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Leiden is a beautiful city and municipality in the South Holland province, Netherlands. The municipality of Leiden holds a total population of 127,046. The Duch city is renowned for housing one of the best-preserved historic centres in the Netherlands. Along with its cultural and historical values, Leiden also offers a plethora of career opportunities to international students and expats. Whether you are moving to this city to pursue higher education, seek employment, or simply retire, Leiden can be an ideal place for you. However, one should be aware of the cost of living in Leiden beforehand. In this blog, we will discuss the living expenses of Leiden in complete detail.
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Why Choose Leiden to Study Abroad
The charming and historic city of Leiden offers an ideal place to pursue higher education, with its prestigious universities and welcoming environment. Before diving into the cost of living in Leiden, let’s understand why this city is an ideal study-abroad destination.
Here are some of the main reasons why you should choose Leiden to study abroad:
Safe City
Leiden is known for being a safe city for students, with low crime rates and a good public transportation system.
Vibrant Cultural Scenes
Leiden provides a vibrant cultural scene with various museums, galleries, and theatres. Students can benefit from this and learn a lot about the history and culture. You can explore popular places like the Museum De Lakenhal and the Naturalis Biodiversity Center.
Top Universities
Leiden is home to some of the best universities in the world, such as:
- Leiden University
- University of Applied Sciences Leiden
- Webster University Leiden
Recreational Opportunities
Along with the cultural offerings, Leiden provides a wide range of recreational opportunities. You can visit the city’s parks and green spaces that offer tranquil retreats for relaxation or outdoor activities. The city is also famous for its vibrant nightlife, housing a variety of live music venues, clubs, and bars.
Also Read: Cost of Living in Netherlands: Rent, Food, Expenses and More
Cost of Living in Leiden
The estimated monthly expense of a family of four in Leiden is €3,344.9 without rent. On the other hand, a single individual bears a monthly cost of €954.8 without rent in the city. In this section, let’s see the cost of living in Leiden in full detail.
Transportation
The transportation costs in Leiden are listed in the table shown below:
| Price of a One-way Ticket for Local Transport | €3 |
| Regular Price of Monthly Pass | €50 |
| Cost of Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | €5 |
| Cost of Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) | €2 |
| Cost of Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | €30 |
Grocery Expenses
The table provided below shows the average expense of groceries you can expect in Leiden:
| Price of 1 litre Milk (regular) | €1.08 |
| Price of 1 kg Rice (white) | €2.43 |
| Price of Eggs (regular) (12) | €3.83 |
| Cost of Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) | €1.62 |
The table given below shows the average restaurant costs you might have to bear in Leiden:
| Price of Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | €20 |
| Price of Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | €70 |
Utility Bills
Here are the average utility costs in Leiden:
| Basic (Heating, Electricity, Cooling, Water, and Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment | €211.35 |
| Monthly Plan of Mobile Phone with Calls and 10GB+ Data | €27.50 |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | €48.86 |
Entertainment/ Recreation
| Sports And Leisure | |
|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | 39.29 € |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) | 25.00 € |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat | 12.50 € |
| Clothing And Shoes | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) | 92.33 € |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, …) | 33.33 € |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 105.00 € |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes | 160.00 € |
Housing/ Accommodation
This is what the housing costs look like in Leiden:
| Monthly Rent for a 1-bedroom Apartment in the City Centre | €1,237.56 |
| Monthly Rent for a 1-bedroom Apartment Outside of the Centre | €1,080 |
| Monthly Rent for a 3-bedroom Apartment in the City Centre | €2,050 |
| Monthly Rent for a 3-bedroom Apartment Outside of Centre | €1,862.50 |
| Cost per Square Meter to Buy an Apartment in the City Centre | €5,366.67 |
| Cost per Square Meter to Buy an Apartment Outside of the Centre | €3,750 |
Also Read: Cost of Living in Italy
Average Tuition Fees in Leiden
Now that you know the cost of living in Leiden, let’s look at the average tuition expense you can expect at a university in this city. The table shown below displays the average annual tuition fees at a university in Leiden.
| Average Tuition Fees for Undergraduate Courses | €6,000 – €15,000 |
| Average Tuition Fees for Postgraduate Courses | €8,000 – €20,000 |
| Average Tuition Fees for PhD Courses | €6,000 – €20,000 |
Also Read: Cost of Studying in the Netherlands
Things to Know When Moving to Leiden
There can be various reasons for moving to Leiden, be it the career opportunities or simply the ideal living conditions. In case you have made up your mind to move to Leiden, then here are some crucial things you should keep in mind beforehand:
Excellent Transportation
The outstanding transport system of Leiden connects all corners of the Netherlands, making it very convenient for students and expats. The public transportation network in Leiden includes trains and buses, making it convenient to get around the city and its surroundings.
Bike Friendly
One of the best ways to get around Leiden is via bike. The roads and bicycle paths of the city are well thought out and built with cyclists in mind.
Fantastic Work-Life Balance
Leiden boasts an outstanding work-life balance. The usual workweek in Leiden is about 35 – 40 hours, with numerous companies providing early finish times on Fridays.
Affordable Cost of Living
The living expenses in Leiden are lower when compared to other major cities in the Netherlands, such as Utrecht, Amsterdam, or Rotterdam.
A Museum Town
There are a total of 14 museums in Leiden despite being a small city. One of the most popular museums in the city is the National Museum of Antiquities.
Also Read: Cost of Living in London for Students
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FAQs
Ans. The cost of living in Leiden is less than the other major cities in the Netherlands, such as Amsterdam, Utrecht, or Rotterdam.
Ans. Leiden provides a high quality of life and a warm welcome to offcomers.
Ans. Yes, Leiden Centraal is the main railway station in the city.
So, this was all about the cost of living in Leiden. Many Indian students dream of pursuing education in foreign nations due to the exposure and career growth they offer. Consider joining a free counselling session with Leverage Edu if you plan to study abroad.
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