A greater proportion of people’s income now goes on life’s essentials than it did 10 years ago, according to a study by the Dutch statistics office.

The CBS reports that in 2008, about 29% of people’s income went on essentials such as housing and food but in 2018, the typical spend had risen to 32%.

It says that these costs have risen more for people in the Netherlands than in other western European countries, largely because of spiralling rent bills. Almost a sixth of Dutch earnings are now spent on housing costs, which are almost double the price of food.

The study notes that the actual totals of spending, unsurprisingly, hit a low point after the credit crunch in 2013 and have risen since then. People are more likely nowadays to spend their money on coffee, tea and cocoa, fruit and vegetables and sweet treats, while the amount spent on mineral water and fizzy drinks has dropped.