Cost of Living & Financial Proof for International Students in the Netherlands (2026-2027)

The short answer: budget for tuition plus at least €1,130.77 per month

If you are planning to study in the Netherlands in 2026-2027, your budget has two separate parts:

• Tuition and university fees — paid to your Dutch university or university of applied sciences.
• Living costs and financial proof — money you need to show you can support yourself during your stay.

For a Dutch study residence permit, the IND lists the 2026 monthly study amount for higher professional education (hbo) or university as €1,130.77 per month. This amount is valid for 2026 on the IND required income amounts page. It is a minimum immigration threshold, not a promise that every student can live comfortably on exactly that amount.

Use this article as a planning guide, then check your university's own visa instructions before transferring money or opening a blocked account.

Useful StudyPath tools:

• Cost of living calculator
• Financial proof guide
• Tuition fees guide
• Visa checklist

1. IND financial proof for a Dutch student residence permit

Most non-EU/EEA students need a Dutch study residence permit. In many cases, your Dutch university applies to the IND on your behalf after you are admitted and meet the financial requirements.

According to the IND required amounts page, the 2026 study amount for higher professional education (hbo) or university is:

• €1,130.77 per month for living expenses

This means that for a full 12-month year, the living-cost proof is roughly:

• €13,569.24 for 12 months (€1,130.77 × 12)

Important: universities may ask you to prove this amount in a specific way. Some institutions use a blocked account or university-managed transfer. Others may accept bank statements, scholarship letters, sponsor documents or a combination. Follow the exact instructions from your admitting institution.

Official source: IND required amounts income requirements.

2. Tuition fees are separate from living-cost proof

The IND living-cost amount does not include your tuition fee. You still need to budget for tuition, and your university may require payment before enrolment or before the visa process is completed.

DUO lists the statutory tuition fee as:

• €2,601 for the 2025-2026 academic year
• €2,694 for the 2026-2027 academic year

Many international students do not pay the statutory fee. Non-EU/EEA students often pay institutional tuition fees, which are set by the university and can be much higher. Study in NL gives typical non-EU/EEA ranges of €9,000-€20,000 for bachelor's programmes and €12,000-€30,000 for master's programmes, depending on the programme and institution.

Official sources:

• DUO tuition fees
• Study in NL tuition fees

3. A realistic monthly budget for 2026-2027

The official Study in NL cost-of-living page says students spend an average of €1,000-€1,500 per month. It also lists common cost examples, including average room costs between €450 and €1,000 per month and an example student-cost overview with rent, groceries, transport, leisure and insurance.

Here is a practical monthly budget range for an international student:

A cautious planning range is €1,200-€1,700 per month in larger cities and €1,000-€1,400 per month in smaller student cities, excluding tuition.

Official source: Study in NL daily student expenses and cost of living.

4. First-month costs are higher than normal monthly costs

Your first month in the Netherlands is usually more expensive than later months because you may need to pay several one-time costs before classes start.

Common first-month or pre-arrival costs include:

• First rent payment
• Housing deposit, often one or two months of rent
• Furniture, bedding, kitchen items or moving supplies
• Residence permit or visa-related fees, if applicable
• Flight or train travel to the Netherlands
• Temporary accommodation if your room is not ready
• Bike purchase or public transport card
• Warm clothes and daily essentials

This is why a student who can technically meet the IND monthly amount may still feel financially stressed after arrival. If possible, keep an emergency buffer separate from the money you show for visa purposes.

5. Housing is the budget risk students underestimate most

Housing is the largest cost and the hardest part to fix quickly. A room in a popular city can be expensive, and scams are common in the private rental market.

Before you send money for a room:

• Do not pay large deposits before verifying the landlord and property.
• Be careful with offers that look much cheaper than the market.
• Avoid landlords who refuse viewings, video calls or proper contracts.
• Check whether utilities, internet and municipal taxes are included.
• Ask your university what housing support or warning lists they provide.

If you are still choosing between universities, include housing availability in your decision. A cheaper tuition fee can be cancelled out by a difficult housing market.

Related StudyPath guides:

• Student housing guide
• Cost of living calculator

6. How much should you prepare in total?

A simple planning formula is:

Total first-year budget = tuition fee + 12 months living costs + first-month setup costs + emergency buffer

Example for a non-EU master's student:

• Tuition fee: €15,000
• IND living-cost proof for 12 months: €13,569.24
• Housing deposit and setup costs: €1,500-€3,000
• Emergency buffer: €1,000-€2,000

Estimated first-year planning range: €31,000-€34,500

Example for an EU/EEA student paying the 2026-2027 statutory tuition fee:

• Tuition fee: €2,694
• Living costs at €1,200 per month: €14,400
• Housing deposit and setup costs: €1,500-€3,000
• Emergency buffer: €1,000-€2,000

Estimated first-year planning range: €19,500-€22,100

These examples are not official visa amounts. They are planning examples to help you avoid arriving with too little cash.

7. Financial proof documents: what universities usually check

The exact documents depend on your university and nationality, but common proof types include:

• Recent bank statements in your name
• Parent or sponsor bank statements
• Scholarship award letters
• Loan approval letters
• University blocked-account transfers
• Proof that tuition has been paid or can be paid

Make sure the account holder name, currency, date and available balance are clear. If the document is not in English or Dutch, your university may ask for a translation.

Do not rely on a screenshot from a banking app unless your university explicitly accepts it. A formal bank statement is safer.

8. Common mistakes that delay student visa files

Students often lose time because they prepare the wrong amount or the wrong document format. Watch out for these mistakes:

• Counting tuition money as living-cost proof when the university requires both separately
• Showing a balance that is high enough for one day but not supported by a proper statement
• Forgetting exchange-rate movement between your local currency and euros
• Submitting documents after the university's internal visa deadline
• Assuming that every Dutch university uses the same blocked-account process
• Planning only for the IND minimum and forgetting rent deposits and setup costs

If you are close to the minimum, add a buffer. Currency movements and bank transfer delays can create unnecessary stress.

9. Use the calculator before choosing a city or programme

The best budget is not one national average. It depends on your city, tuition fee, rent, insurance status and lifestyle.

Use StudyPath's cost of living calculator to compare monthly expenses, then read the financial proof guide for visa-specific planning.

If you want help checking whether your budget and documents are realistic for your target universities, StudyPath can help you prepare your application plan: StudyPath services.

Sources checked

• IND required amounts income requirements — student living-cost amount for 2026.
• DUO tuition fees — statutory tuition fees for 2025-2026 and 2026-2027.
• Study in NL tuition fees — typical non-EU/EEA tuition fee ranges.
• Study in NL daily student expenses and cost of living — average student expenses and monthly cost examples.