With its ancient canals and a pleasant car-free city centre, Utrecht is a lovely city where you can find various shops, bars, and restaurants. The city is only half an hour by train from Amsterdam but is also easy to reach by car. Getting lost in Utrecht is almost impossible thanks to the Dom Tower in the middle of the city which is visible from every angle.
It is the fastest-growing city in the Netherlands, so if you would like to rent a studio in Utrecht, you are jumping on the bandwagon!
Studio for rent in Utrecht
Housing shortage
At the moment there is a severe housing shortage in Utrecht. The demand for affordable housing is increasing every year. Therefore, the city would need 40,000 new homes by 2040, but that building pace is currently not being met.
So that’s quite a bit of bad news when you planning on renting a studio in Utrecht. It is not easy to find a home, but by subscribing to Stekkies you have a head start. After all, you will receive every new suitable home directly into your mailbox, so you can be the first one to respond!
Studio in Utrecht in the free sector
To apply for a studio in the social sector, you have to register with Woningnet and your yearly income has to fall below a certain amount. The waiting time is also incredibly long at the moment, it’s a whopping 10 years!
In the free sector, the good news is that it’s not necessary to register with Woningnet nor do you have to abide to the rules for social housing. The landlord can choose who has a chance to rent their place. This also means that the landlord can set further requirements, usually with regard to the tenant's income.
To rent a studio in Utrecht, you can go to the big sites such as Funda. However, properties come and go quickly so they’re often not even posted there. We at Stekkies check 180 real estate agencies every couple of minutes and inform you once we’ve found a studio that would be perfect for you!
Which studio apartment in Utrecht?
When you rent a studio in Utrecht it can be either bare, upholstered, or furnished.
Finding a bare studio to rent is not that common. As a tenant, you have to make a fairly large investment here. This includes a new floor, paint, and curtains. This is not that interesting unless you want to live there for a long time.
A furnished studio comes with all the furniture and equipment you need for pleasant living. This means a bed, cupboard, table with chairs, and a sofa. With a furnished studio you often also get cutlery, crockery, lamps, and other decorations. Handy to move right in!
An upholstered studio in a studio where carpeting or laminate has already been fitted and curtains have already been (largely) installed. You have to arrange the rest of the furniture and decoration yourself.
How much does a studio in Utrecht cost?
Utrecht is the second most expensive city in the Netherlands, but how much you will actually pay depends a lot on the location of the rental property. Renting a studio in the surroundings of Utrecht will be cheaper than in the centre itself.
On average, rental properties in Utrecht cost €18 per square meter per month. If you take a closer look at the different neighbourhoods in Utrecht, you will see that in the city centre you have to count on around € 19.50 per square meter, while in Utrecht Oost you have to count on € 20.20 per square meter per month. The latter is also the most expensive neighbourhood in the city.
In the cheaper neighbourhoods such as Leidsche Rijn or Vleuten-De Meern you’ll pay between €12-18 per square meter per month.
The size of your rental property will impact the amount you'll be asked to pay. This implies that if your home is larger, your rent will be higher. As a result, while searching for a cheap studio in Utrecht, consider how much space you really need.
The different neighbourhoods of Utrecht
There are 10 neighbourhoods in Utrecht, each with its own character.
Here is a list of the different neighborhoods in Utrecht: West, Noordwest, Overvecht, Noordoost, Oost, Centrum, Zuid, Zuidwest, Leidsche Rijn, and Vleuten-De Meern.
We will zoom in on the popular and affordable neighbourhood Leidsche Rijn.
Renting in Utrecht Leidsche Rijn
In the neighbourhood Leidsche Rijn you will find a combination of a green environment and modern architecture. There are many new construction projects aimed at developing (affordable) studios.
On the border of the neighbourhood, you can find the Máximapark, a large domain that was declared the most popular park in the Netherlands.
The activity center Castellum Hoge Woerd is located in the middle of the neighbourhood, on the former location of a Roman camp.
If you're still unsure about moving here, we should definitely talk about how accessible Leidsche Rijn is. The city centre of Utrecht is only 5 km away. You can get there quickly and easily thanks to the handy bicycle boulevard or by public transport. It is also easily accessible by car because of the wide avenues and the ring around Utrecht.
FAQ
How much does a studio in Utrecht cost?
Renting a studio in Utrecht will cost you an average of €879 per month, but the price strongly depends on the neighbourhood in which you want to live. In the cheaper range, the rent is more likely to be around €750, while in the more expensive neighbourhoods you’ll easily pay €1000 or more.
Where can you rent a cheap studio in Utrecht?
The cheapest place to rent a studio in Utrecht is Vleuten-De Meern. In this neighbourhood you pay an average of €12 to 14/m².
Where can I rent a studio in Utrecht as a student?
If you're searching for a student studio in Utrecht, the best thing to do is register early on SSH, Woningnet or StudentenWoningWeb. Another option is to rent from a landlady – usually, this means living in a part of someone's home. A third possibility is renting an independent studio in the free sector, Stekkies can help you find one quickly!
