Cost of living in Utrecht: The complete guide

Relocating to Utrecht? This guide gives an overview of the average expenses when it comes to rent, food, leisure time and transportation.

Yordan

4 minute read

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Updated on 26 Aug 2024

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Living

Utrecht is the 4th largest city in the Netherlands based on population. With more and more people starting to live here, the city is on a track to becoming an alternative to the busy Amsterdam. It doesn't hurt that Utrecht is also one of the best cities in the Netherlands for expats.

If you’re considering Utrecht as a prospective new home, we’re here to give you an overview of the cost of living in Utrecht. In this guide, we’ll break down the expenses in the city according to 4 categories:

• Rent expenses
• Food prices
• Public transportation
• Leisure activities

Being a fast-growing city, Utrecht is attractive to locals and internationals alike. As a consequence, the demand for accommodation is nothing short of high, therefore driving the rent prices up.

The rest of the expenses you’ll have to cover are higher than the Dutch average, making Utrecht the 2nd most expensive city in the Netherlands.

This, of course, doesn’t mean that it is impossible to live in Utrecht without breaking the bank. Let's see how.

As with other Dutch cities, such as Rotterdam and Eindhoven, you should be prepared to spend around €900 on top of your rental expenses to assure a comfortable way of living.

Including accommodation you're looking at a monthly cost of living in Utrecht between €1,700 (renting a private room) and €2,605 (renting an apartment). Let’s dive into the average rental prices and the categories that are going to make up those living expenses.

Rental prices in Utrecht

Based on HousingAnywhere’s rent index, this is what you can expect to pay for accommodation in Utrecht on average:

The table above shows the average prices you can expect but they can vary depending on which neighbourhood you live in. Check out our Utrecht neighbourhood guide to see which are the more affordable areas of the city. You can also apply for Dutch rental allowance which will help you cover the costs of renting in Utrecht.

Food prices in Utrecht

How much you pay for groceries depends on your diet and preferences. In general, you can expect to spend between €350 and €450 monthly to cover your monthly food shopping. You can find cheaper produce and various types of meats at Utrecht’s Vredenburg market that takes place in the city centre 3 times per week!

The following prices should give help you set up an informed food budget:

Prices for leisure time in Utrecht

Relaxing in secluded gardens, international eateries, canal cruises and calm streets. Utrecht has it all and since there aren’t many tourists around, you’ll be able to enjoy your time in peace. Utrecht is famous for its canal-side terraces so we advise you to put a visit to one of them on your bucket list!

Public transport in Utrecht

Despite not having an extensive territory, Utrecht has a well-integrated public transport system. The 300 buses and 23 trams strong transport network is accessible on a pay-per-use basis or through the OV-Chipkaart. You can see the cost of public transport in Utrecht on the table below.

Now that you have a better idea as to what to expect from the cost of living in Utrecht, it's time for you explore homes for rent in Utrecht.