How Much Students Really Spend in 2026

Choosing where to study in the Netherlands isn’t just about universities and vibes, it’s also about your budget. Rent, groceries, transport, nights out… it all adds up very quickly, and every city adds up to a different price.

Some cities like Amsterdam are known for being very expensive, while others like Groningen or Tilburg are way more student budget friendly. So, to make it easier for you we have done your research for you. We’ve done the research and have broken down the average student living costs across 8 student popular Dutch cities.

Whether you’re moving soon or just planning ahead, here’s what you can realistically expect to spend in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, The Hague (Den Haag), Leiden, Eindhoven, Groningen and Tilburg.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam brings big city energy but that means it also has big city prices. Amsterdam is beautiful and a popular place to visit. However, because of its popularity the prices are not the cheapest.

Accommodation: €450 – €1,200 (Finding a low priced room is very difficult and mainly lower when arranged via AUAS (Amsterdam University of Applied Science) Housing.
Groceries and eating out: On average between €250 – €350 (cooking at home saves money).
Transportation: €40 – €100 (that would depend on whether you choose to bike around or depend on public transport). If you have a student OV card your public transport is free.
Night entertainment: A beer would cost between €7 – €10 and club entry is €10 – €20. The monthly costs depend on how many times you go out.
Shopping: There are both expensive boutiques in Amsterdam and also plenty of budget chains. Once again the monthly costs depend on how much shopping you choose to do per month and at what shops.

Total:

Most students realistically spend around €1,300 – €1,500 per month.

Student vibe:

Amsterdam has amazing culture, nightlife and provides many internships for students, but you definitely pay for this lifestyle.

Rotterdam

This is modern, creative, and slightly more affordable than Amsterdam. It is a big city and very international with modern culture and many cultural scenes.

Accommodation: This can range between €600 – €900 per month (depending on location and the type of housing).
Groceries and eating out: €230 – €330 per month (cooking at home saves money).
Transportation: €65 – €90 per month (biking is much cheaper) If you have a student OV card your public transport is free.
Night entertainment: €4 – €6 per beer and €10 – €20 for club entry. The monthly costs depend on how many times you go out.
Shopping: Lots of malls and student-friendly stores.

Total:

Most students realistically spend around €1,250 – €1,400 per month.

Student vibe:

This city is trendy, international and creative , it is a great balance between city life and affordability.

Utrecht

Utrecht is a lovely historic and vibrant student city. It is a great place to study however it is generally not the cheapest city for students mainly because of the competitive housing, so it is smart to take a look at the prices of the city before moving there.

Accommodation: Shared rooms can be between €375 – €700 (these prices can be hard to find) however other housing can reach up to €850 – €1,100+ for a room.
Groceries and eating out: €240 – €340 per month (cooking at home saves money).
Transportation: €65 – €120 per month (biking is much cheaper). If you have a student OV card your public transport is free.
Night entertainment: €5 – €10 per beer and entry fees €5 – €20+. The monthly costs depend on how many times you go out.
Shopping: Stylish but pricey, but also has many budget chains. Once again the monthly costs depend on how much shopping you choose to do per month and at what shops.

Total:

Most students realistically spend around €1,350 – €1,500 per month.

Student vibe:

Beautiful canals and top universities, but rent is almost Amsterdam-level.

The Hague (Den Haag)

The Hague is a very international city with great access to beaches. Compared to cities like Leiden and Rotterdam it does not have such a high population of students, however it is slowly developing into a student city.

Accommodation: Rooms with shared facilities are between €450 – €700, whereas studios or apartments would be between €700 – €1100, so the average rent that students would usually pay would range between €475 – €950.
Groceries and eating out: €230 – €330 per month (cooking at home saves money).
Transportation: €35 – €67 per month (biking is much cheaper). If you have a student OV card your public transport is free.
Night entertainment: €4 – €8 per beer and club entry fees are between €5 to €20 per person. The monthly costs depend on how many times you go out.
Shopping: Good mix of budget and mid-range shops. Once again the monthly costs depend on how much shopping you choose to do per month and at what shops.

Total:

Most students realistically spend around €1,250 – €1,400 per month.

Student vibe:

The Hague has a very calm city life with great cafés, embassies, and the beach nearby.

Leiden

Leiden is definitely a lively student city, it is small but with a big student energy. The city is very international with over 20 active student associations, home to the oldest university in the Netherlands and is very compact which means everything is easily accessible. Definitely a great place to study if you want a quieter “student life” experience.

Accommodation: A room would cost between €350 – €800 per month and a studio would cost little more being between €600 – €900+ per month. This would mean that the average student accommodation that you could be expected to pay lays between €500 – €800
Groceries and eating out: €220 – €320 per month (cooking at home saves money).
Transportation: €40 – €50 per month for in the city travel (biking is much cheaper). If you have a student OV card your public transport is free.
Night entertainment: €5 – €7 per beer and you would pay an average between €5 to €10 for club entry fees. The monthly costs depend on how many times you go out.
Shopping: Mostly budget chains and local stores. Once again the monthly costs depend on how much shopping you choose to do per month and at what shops.

Total:

Most students realistically spend around €1,100 – €1,250 per month.

Student vibe:

This city is Historic, cozy, and full of students, it is great if you want a quieter but student filled version of Utrecht.

Eindhoven

Eindhoven is a very high-tech and innovative city, with growing student life. It brings a very international atmosphere and offers many great career opportunities for those who are graduating.

Accommodation: Accommodations cost can start from €450 up to €900 per month depending on whether you are looking for a shared room or a private apartment. This means on average a student would expect to pay between €500 – €800.
Groceries and eating out: €220 – €320 per month (cooking at home saves money).
Transportation: €35 – €67 per month for in the city travel (biking is much cheaper). If you have a student OV card your public transport is free.
Night entertainment: €3.20 – €6.90 per beer and for a club entry fee you would pay between €10 – €20. The monthly costs depend on how many times you go out.
Shopping: Affordable malls and outlets. Once again the monthly costs depend on how much shopping you choose to do per month and at what shops.

Total:

Most students realistically spend around €1,100 – €1,250 per month.

Student vibe:

Innovative and international, with slightly lower living costs than other large cities.

Groningen

Groningen is one of the cheapest and most student-friendly cities. It offers a very youthful and vibrant atmosphere and has an energetic 24/7 night life.

Accommodation: €350 – €550 for a room
Groceries and eating out: €180 – €300 per month (cooking at home saves money).
Transportation: €35 – €70 per month (biking is much cheaper). If you have a student OV card your public transport is free.
Night entertainment: €3.10 – €6 per beer and you would expect to be paying between €2.50 – €5 for club entry fees. The monthly costs depend on how many times you go out.
Shopping: Mostly budget-friendly. Once again the monthly costs depend on how much shopping you choose to do per month and at what shops.

Total:

Most students realistically spend around €850 – €1,000 per month.

Student vibe:

Huge student population, great nightlife, and low rent means student paradise.

Tilburg

Tilburg is a very “cozy” student city, which is affordable and actually very underrated. This is a perfect place if you are looking for a university experience in a smaller city.

Accommodation: €350 – €600 for a room
Groceries and eating out: €180 – €300 per month
Transportation: €50 – €80 per month (biking is much cheaper). If you have a student OV card your public transport is free.
Night entertainment: €3.30 – €7 per beer and for a club entry fee you would pay between €7.50 and €15+. The monthly costs depend on how many times you go out.
Shopping: There are mostly cheap and budget-friendly shops. Once again the monthly costs depend on how much shopping you choose to do per month and at what shops.

Total:

Most students realistically spend around €760 – €1,000 per month.

Student vibe:

Smaller city, quieter lifestyle, and very budget-friendly.

Quick Comparison Table:

City:	Avg Room Rent:	Food:	Transport:	Night Out:	Shopping:	Total:
Amsterdam	€450 – €1,200	€250 – €350	€40 – €100	High	High	€1,300 – €1,500
Rotterdam	€600 – €900	€230 – €330	€65 – €90	Moderate	Moderate	€1,250 – €1,400
Utrecht	€375 – €700	€240 – €340	€65 – €120	High	High	€1,350 – €1,500
The Hague	€475 – €950	€230 – €330	€35 – €67	Moderate	Moderate	€1,250 – €1,400
Leiden	€500 – €800	€220 – €320	€40 – €50	Moderate	Moderate	€1,100 – €1,250
Eindhoven	€500 – €800	€220 – €320	€35 – €67	Moderate	Moderate	€1,100 – €1,250
Groningen	€300 – €550	€180 – €300	€35 – €70	Low	Low	€850 – €1,000
Tilburg	€350 – €600	€180 – €300	€50 – €80	Low	Low	€780 – €1,000

(All numbers are approximate averages based on public data and student reports.)

Final Thoughts

Every Dutch city has its own vibe and price tag. The amount that you choose to pay depends on the type of student experience you want. If you want culture, nightlife and internships, Amsterdam or Utrecht might be worth the extra rent. If you’re on a tight student budget, Groningen or Tilburg can give you way more space and freedom.

But no matter where you decide to live, one thing is a fact – good housing is hard to secure.

If you’re moving soon or listing a room for the next student, RentSwap helps make student housing swaps simple, fair, and verified. No scams. No bidding wars. No stress.

List your room, help another student, and earn €200 for the swap.

RentSwap. Making student housing swaps easy.