🙂A single person spends $2,534 per month in Gouda vs $2,879 in The Hague, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $4,018 per month in Gouda vs $4,275 in The Hague, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $5,501 per month in Gouda vs $5,672 in The Hague, rent included.
🙂Gouda is about 12% cheaper than The Hague, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Gouda and The Hague sit above the global median – Gouda by 90%, The Hague by 115%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gouda
The Hague
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.45
$17.18€15.03
2.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.0€75.3
$91.5€80.1
-6.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.99€12.24
$13.81€12.09
1.30%
Cappuccino
$4.28€3.74
$4.47€3.91
-4.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38€2.96
$3.30€2.89
2.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.54
$2.67€2.34
8.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.87€6.01
$6.91€6.05
-0.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91€5.17
$5.70€4.99
3.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gouda
The Hague
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.30€1.13
$1.32€1.15
-1.52%
White Bread(500g)
$2.14€1.87
$2.27€1.98
-5.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.95€2.58
$2.92€2.55
1.03%
Eggs
$4.94€4.32
$4.91€4.29
0.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.53€12.71
$14.65€12.82
-0.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.37€13.44
$15.70€13.74
-2.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.11€14.97
$16.92€14.80
1.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.26€1.98
$2.45€2.15
-7.76%
Banana(1kg)
$2.42€2.12
$2.42€2.12
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99€1.75
$1.97€1.73
1.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.01€3.51
$4.58€4.01
-12.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$1.99€1.74
-0.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.05€1.80
$2.06€1.81
-0.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20€1.05
$1.25€1.10
-4.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.75
$0.90€0.79
-5.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.12€11.48
$13.96€12.21
-6.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.89€6.02
$5.84€5.11
17.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.31
$1.40€1.23
7.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50€2.19
$2.51€2.20
-0.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Gouda
The Hague
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.65€3.19
$3.51€3.07
3.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$93.7€82.0
$121€106
-22.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.86€4.25
$4.66€4.08
4.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.11€1.84
$3.13€2.74
-32.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.89€30.53
$34.13€29.86
2.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.22€1.94
$2.31€2.02
-3.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K€26.1K
$42.4K€37.1K
-29.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0K€24.5K
$35.1K€30.7K
-20.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gouda
The Hague
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$240€210
$244€213
-1.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.86€19.12
$26.15€22.88
-16.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.47€39.79
$46.38€40.58
-1.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gouda
The Hague
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.5€54.7
$42.54€37.22
46.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.41€9.98
$26.04€22.78
-56.18%
Cinema Ticket
$14.33€12.54
$16.55€14.48
-13.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gouda
The Hague
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,090€1,828
$2,409€2,107
-13.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.3K
$11.9K€10.4K
37.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gouda
The Hague
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$114€99.6
$129€113
-11.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.72€40.87
$49.16€43.01
-4.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116€101
$121€106
-4.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153€134
$156€136
-2.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gouda
The Hague
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,877€1,642
$1,675€1,465
12.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,156€1,011
$1,472€1,288
-21.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,906€2,542
$3,010€2,633
-3.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,391€2,092
$2,476€2,166
-3.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,541€4,848
$6,436€5,631
-13.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,501€3,938
$4,635€4,055
-2.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gouda
The Hague
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,523€2,208
$4,226€3,697
-40.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
4
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gouda: July 11, 2026
Last update for The Hague: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,877 in Gouda versus $1,675 in The Hague. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 67% higher in The Hague, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $86.0 in Gouda versus $92.0 in The Hague. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $343 vs $348 – making Gouda the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Gouda vs The Hague: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gouda or The Hague?
The Hague costs about 14% more than Gouda, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Gouda and in The Hague?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,801 per month in Gouda and $4,318 in The Hague. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Gouda or The Hague?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gouda, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Gouda and in The Hague?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $86.0 in Gouda and $92.0 in The Hague. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Gouda compared to The Hague?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,534 in Gouda and $2,879 in The Hague. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Gouda or in The Hague?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,534 in Gouda and $2,879 in The Hague. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gouda or The Hague?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gouda costs $2,534 versus $2,879 in The Hague. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Gouda compared to The Hague?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Gouda or to The Hague?
If budget matters most, go with Gouda. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, The Hague makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.