work permit (TWV). The adult minimum wage is currently 14.99 euros an hour before tax, so a job helps but rarely covers everything.
At the adult rate, 16 hours a week comes to roughly 1,040 euros a month before tax, by our own calculation. Workers under 21 earn lower youth rates. Remember that a job also makes Dutch basic health insurance compulsory, which takes a share of your pay. You cannot count part-time income towards the IND amount, so you still need the full funds before you travel.
How Can You Reduce Your Monthly Costs in the Netherlands?
Find housing early and consider a shared room or a cheaper city such as Enschede or Groningen. Cook at home, buy a second-hand bike instead of paying for daily transport, use student discounts, and buy second-hand books. Check whether your university offers scholarships, because even partial awards reduce the money you need to show.
- Compare the university's own city estimate before you accept an offer
- Apply for university housing the day you accept your place
- Cycle instead of buying regular bus or train tickets
- Use supermarket own brands and cook in your shared kitchen
- Keep an emergency buffer; Utrecht lists about 500 euros for unexpected one-off costs
What Budgeting Mistakes Do Indian Students Make in the Netherlands?
The common mistakes are treating the IND amount as a full budget, arriving without confirmed housing, forgetting deposits and furnishing, and assuming a part-time job will pay the rent from week one. Many students also miss that a job makes Dutch health insurance compulsory, which adds over 100 euros a month to costs.
Plan with the upper end of your university's estimate, keep the one-off costs separate, and only count on part-time income once your employer has the work permit in place. The Embassy of India also asks Indian students to register with it after arrival and to stay alert to scams that target students, including fake rental offers and money mule schemes.
Masters abroad for Indian students: countries, costs and scholarshipsRead →