Too small, too expensive, and always just a bit too late. The search for a student room in 2025 is one full of frustration. For students, finding an affordable room almost feels like a full-time job. But what is still considered a normal rental price for a room of around 18 m²?
In this blog, we dive into the current prices per city, look at rental developments, and show you how to respond smartly to the market as a tenant or landlord.
In 2025, a student room in the Netherlands costs an average of around €255 per month, based on an average surface area of 18 square meters and a national price per square meter of about €14.14. Prices vary widely: from just over €280 in cheaper cities to well above €500 in the most popular student cities.
The price, of course, depends on the location, the condition of the room, and whether facilities like a private kitchen or bathroom are included. A semi-furnished room, with carpet and curtains, is often slightly more expensive than an unfurnished one, but still cheaper than a fully furnished room.
Based on provincial prices per square meter, the rent for a student room of 18 m² looks like this in 2025:
|
Provincie |
Huurprijs per m² |
18 m² kamer (p.m.) |
|
Groningen |
€ 13,45 |
€ 242 |
|
Friesland |
€ 11,48 |
€ 207 |
|
Drenthe |
€ 10,40 |
€ 187 |
|
Flevoland |
€ 13,91 |
€ 250 |
|
Overijssel |
€ 12,60 |
€ 227 |
|
Gelderland |
€ 13,34 |
€ 240 |
|
Noord-Brabant |
€ 14,08 |
€ 253 |
|
Limburg |
€ 12,22 |
€ 220 |
|
Zeeland |
€ 13,00 |
€ 234 |
|
Zuid-Holland |
€ 16,56 |
€ 298 |
|
Utrecht |
€ 17,48 |
€ 315 |
|
Noord-Holland |
€ 21,03 |
€ 379 |
Table 1: average rent for student rooms per province
Source: NVM
The rental prices for student rooms in 2025 vary greatly per city. As expected, Amsterdam is once again the most expensive: for an 18 m² room, you pay an average of €379 per month – and that’s excluding service costs. Rooms in Utrecht and Rotterdam are also expensive, with average monthly rents of €315 and €298. For many students, this is a serious financial burden.
Prices in Leiden and Delft are similar, around €298 per month, mainly due to the limited supply of rooms and consistently high demand. Eindhoven and Tilburg are somewhat more affordable, with rooms costing around €253 per month. Students in Nijmegen pay even less, with an average of €240 per month.
The most affordable student cities are Groningen and Maastricht. Here, average rents range between €220 and €242 per month, allowing students to live relatively comfortably without spending too much.
Student room rents have risen again, with a national average increase of about 8% compared to 2024. In some cities, the rise was even steeper. For example, the average rent in Amsterdam rose by more than 10%, while Utrecht and Groningen saw increases between 7% and 9%.
In the social housing sector, a maximum annual rent increase of 5% is allowed in 2025, unless the tenant has a higher income. In that case, the increase may be higher, sometimes up to €100 per month. For self-contained rooms in the mid-rental segment, a maximum increase of 7.7% applies, while in the private rental sector the limit is 4.1% – provided it is contractually agreed.
A rent increase must always be announced on time and in writing, with a clear explanation. This could be, for example, based on the CBS indexation or wage developments.
The price of a student room depends on more than just the number of square meters. The rental price is now determined using the housing valuation system (Woningwaarderingsstelsel). The location plays a major role: a room in the center of Utrecht is simply more expensive than one on the edge of Zwolle. Other factors include the condition of the room, energy label, type of rental contract (inclusive or exclusive of additional costs), and extras like a balcony, shared garden, or washing machine connection.
You can calculate the exact rental price of your student room using the rent check.
Do you want to be the first to spot an affordable room? Or are you a landlord looking to rent out a room quickly to a serious tenant? Kamer.nl is your shortcut to success. With listings in all student cities and a platform that automatically keeps you updated about new listings, you are always ahead.
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