Cost Of Living For a Student in Amsterdam 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: EUR
Average monthly spending for students in Amsterdam
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Amsterdam?
Students in Amsterdam spend around 3,200 EUR per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 500 EUR or as high as 36,000 EUR. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Amsterdam
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
Fine dining meal for one
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
Average car 1-day rental
Average car price
| 15,000 EUR | 29,000 EUR | 39,000 EUR |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
Internet and cable
Mobile phone charges
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
Woman dress
Woman shoes
Men's shoes
Men suit
Regular t-shirt
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 590 EUR | 890 EUR | 2,400 EUR |
1-bedroom apartment
| 910 EUR | 1,500 EUR | 3,600 EUR |
2-bedroom apartment
| 1,200 EUR | 1,900 EUR | 5,000 EUR |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 120,000 EUR | 190,000 EUR | 370,000 EUR |
| $130,000 | $200,000 | $400,000 |
1-bedroom apartment
| 150,000 EUR | 250,000 EUR | 950,000 EUR |
2-bedroom apartment
| 240,000 EUR | 710,000 EUR | 1.4M EUR |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 610 EUR | 760 EUR | 1,000 EUR |
Double Bed
Single Bed
Living Room
| 730 EUR | 940 EUR | 3,300 EUR |
Dining Table
Sofa or Couch
| 420 EUR | 570 EUR | 1,200 EUR |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 420 EUR | 630 EUR | 1,300 EUR |
Fridge or Freezer
Washing Machine
| 460 EUR | 660 EUR | 1,200 EUR |
Stove or Cooker
Mobile Phone
Laptop or Computer
| 580 EUR | 710 EUR | 1,300 EUR |
A typical and healthy budgeting structure
The 50/30/20 rule
Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle,
location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule,
which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.
50% for needs and financial obligations
This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.
30% for wants and discretionary spending
This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.
20% for savings and emergency fund
This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.
About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
Affordable living in Amsterdam
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Amsterdam?
Around 83% of surveyed students think that living in Amsterdam is affordable with proper budgeting while 17% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
How do students spend their money in Amsterdam?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost21%
21% of total expenses on average (16% to 27%)
| LOW | $130 120 EUR |
| AVERAGE | $840 770 EUR |
| HIGH | $9,300 8,600 EUR |
| Per Month |
Students in Amsterdam typically spend from 16% to 27% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 21% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 770 EUR with expenditure ranging from 120 EUR to 8,600 EUR. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities5%
5% of total expenses on average (3% to 9%)
| LOW | $19 18 EUR |
| AVERAGE | $120 110 EUR |
| HIGH | $1,400 1,300 EUR |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Amsterdam ranges from 3% to 9% of total expenses with 5% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 110 EUR with 18 EUR and 1,300 EUR being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel6%
6% of total expenses on average (5% to 12%)
| LOW | $36 33 EUR |
| AVERAGE | $230 210 EUR |
| HIGH | $2,600 2,400 EUR |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 33 EUR to 2,400 EUR in a month on commuting with 210 EUR being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 6% of total spending on average but can go as low as 5% or as high as 12%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost21%
21% of total expenses on average (15% to 25%)
| LOW | $100 93 EUR |
| AVERAGE | $650 600 EUR |
| HIGH | $7,200 6,700 EUR |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Amsterdam is 600 EUR. The cost of groceries can range between 93 EUR to 6,700 EUR. Students spend on average about 21% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 15% and 25% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare7%
7% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $27 25 EUR |
| AVERAGE | $170 160 EUR |
| HIGH | $1,900 1,800 EUR |
| Per Month |
Students in Amsterdam allocate 4% to 10% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 7%. The range of medical expenses range from 25 EUR to 1,800 EUR with 160 EUR being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping4%
4% of total expenses on average (2% to 8%)
| LOW | $25 23 EUR |
| AVERAGE | $160 150 EUR |
| HIGH | $1,800 1,700 EUR |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 23 EUR to 1,700 EUR with 150 EUR being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 8% of total expenses with an average of 4% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling19%
19% of total expenses on average (12% to 24%)
| LOW | $96 88 EUR |
| AVERAGE | $620 570 EUR |
| HIGH | $6,900 6,300 EUR |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 19% of the monthly expenditure of students with 12% and 24% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 570 EUR per month with 88 EUR being the minimum spent amount and 6,300 EUR being the maximum.
Other Expenses17%
17% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)
| LOW | $79 73 EUR |
| AVERAGE | $510 470 EUR |
| HIGH | $5,700 5,200 EUR |
| Per Month |
Low-cost alternatives in Amsterdam
People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options64%
Few low-cost options36%
Based on the survey, 64% of the students living in Amsterdam have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 36% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Emergency Funds For Students
An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked students whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes83%
No17%
Based on the survey, 17% of the students living in Amsterdam said that they don't have an emergency fund while 83% said that they do.
Financial Literacy in
Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.
Financial Leteracy78%
We asked student guardians and parents in Amsterdam whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 22% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 78% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.
Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning
We wanted to understand whether students of have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 12% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 88% said that they have everything under control.
Struggles with finance12%
Easily manages finances88%
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Amsterdam
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Amsterdam
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 590 EUR | 890 EUR | 2,400 EUR |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 910 EUR | 1,500 EUR | 3,600 EUR |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 1,200 EUR | 1,900 EUR | 5,000 EUR |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 1,500 EUR | 2,500 EUR | 6,900 EUR |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 2,900 EUR | 7,300 EUR | 15,000 EUR |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 2,400 EUR | 3,600 EUR | 10,000 EUR |
House monthly rent cost
| 2,900 EUR | 7,300 EUR | 15,000 EUR |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 3,600 EUR | 8,900 EUR | 14,000 EUR |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Amsterdam ranges between 590 EUR and 2,400 EUR, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 910 EUR to 3,600 EUR. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 1,200 EUR and 5,000 EUR per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 1,500 EUR to 6,900 EUR. The average rent of a townhouse in Amsterdam is around 3,600 EUR while house rental costs can be as high as 7,300 EUR per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 3,600 EUR to 14,000 EUR per month.
Apartment and house prices in Amsterdam
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 120,000 EUR | 190,000 EUR | 370,000 EUR |
| $130,000 | $200,000 | $400,000 |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 150,000 EUR | 250,000 EUR | 950,000 EUR |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 240,000 EUR | 710,000 EUR | 1.4M EUR |
3-bedroom apartment price
| 810,000 EUR | 1.2M EUR | 3.6M EUR |
Townhouse price
| 1.1M EUR | 2.5M EUR | 9.3M EUR |
House price
| 1.3M EUR | 7.7M EUR | 11M EUR |
Villa price
| 1.5M EUR | 8.5M EUR | 13M EUR |
The average price of a studio apartment in Amsterdam can range from 120,000 EUR to 370,000 EUR depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 150,000 EUR to 950,000 EUR. A villa can cost you 8.5M EUR on average with prices ranging from 1.5M EUR to 13M EUR.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Amsterdam will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 62 | x187 monthly income | 303 |
Property prices in Amsterdam can be x187 to x303 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x187 multiples of the average monthly salary in Amsterdam.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Amsterdam is around 41%. This means that people pay 41% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 29% to 53% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
Housing affordability index
The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.
Housing Affordability Index
32% Property Taxes
Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.
Home Maintenance Costs
Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.
Urban vs. rural living costs
Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.
Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Amsterdam
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Amsterdam
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
Internet and cable cost
Mobile phone bill and charges
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 110 EUR. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 32 EUR to 86 EUR with 65 EUR being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 35 EUR but can range between 21 EUR and 110 EUR depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.
Energy / Utility expense to income ratio
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in Amsterdam is around 4.7%. This means that people pay 4.7% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 1.2% to 9.4% depending on salary and location.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Amsterdam
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Amsterdam
Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.
Fast food combo meal price
The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Amsterdam is approximatly 12 EUR with meal cost ranging from 6.2 EUR to 21 EUR. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 21 EUR and 64 EUR with 32 EUR being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Amsterdam.
Fine dining meal for one price
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 41 EUR to 250 EUR with the average cost being 62 EUR for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Amsterdam.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Amsterdam is around 8.4 EUR. Price ranges between 5.3 EUR and 13 EUR depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in Amsterdam is 5.1 EUR. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 6.4 EUR and the minimum being 4.3 EUR depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 4.1 EUR on average with 3.1 EUR and 6.1 EUR being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Amsterdam is between 7.3 EUR and 13 EUR depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 9.5 EUR.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 13 EUR. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Amsterdam costs around 4.4 EUR on average with prices rangeing between 3.2 EUR and 6.3 EUR depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 1.2 EUR to 3.1 EUR. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 2.9 EUR on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 93 EUR to 6,700 EUR with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
Published: December 26, 2024 Last Update: May 28, 2025
