Scrolling through Dutch finance forums feels like entering a parallel universe where everyone survives on €100 monthly boodschappen (groceries) and pays less for their hypotheek (mortgage) than most people spend on their zorgverzekering (health insurance). The reality for most international residents in the Netherlands looks drastically different, and that’s perfectly fine.
The Dutch Budgeting Reality Check
A recent Reddit post titled “2025 Gemiddelde maandbegroting” (average monthly budget) sparked heated debate when a 32-year-old couple shared their €800 monthly mortgage payment. Critics immediately pounced: “En dan vervolgens een budget met een bizar lage hypotheek plaatsen… voor die krap €800 krijg je tegenwoordig €150k waar je nog geen half huis van koopt” (And then you post a budget with a bizarrely low mortgage… for that measly €800 you currently get €150k which doesn’t even buy you half a house).
The poster defended their numbers, explaining they bought their first apartment in 2019 and sold it with equity. But the core issue remains: budgets that look “realistic” to one person seem fantasy to another. This highlights a crucial problem in Dutch personal finance discussions, the gap between theoretical frugality and actual livability.
What Dutch Incomes Actually Look Like
Before dissecting budgets, let’s ground ourselves in reality. According to Knab’s 2026 data, the modaal inkomen (modal income) in the Netherlands is approximately €48,000 bruto (gross) per year, translating to roughly €3,100, €3,200 netto per month. The gemiddeld inkomen (average income) sits higher at €50,800 bruto due to high earners pulling up the average.
For internationals aged 25-34, the gemiddeld bruto maandinkomen (average gross monthly income) is €4,383, while those aged 35-44 earn €5,342. Your sector matters enormously, a financieel adviseur (financial advisor) earns €39.24 per hour, while a kok (chef) makes €16.15. These numbers matter because they determine what’s actually “realistic” for your situation.
The Mortgage Mirage
That controversial €800 hypotheek payment reveals a harsh truth: timing and luck dominate Dutch housing costs. The couple bought before the 2021 price explosion, a luxury unavailable to newcomers. Current renters in Amsterdam easily pay €1,500-€2,000 for a modest two-bedroom apartment, while new buyers face monthly payments of €2,300 or more for an average rijtjeshuis (terraced house).
One commenter noted: “Wij hebben sinds iets meer dan een jaar een huis gekocht en zitten op 2300 hypotheek… En dan hebben wij nog een gemiddeld klein rijtjeshuis.” This isn’t exceptional, it’s the new normal. If you’re budgeting for a Dutch life you can actually enjoy, base your numbers on current market rates, not 2019 nostalgia.
The Grocery Bill Fantasy
Perhaps nowhere is the frugality gap wider than in boodschappen spending. The Reddit thread showcased two extremes:
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The €100/month survivor: A single system administrator claimed this budget, admitting he eats at his parents weekly, gets work meals, and has friends who “must have” Burger King (paid for by the friend). Most commenters called this unrealistic: “Voor dat geld kan je gewoon niet gezond en lekker eten” (For that money you simply cannot eat healthy and tasty).
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The €1,182/month couple: Another pair detailed their actual spending across multiple stores, Albert Heijn (€549), Makro (€118 for bulk meat), specialty shops (€56 for coffee beans, €75 for wine). They meal-prepped 40 portions at once but still prioritized quality and convenience.
The truth? A realistic budget for two people who cook proper meals, buy fresh groenten (vegetables), quality vlees (meat), and occasional wine lands between €600-€900 monthly. Spending €300-€400 as a single person who values nutrition and variety is completely normal. The €100 poster’s “secret”, relying on parents, work, and friends, isn’t budgeting, it’s subsidizing.
Energy Costs: The Hidden Budget Killer
That €85 energy bill in the €800 mortgage budget raised eyebrows: “Hoe haal je €85 energie met een huis waar je €800 hypotheek voor betaald?” The answer reveals another frugality hack, enduring cold. The couple admitted: “Zuinig zijn op de verwarming, doordeweeks vinden wij het zonde om de verwarming aan te zetten voor een paar uurtjes dus dekentjes en dikke truien.”
Is this realistic long-term? For internationals unaccustomed to Dutch winters, probably not. Current energy contracts average €150-€250 monthly for a small household, especially if you work from home and need actual heating. Budgeting €85 might work if you’re willing to wear winter jackets indoors, but that’s not comfort, it’s survival.
The Comfort-First Budgeting Philosophy
The most refreshing post came from someone explicitly rejecting extreme frugality: “Ik wil comfortabel leven en genieten van de kleine dingen.” Their approach?
– Separate accounts: One for fixed costs, one for boodschappen (€1,000/month), one for discretionary spending (€500/month)
– No guilt spending: €75/month on wine, €29 on craft beer, €96 on partner’s protein supplements
– Strategic bulk buying: Makro runs for meat, meal-prepping 40 portions at once
– Conscious trade-offs: They know they could cut to €750/month but choose not to
This mindset resonates with many internationals who moved to the Netherlands for quality of life, not to replicate student poverty. As one commenter put it: “Leuk dat je kan sparen, maar vergeet niet te genieten” (Nice that you can save, but don’t forget to enjoy yourself).
Building Your Realistic Dutch Budget
Forget the extreme frugality templates. Here’s how to build a budget that works for actual humans:
1. Start with Real Numbers, Not Aspirations
Use current market rates for your city. In Amsterdam, budget €1,800+ for housing. In smaller cities like Groningen or Tilburg, €1,200-€1,400 is more realistic. Check your actual energy contract, not last year’s promo rate.
2. Food: The €15/Day Rule
For one person, €450-€500 monthly allows nutritious, varied meals without constant price-checking. For couples, €800-€900 supports shared meals, occasional organic products, and a social life. This breaks down to €15 per person daily, hardly extravagant.
3. Build in “Dutch Life” Costs
- OV-chipkaart: €100-€150/month if you commute
- Zorgverzekering: €130-€150/month per person
- Liability insurance: €5-€10/month (essential in the Netherlands)
- Gym/sports: €30-€50/month
- Social budget: €200-€300/month for the horeca (hospitality/food service) outings that define Dutch social life
4. Automate Savings Without Obsessing
The comfort-first couple saved €900/month while spending €500 on enjoyment. This 30% savings rate is healthy without being restrictive. Set up automatic transfers to spaarrekeningen (savings accounts) for:
– Emergency fund (3-6 months expenses)
– Vacation
– House down payment
– Pension gap (many internationals have pensioen gaps)
5. The Location Reality Check
That €800 mortgage exists outside the Randstad. If you work in Amsterdam but live in a cheaper region, factor in €300-€400 monthly commuting costs and 2-3 hours daily travel time. Sometimes paying more for housing improves overall quality of life.
When Frugality Becomes Counterproductive
Extreme saving often backfires. The €100 grocery budget requires:
– Living near parents who feed you
– A workplace providing meals
– Friends subsidizing your social life
– Hours spent hunting discounts
– Nutritional compromises that affect health
These “savings” transfer costs to others or your future self. A realistic budget acknowledges that time, health, and relationships have value. Spending an extra €200 monthly to eat properly, socialize normally, and live comfortably isn’t wasteful, it’s sustainable.
The Bottom Line: Define Your “Enough”
The Dutch have a word for this: “genoeg” (enough). Not minimalism, not maximalism, but sufficiency. A realistic budget answers:
– What housing quality do I need to feel at home?
– How much food variety supports my health and happiness?
– What social spending maintains my relationships?
– How much saving provides security without sacrificing today?
For most internationals in the Netherlands, this means:
– Housing: 30-40% of net income
– Food: €450-€900 depending on household size
– Transport: €100-€300
– Insurance & utilities: €200-€300
– Discretionary: €300-€500
– Savings: 20-30% of net income
This isn’t extravagant. It’s what financial health looks like when you prioritize living well today while building for tomorrow. The extreme frugality crowd can keep their €100 grocery challenges. The rest of us will be enjoying our biologische biefstuk (organic steak) and tripel glas (triple-glazed windows) while still hitting our savings goals.
Your next step: Pull your actual spending from the last three months. Categorize every transaction. Compare it to the percentages above, not to a Reddit post from someone who bought a house before you arrived. Adjust what feels restrictive, celebrate what’s working, and remember: the best budget is one you can stick with while still enjoying the Dutch life you came here for.
