This post is the second part of the video on monthly expenses in the Netherlands. In the last post, we explained the mandatory monthly living cost in detail. In this second part, we will cover all the optional costs of living in the Netherlands.
In the previous post, we covered a broad category of mandatory expenses that you have to bear when you are living in the Netherlands. We mainly talked about your monthly rent, grocery costs, travel cost, taxes, and much more. Also, in our post named '8 initial expenses', we have talked about the initial one time cost which you will have to bear once you move to the Netherlands. So these three videos will give you a better understanding of the cost of living here and may help you plan your expenses in a better manner. We have also created a budget planner for you which you can find in our previous blog. The numbers in these planners are approximated that you can edit out and customize according to your own needs. Now without any further ado, let's get started with the list:
Eating out
This one is an optional cost but we all know that it is pretty difficult to make it optional. There will be a time when you will start craving for that burger or a pizza or you will be so tired from your college work all day that you would want to just sit at home and get your food delivered. The cost of eating out depends on your food preferences. But the average cost of eating out can be between 10 - 20 EUR/person. A burger from McDonald's will cost you 6.5 EUR. A complete McDonald's meal can be of approximately 11 EUR. A 25cm pizza will cost you about 12.5 EUR. The prices will come down if you manage to get some discount coupons. But if you choose to go to a fancy place then this cost can go up to 50 EUR/person.
Food on campus is also not that cheap, a coffee can cost you around 2 EUR and food, for example, a falafel wrap will cost you around 6 EUR. But as we said, this is an optional cost. You can avoid eating out during weekdays if you prepare your meals in advance. This way you will save a lot on your lunch money. A fun fact, Dutch people usually eat a cold meal for the afternoon. They prefer bread and a slice of cheese or some hummus with it, that's it!
Gym
Many of you must have already googled a gym near the university. For those who are into gymming and fitness, you can expect a monthly cost of around 20 - 30 EUR/month. Again, this is an average cost. If you go for some high-end gyms then prices can go up to 50-60 EUR/month. You can save some cost by taking annual memberships. This way you could save around 5 EUR/month. If you are going to the gym then the chances are you will need protein powder as well. The cost of 2.5 kgs of whey protein is around 35 EUR but again, this cost will defer for every brand. This cost will come down if you manage to get some discount codes.
Haircut
A basic haircut is around 20 EUR. But we highly recommend you invest in a good hair clipper if you would like to save in the long run. A good clipper will cost you around 40-50 EUR and you can easily learn how to cut your hair from YouTube. The first few haircuts could be a disaster but you will get the hang of it eventually.
Museums or Exploring Holland
When in the Netherlands, without a doubt, you will be captivated by the culture and history that this place has to offer. We know that being an international student, sometimes you have to make those decisions that help you save money. You don't eat out much, you stop yourself from exploring the country and in short, you start living a frugal life. However, not every exploring activity needs you to spends hundreds of euros. Holland is home to more than 400 museums out of which 40 are in Amsterdam. The ticket prices for these museums can range from 5 EUR to 25 EUR. Some museums even offer free entries or discounted ticket prices for students. If you want to visit more than three museums at once then you can buy a pass which will bring down the cost even more.
There are so many other tourist attractions in Holland and if it's your birthday and you want to have fun then you can choose from any of these. We again have a link for you using which you can purchase affordable tickets to some very fun experiences. And if you want everything to be free and just want to explore the city and then just pick your bicycle, rent it if you don't have one, and put it on a train and start exploring the city of your choice. Being a student doesn't have to be monotonous.
Movies
Of course, every once in a while there comes a movie like Avengers or Inception which you want to experience in a theatre. No one understands that better than us. Well, if you spend wisely, you don't have to sacrifice much on that front. On average, a movie ticket can cost you 7.5 EUR for normal viewing, 12.5 EUR for 3d experience, and 16.5 EUR for a 4DX experience.
In Holland, you have to purchase the 3D glasses separately. You can buy them for approximately 1.5 EUR. This is a one time purchase, you can keep these glasses with you and can use them again and again.
Shopping
Yes, it's sad but every once in a while you will have to shop for some basic garments. As mentioned in our previous post named "8 initial expenses", people from warmer countries should not purchase winter clothes from their native countries. It is always advisable to purchase them from here. This is because the fabric of winter wear differs in every country. So your sweater which protects you in your climate might not help you much here. Dutch winters are not just cold, they are a mixture of chilly winds, scathing rains, and very scanty snow. A really good, thick, and warm winter jacket will cost you around 100 EUR. Please understand that this will be a one time and quality investment. That jacket will be very sturdy and will last you for a long time.
Apart from that, if you wish to go on a shopping spree then here is a list of some basic items from brands like H&M, Only, etc. The price of a simple t-shirt will lie between 5 EUR and 30 EUR. The cost for a pair of jeans will range from 9 EUR to 50 EUR, a dress might range from 10 EUR to 100 EUR and jackets will be in the range of 15 EUR to 150 EUR. These prices will drop down whenever there is a sale. So that is a time to go on a shopping spree if you want.
Please use our editable budget planner to get help with your finances. Let us know if we missed any question or if you have any future blog requests. Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel!