Budgeting your student life
Your lifestyle determines how much money you will need as a student. We strongly recommend you to make a budget plan to manage your finances effectively.
Estimated monthly expences
Experience has shown that students living and studying in Rotterdam spend approximately €1000 - €1800 a month. This covers everyday expenses like food, housing, insurance, study materials, and more. Keep in mind, the estimate below does not include tuition fees and unforeseen costs, so it is wise to use it as a rough indication. Housing costs can vary considerably, and if you are planning to travel during your stay, you will need extra budget for that too.
Tips & know-hows
- Groceries at Lidl, Dirk or Aldi are less expensive than the same products at Albert Heijn;
- Keep track of grocery discounts, all weekly discounts ('aanbiedingen' in Dutch) are advertised on the websites of the supermarkets too;
- Buy good but cheap produce at the nearby market every Tuesday and Saturday;
- Make use of the sharp discounts of the ESN card;
- Get a Rotterdam pas or Rotterdam Welcome card for sharp discounts on cultural activities in Rotterdam;
- Buy books secondhand through Tweedehands studieboeken kopen en verkopen | Bookmatch or get a discount from your study association.
Examples of living expenses
- You can convert these amounts into your own currency with the currency converter
- Further information about the costs of living in the Netherlands and related subjects can be found on Study in NL
| Average living expenses per month | Price |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (furnished, including (shared or individual) utilities) - on average | €700 - €1000 |
| Insurance | €56 |
| Books and study materials (may vary per study programme) | €50-150 |
| Daily expenses (food, drinks, clothes, going out, public transport, phone & sport subscription etc.) | €450 |
| Other (non-recurrent) expenses | Price |
|---|---|
| Visa and residence permit fees (for non-EU students) | €243 |
| Bicycle (secondhand) | €150 |
| A number of items with their average prices | Price |
|---|---|
| Cup of tea or coffee in a café | €3.75 |
| Cheese sandwich | €6 |
| Beer | €4 |
| Meal in a typical student restaurant | €16 |
| Cinema ticket | €14 |
| Hairdresser (cut and blow-dry) | €45 |
| Average prices for travelling to nearby European cities | Price |
|---|---|
| Trip to Paris* | €70 |
| Trip to Brussels* | €58 |
| Trip to London* | €70 |
*These are prices for a round trip with train and if you book well in advance