That adds up to about 1500 EUR and the individual numbers sounds reasonable, but I know I can get by on less. I think the main differences are:

- mortgage: 350 for an 85 m^2 apartment near The Hague, after tax returns (no maintenance included)

- health insurance: 80 for the minimum package

- internet: 30

- energy: 100

- car: 150 (bare minimum)

That energy figure has me wondering, but this is a house rather than an apartment and it's open on three sides with lots of fields around it. The wind has clear access to three walls of the house and the roof. I've double insulated it and put a central heating in so it's a bit better now, the first year here I went through 250 euros of gas per month in the winter alone and it was still cold.

Some notes:

If your income is under a certain limit (which it should be if you're just ramen profitable) you can get an allowance to help with rent and health insurance through the tax-office.

Public transport is quite decent in most areas, I would not recommend owning a car (especially because there is a lot of traffic congestion in and around major cities).

20Mbit/s can be had for about 30 USD from cheap ISPs. 40 USD for 8Mbit/s from a proper ISP.

My phone bill is about 30 USD/month, that includes a data plan.

I pay a lot more for food (USD 400/month), I think it would take quite a bit of effort/restraint to get that down to USD 120/month.

is this in USD or EUR? Are you in amsterdam?

Euros, and no, I live in the sticks in a province called Groningen (hence the need for a car).

amsterdam is quite a bit more expensive.

i sublet an old, rusty, worndown (with views on a canal) 1 bedroom appartment in the best part of town (jordaan) for 900€/month. The bigger problem in amsterdam is to find something.

How would you recommend finding accommodation in Amsterdam? Also, any districts / neighborhoods one should stay away from?

I'm looking for a 2-3 bedroom apartment in a decent location (not necessarily the centrum, but the closer the better) but I'm having a hard time finding a place without signing up with any of the agencies (I cannot afford to pay the agency fee)

I tried using Kamernet but I have found that being a foreigner + not speaking dutch really makes it difficult to get any replies

Be careful you don't get screwed. The best way to find something is to get to know lots of people, check in to 'anti-kraak' housing and if you can stay away from agencies, they'll cost you more than they're worth.

100 for health insurance, is that for the self-employed? Aren't you forced to pay into the pensions system as well?