😐A single person spends $3,290 per month in Haarlem vs $2,721 in Haugesund, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,595 per month in Haarlem vs $4,059 in Haugesund, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,900 per month in Haarlem vs $5,398 in Haugesund, rent included.
😐Haarlem costs about 21% more than Haugesund, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Haarlem and Haugesund sit above the global median – Haarlem by 139%, Haugesund by 98%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Haarlem
Haugesund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.39€25.35
$22.71NOK 212
29.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$106€91.8
$109NOK 1,018
-2.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.34€12.37
$14.73NOK 137
-2.65%
Cappuccino
$4.30€3.71
$4.70NOK 43.84
-8.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13€3.56
$5.15NOK 48.04
-19.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38€2.92
$4.07NOK 37.98
-16.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.06€6.95
$11.81NOK 110
-31.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.83€5.03
$10.67NOK 99.6
-45.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Haarlem
Haugesund
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45€1.25
$2.28NOK 21.31
-36.40%
White Bread(500g)
$2.87€2.47
$3.82NOK 35.67
-24.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.76€2.38
$3.57NOK 33.32
-22.69%
Eggs
$4.94€4.26
$4.96NOK 46.25
-0.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.13€12.19
$12.00NOK 112
17.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.34€11.50
$15.61NOK 146
-14.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.99€18.96
$35.98NOK 336
-38.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.99€2.58
$3.22NOK 30.07
-7.14%
Banana(1kg)
$2.53€2.18
$2.19NOK 20.45
15.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$3.73NOK 34.76
-48.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.21€4.49
$4.30NOK 40.11
21.16%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98€1.71
$2.45NOK 22.90
-19.18%
Onion(1kg)
$2.32€2.00
$3.48NOK 32.48
-33.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.32€1.14
$2.97NOK 27.70
-55.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04€0.90
$1.98NOK 18.52
-47.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.24€12.28
$17.52NOK 163
-18.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.30€7.16
$15.09NOK 141
-45.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59€1.37
$3.50NOK 32.70
-54.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48€2.14
$4.32NOK 40.31
-42.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Haarlem
Haugesund
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.81€2.43
$3.74NOK 34.85
-24.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$85.7€73.9
$69.5NOK 648
23.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.60€5.70
$12.81NOK 120
-48.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.50€2.15
$1.91NOK 17.83
30.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.15€23.41
$56.2NOK 525
-51.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.45€2.11
$2.28NOK 21.26
7.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.5K€37.5K
$45.3KNOK 422.9K
-4.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.5K€34.9K
$44.3KNOK 413.1K
-8.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Haarlem
Haugesund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$258€223
$289NOK 2,697
-10.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.43€21.07
$31.75NOK 296
-23.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.7€53.2
$56.7NOK 529
8.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Haarlem
Haugesund
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.0
$50.6NOK 472
14.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.30€25.27
$37.27NOK 348
-21.38%
Cinema Ticket
$16.94€14.61
$17.70NOK 165
-4.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Haarlem
Haugesund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,762€2,382
$242NOK 2,258
1041.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,907€5,957
$3,019NOK 28.2K
128.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Haarlem
Haugesund
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.7€76.5
$102NOK 951
-12.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.8€56.8
$55.9NOK 522
17.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.2
$89.0NOK 831
13.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155€133
$156NOK 1,457
-1.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Haarlem
Haugesund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062€1,778
$1,579NOK 14.7K
30.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,783€1,538
$1,116NOK 10.4K
59.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,026€2,610
$2,147NOK 20.0K
40.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,372€2,045
$1,685NOK 15.7K
40.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,853€6,773
$6,472NOK 60.4K
21.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,937€5,121
$4,810NOK 44.9K
23.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Haarlem
Haugesund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,308€3,716
$4,174NOK 38.9K
3.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
5.2
-26.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Haarlem: August 30, 2026
Last update for Haugesund: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $2,062 in Haarlem versus $1,579 in Haugesund. 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 3% 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 $109 in Haugesund. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $371 vs $489 – 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 Haugesund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Haarlem or Haugesund?
Haarlem costs about 21% more than Haugesund, 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 Haugesund?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,935 per month in Haarlem and $4,081 in Haugesund. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Haarlem or Haugesund?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Haugesund, 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 Haugesund?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $106 in Haarlem and $109 in Haugesund. 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 Haugesund?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,290 in Haarlem and $2,721 in Haugesund. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Haarlem or in Haugesund?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,290 in Haarlem and $2,721 in Haugesund. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Haarlem or Haugesund?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Haugesund costs $2,721 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 Haugesund?
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 Haugesund?
If budget matters most, go with Haugesund. 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.