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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,290 per month in Haarlem vs $2,782 in Halden, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,595 per month in Haarlem vs $4,126 in Halden, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,900 per month in Haarlem vs $5,471 in Halden, rent included.

Haarlem costs about 18% more than Halden, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Haarlem and Halden sit above the global median – Haarlem by 139%, Halden by 102%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Haarlem
Halden
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.39 €25.35
$21.23 NOK 198
38.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$106 €91.8
$107 NOK 996
-0.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.34 €12.37
$12.94 NOK 121
10.82%
Cappuccino
$4.30 €3.71
$4.69 NOK 43.71
-8.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13 €3.56
$3.85 NOK 35.88
7.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 €2.92
$3.28 NOK 30.65
3.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.06 €6.95
$10.61 NOK 99.0
-24.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.83 €5.03
$9.38 NOK 87.5
-37.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Haarlem
Halden
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 €1.25
$2.39 NOK 22.33
-39.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.87 €2.47
$4.29 NOK 40.00
-33.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.76 €2.38
$4.30 NOK 40.16
-35.81%
Eggs
$4.94 €4.26
$4.99 NOK 46.52
-1.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.13 €12.19
$15.11 NOK 141
-6.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.34 €11.50
$15.49 NOK 145
-13.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.99 €18.96
$29.65 NOK 277
-25.83%
Apples (1kg)
$2.99 €2.58
$3.30 NOK 30.78
-9.39%
Banana (1kg)
$2.53 €2.18
$2.74 NOK 25.54
-7.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 €1.65
$3.45 NOK 32.18
-44.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.21 €4.49
$4.05 NOK 37.76
28.64%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 €1.71
$2.64 NOK 24.64
-25.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.32 €2.00
$2.96 NOK 27.66
-21.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 €1.14
$3.23 NOK 30.14
-59.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 €0.90
$2.15 NOK 20.10
-51.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.24 €12.28
$15.70 NOK 146
-9.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.30 €7.16
$17.18 NOK 160
-51.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 €1.37
$2.75 NOK 25.69
-42.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 €2.14
$4.15 NOK 38.68
-40.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Haarlem
Halden
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.81 €2.43
$4.79 NOK 44.70
-41.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$85.7 €73.9
$86.3 NOK 805
-0.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.60 €5.70
$12.30 NOK 115
-46.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.50 €2.15
$1.89 NOK 17.64
32.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.15 €23.41
$72.1 NOK 673
-62.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.45 €2.11
$2.15 NOK 20.02
13.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.5K €37.5K
$49.3K NOK 460.0K
-11.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.5K €34.9K
$45.8K NOK 426.9K
-11.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Haarlem
Halden
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$258 €223
$419 NOK 3,911
-38.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.43 €21.07
$32.04 NOK 299
-23.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.7 €53.2
$42.29 NOK 395
45.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Haarlem
Halden
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.0 €50.0
$57.9 NOK 541
0.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.30 €25.27
$32.44 NOK 303
-9.68%
Cinema Ticket
$16.94 €14.61
$16.77 NOK 156
1.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Haarlem
Halden
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,762 €2,382
$252 NOK 2,347
997.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,907 €5,957
$15.9K NOK 148.7K
-56.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Haarlem
Halden
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.7 €76.5
$102 NOK 955
-13.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.8 €56.8
$61.7 NOK 576
6.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 €87.2
$138 NOK 1,287
-26.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155 €133
$126 NOK 1,179
22.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Haarlem
Halden
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 €1,778
$1,252 NOK 11.7K
64.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,783 €1,538
$1,024 NOK 9,555
74.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,026 €2,610
$2,031 NOK 19.0K
48.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,372 €2,045
$1,729 NOK 16.1K
37.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,853 €6,773
$6,348 NOK 59.2K
23.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,937 €5,121
$4,223 NOK 39.4K
40.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Haarlem
Halden
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,308 €3,716
$3,577 NOK 33.4K
20.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
4.75
-19.79%

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

Last update for Haarlem: August 30, 2026

Last update for Halden: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,062 in Haarlem versus $1,252 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 20% 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 $106 in Haarlem versus $107 in Halden. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $371 vs $492 – making Haarlem 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
Haarlem vs Halden: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Haarlem or Halden?
Haarlem costs about 18% 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 $4,935 per month in Haarlem and $4,172 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 $106 in Haarlem and $107 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 $3,290 in Haarlem and $2,782 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 $2,782, than in Haarlem at $3,290. 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 $2,782 versus $3,290 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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