🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,713 in Arnhem versus $2,814 in The Hague.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,945 in Arnhem versus $4,239 in The Hague.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,177 in Arnhem versus $5,664 in The Hague.
🌍Living in Arnhem costs roughly 4% less than in The Hague, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Arnhem97% above, The Hague105% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arnhem
The Hague
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.54€20.23
$23.07€19.83
2.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.0€78.2
$91.7€78.9
-0.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.81€11.87
$15.46€13.29
-10.67%
Cappuccino
$4.48€3.85
$4.68€4.02
-4.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42€2.94
$4.30€3.70
-20.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70€2.32
$4.35€3.74
-37.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.72€4.92
$6.81€5.85
-16.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.98€5.14
$7.72€6.64
-22.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arnhem
The Hague
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.07
$1.57€1.35
-20.38%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.76
$2.28€1.96
-10.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.45€2.97
$2.71€2.33
27.31%
Eggs
$5.36€4.61
$4.64€3.99
15.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.37€11.49
$14.93€12.83
-10.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.85€12.76
$13.43€11.55
10.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.54€14.22
$20.16€17.33
-17.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.82€2.43
$2.76€2.38
2.17%
Banana(1kg)
$2.50€2.15
$2.30€1.98
8.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87€1.61
$2.06€1.77
-9.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.51€4.74
$3.80€3.27
45.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.37€1.18
45.99%
Onion(1kg)
$2.56€2.20
$1.33€1.14
92.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.28€1.10
$1.21€1.04
5.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78€0.67
$0.94€0.81
-17.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.73€12.66
$15.30€13.15
-3.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.52€6.46
$5.93€5.10
26.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$1.33€1.15
12.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.40
$2.01€1.73
39.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Arnhem
The Hague
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.62€3.97
$4.54€3.90
1.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$115€99.3
$97.0€83.4
19.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.16€3.58
$4.76€4.10
-12.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.37€2.03
$3.60€3.10
-34.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.82€29.07
$35.16€30.23
-3.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.35€2.02
$2.61€2.25
-9.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.3K€37.2K
$43.6K€37.5K
-0.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.8K€35.1K
$40.8K€35.1K
0.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arnhem
The Hague
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$289€248
$292€251
-0.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.38€20.10
$29.38€25.25
-20.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.35€38.99
$56.3€48.37
-19.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arnhem
The Hague
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.15€37.09
$52.1€44.76
-17.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.72€10.08
$25.49€21.92
-54.02%
Cinema Ticket
$15.03€12.92
$17.20€14.79
-12.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arnhem
The Hague
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,288€1,108
$2,541€2,184
-49.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,275€5,395
$12.2K€10.4K
-48.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arnhem
The Hague
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.2€85.3
$99.6€85.6
-0.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.25€26.01
$45.25€38.91
-33.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112€95.9
$110€94.9
1.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$162€139
$140€121
15.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arnhem
The Hague
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,509€1,297
$1,719€1,478
-12.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,205€1,036
$1,335€1,148
-9.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,285€1,964
$2,886€2,481
-20.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,877€1,614
$2,388€2,053
-21.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,379€4,624
$6,429€5,527
-16.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,357€3,745
$4,581€3,938
-4.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arnhem
The Hague
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,764€3,236
$4,373€3,760
-13.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.95
3.4
16.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Arnhem: August 29, 2026
Last update for The Hague: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,509 in Arnhem and $1,719 in The Hague. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰The Hague pays 16% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $91.0 in Arnhem vs $92.0 in The Hague. Groceries flip the comparison at $350 vs $341, with The Hague cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Arnhem vs The Hague: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Arnhem and in The Hague?
Arnhem and The Hague differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($2,713 vs $2,814 including rent). Arnhem is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 16% lower in The Hague. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Arnhem and in The Hague?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,509 in Arnhem versus $1,719 in The Hague. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in The Hague pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Arnhem – a meal for two runs $91.0 versus $92.0 in The Hague. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Arnhem is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Arnhem and The Hague?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Arnhem or The Hague safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Arnhem and The Hague are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Arnhem or The Hague?
Expats usually find Arnhem gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in The Hague. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.