πA single person spends $2,853 per month in Haarlem vs $2,504 in Haugesund, rent included.
πA couple spends around $4,192 per month in Haarlem vs $3,688 in Haugesund, rent included.
πA family of three spends $5,531 per month in Haarlem vs $4,871 in Haugesund, rent included.
πHaarlem costs about 14% more than Haugesund, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth Haarlem and Haugesund sit above the global median β Haarlem by 113%, Haugesund by 87%.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Haarlem
Haugesund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.12β¬25.05
$21.54NOKΒ 200
35.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$104β¬89.0
$101NOKΒ 939
2.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.69β¬11.78
$13.51NOKΒ 125
1.33%
Cappuccino
$4.33β¬3.72
$4.55NOKΒ 42.29
-4.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00β¬3.44
$3.10NOKΒ 28.81
29.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33β¬2.86
$2.90NOKΒ 26.92
14.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.88β¬5.92
$10.66NOKΒ 99.1
-35.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.94β¬5.11
$9.39NOKΒ 87.2
-36.74%
π Groceries & Markets
Haarlem
Haugesund
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40β¬1.21
$2.13NOKΒ 19.79
-34.27%
White Bread(500g)
$2.66β¬2.29
$3.34NOKΒ 31.00
-20.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.99β¬2.57
$2.89NOKΒ 26.88
3.46%
Eggs
$4.73β¬4.06
$4.42NOKΒ 41.08
7.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.34β¬12.34
$11.56NOKΒ 107
24.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.42β¬13.27
$14.59NOKΒ 136
5.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.60β¬16.00
$27.86NOKΒ 259
-33.24%
Apples(1kg)
$2.53β¬2.18
$2.94NOKΒ 27.36
-13.95%
Banana(1kg)
$2.56β¬2.20
$2.16NOKΒ 20.07
18.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.95β¬1.68
$3.58NOKΒ 33.30
-45.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.98β¬3.43
$4.05NOKΒ 37.59
-1.73%
Potato(1kg)
$2.03β¬1.74
$2.74NOKΒ 25.46
-25.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87β¬1.61
$2.77NOKΒ 25.74
-32.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20β¬1.03
$2.87NOKΒ 26.69
-58.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94β¬0.81
$2.03NOKΒ 18.90
-53.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.49β¬12.47
$16.59NOKΒ 154
-12.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.36β¬7.19
$15.15NOKΒ 141
-44.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54β¬1.33
$3.46NOKΒ 32.10
-55.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40β¬2.07
$4.22NOKΒ 39.22
-43.13%
π Getting Around
Haarlem
Haugesund
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.09β¬2.66
$3.64NOKΒ 33.84
-15.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$114β¬98.1
$66.2NOKΒ 615
72.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.76β¬4.95
$14.31NOKΒ 133
-59.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.62β¬2.25
$1.53NOKΒ 14.20
71.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.33β¬23.51
$55.6NOKΒ 517
-50.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.27β¬1.95
$2.22NOKΒ 20.65
2.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.9Kβ¬34.4K
$35.2KNOKΒ 326.7K
13.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2Kβ¬33.7K
$39.6KNOKΒ 368.0K
-1.09%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Haarlem
Haugesund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$243β¬209
$238NOKΒ 2,208
2.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.02β¬24.10
$38.34NOKΒ 356
-26.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.9β¬49.81
$55.5NOKΒ 516
4.27%
π Sport & Entertainment
Haarlem
Haugesund
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.29β¬35.52
$46.28NOKΒ 430
-10.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.02β¬20.66
$35.30NOKΒ 328
-31.95%
Cinema Ticket
$16.70β¬14.37
$16.47NOKΒ 153
1.40%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Haarlem
Haugesund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,716β¬2,336
$279NOKΒ 2,592
873.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,256β¬5,382
$2,905NOKΒ 27.0K
115.34%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Haarlem
Haugesund
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101β¬87.1
$81.3NOKΒ 755
24.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.5β¬45.98
$55.3NOKΒ 513
-3.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116β¬100
$92.8NOKΒ 862
25.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$160β¬137
$143NOKΒ 1,331
11.57%
π Accommodation & Living
Haarlem
Haugesund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,734β¬1,492
$1,660NOKΒ 15.4K
4.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,378β¬1,185
$1,035NOKΒ 9,614
33.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,534β¬2,179
$2,029NOKΒ 18.8K
24.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,129β¬1,832
$1,551NOKΒ 14.4K
37.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,318β¬7,155
$4,476NOKΒ 41.6K
85.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,393β¬5,499
$4,790NOKΒ 44.5K
33.47%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Haarlem
Haugesund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,929β¬3,380
$3,845NOKΒ 35.7K
2.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.28
3.98
7.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Haarlem: June 2, 2026
Last update for Haugesund: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $1,734 in Haarlem versus $1,660 in Haugesund. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
π°Salaries run about 2% higher in Haarlem, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $104 in Haarlem versus $101 in Haugesund. Groceries tell a different story β $358 in Haarlem vs $443 in Haugesund β 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 Haugesund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Haarlem or Haugesund?
Haarlem costs about 14% 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 vs Haugesund?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,280 per month in Haarlem and $3,755 in Haugesund. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β 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 vs Haugesund?
How much does it cost to live in Haarlem compared to Haugesund?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,853 in Haarlem and $2,504 in Haugesund. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Haarlem or Haugesund?
$2,000 is a stretch for both β monthly costs hit $2,853 in Haarlem and $2,504 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 $2,504 versus $2,853 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 β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Haarlem or 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.