Cost of Living Comparison Between Haarlem and Halden Cost of Living Comparison Between Haarlem and Halden

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,909 per month in Haarlem vs $2,154 in Halden, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,195 per month in Haarlem vs $3,629 in Halden, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,481 per month in Haarlem vs $5,105 in Halden, rent included.

Haarlem costs about 35% more than Halden, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Haarlem and Halden sit above the global median – Haarlem by 118%, Halden by 61%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Haarlem
Halden
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.15 €25.47
$20.29 NOK 195
43.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$104 €91.1
$101 NOK 971
3.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.07 €12.30
$12.23 NOK 118
15.04%
Cappuccino
$4.51 €3.94
$4.61 NOK 44.38
-2.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09 €3.57
$3.48 NOK 33.50
17.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 €3.00
$3.03 NOK 29.17
13.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.96 €6.08
$10.02 NOK 96.5
-30.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.78 €5.05
$9.17 NOK 88.4
-36.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Haarlem
Halden
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 €1.22
$2.32 NOK 22.31
-39.66%
White Bread (500g)
$2.55 €2.23
$3.00 NOK 28.92
-15.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.08 €2.69
$2.93 NOK 28.19
5.12%
Eggs
$4.75 €4.15
$4.16 NOK 40.09
14.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.35 €12.54
$12.41 NOK 120
15.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.72 €13.73
$14.57 NOK 140
7.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.96 €16.57
$31.76 NOK 306
-40.30%
Apples (1kg)
$2.66 €2.32
$3.56 NOK 34.32
-25.28%
Banana (1kg)
$2.54 €2.22
$2.53 NOK 24.41
0.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 €1.69
$3.35 NOK 32.25
-42.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.06 €3.55
$4.56 NOK 43.89
-10.96%
Potato (1kg)
$2.06 €1.80
$2.51 NOK 24.18
-17.93%
Onion (1kg)
$1.95 €1.70
$2.57 NOK 24.79
-24.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 €1.09
$2.89 NOK 27.82
-57.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 €0.82
$1.60 NOK 15.38
-41.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.24 €12.44
$14.83 NOK 143
-3.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.79 €6.80
$16.23 NOK 156
-52.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 €1.32
$2.65 NOK 25.55
-43.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 €2.18
$3.93 NOK 37.87
-36.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Haarlem
Halden
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.11 €2.72
$4.26 NOK 41.00
-27.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$111 €97.2
$59.6 NOK 574
86.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.77 €5.04
$9.99 NOK 96.2
-42.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.60 €2.27
$1.38 NOK 13.29
88.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.26 €23.82
$42.74 NOK 412
-36.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.23 €1.95
$2.20 NOK 21.20
1.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.1K €35.9K
$36.7K NOK 353.5K
12.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.0K €34.1K
$42.7K NOK 411.0K
-8.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Haarlem
Halden
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$245 €214
$303 NOK 2,922
-19.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.53 €24.93
$30.68 NOK 295
-7.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.5 €51.1
$40.32 NOK 388
45.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Haarlem
Halden
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.02 €35.84
$54.9 NOK 529
-25.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.85 €20.84
$35.19 NOK 339
-32.23%
Cinema Ticket
$16.60 €14.51
$15.78 NOK 152
5.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Haarlem
Halden
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,698 €2,357
$266 NOK 2,564
913.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,175 €5,395
$14.5K NOK 139.6K
-57.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Haarlem
Halden
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.9 €86.4
$95.0 NOK 915
4.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.2 €45.64
$64.6 NOK 622
-19.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 €105
$123 NOK 1,187
-2.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159 €139
$123 NOK 1,181
29.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Haarlem
Halden
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,727 €1,509
$918 NOK 8,840
88.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,382 €1,207
$661 NOK 6,369
108.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,584 €2,257
$1,948 NOK 18.8K
32.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,114 €1,847
$1,642 NOK 15.8K
28.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,923 €6,922
$5,815 NOK 56.0K
36.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,009 €5,250
$3,949 NOK 38.0K
52.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Haarlem
Halden
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,143 €3,620
$3,338 NOK 32.1K
24.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.28
4.75
-9.89%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Haarlem: July 14, 2026

Last update for Halden: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,727 in Haarlem versus $918 in Halden. 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 24% higher in Haarlem, 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 $104 in Haarlem versus $101 in Halden. Groceries tell a different story – $360 in Haarlem vs $453 in Halden – so Haarlem wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Haarlem vs Halden: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Haarlem or Halden?
Haarlem costs about 35% more than Halden, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Haarlem and in Halden?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,363 per month in Haarlem and $3,231 in Halden. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Haarlem or Halden?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Halden, 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 Haarlem and in Halden?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $104 in Haarlem and $101 in Halden. 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 Haarlem compared to Halden?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,909 in Haarlem and $2,154 in Halden. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Haarlem or in Halden?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Halden, where all-in costs run around $2,154, than in Haarlem at $2,909. In Halden it covers expenses comfortably, while in Haarlem it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Haarlem or Halden?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Halden costs $2,154 versus $2,909 in Haarlem. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Haarlem compared to Halden?
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 Haarlem or to Halden?
If budget matters most, go with Halden. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Haarlem makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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