Cost of Living in Netherlands for Indian Students

By Saumil Baraiya, Founder, Nexvia · Published Dec 5, 2024 · Last reviewed 2 Jun 2026 · 6 min read · Category: Living Abroad

A realistic breakdown of monthly expenses for Indian students studying in the Netherlands - housing, food, transport, and more.

The Netherlands is one of the most popular study destinations in Europe, but how much does it actually cost to live there as a student?\n\nMonthly Budget Breakdown\n- Housing: €400-700 (student room/studio)\n- Food: €200-300 (cooking at home)\n- Transport: €50-100 (OV-chipkaart + bike)\n- Health insurance: €50-120/month\n- Phone & Internet: €20-30\n- Entertainment: €50-100\n- Books & supplies: €25-50\n\nTotal: €800-1,400/month\n\nMoney-Saving Tips\n- Cook at home - Dutch supermarkets are affordable\n- Buy a second-hand bike - it's the Dutch way!\n- Get student discounts on everything\n- Shop at Albert Heijn, Lidl, and Aldi\n- Use Thuisbezorgd only on special occasions\n\nAmsterdam is the most expensive city. Delft, Eindhoven, and Groningen are significantly cheaper.