Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hoofddorp and The Hague

For one person, living is cheaper in The Hague: $2,727 a month against $3,102 in Hoofddorp, rent and utilities included – about $4,500 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Hoofddorp outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Hoofddorp
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$3,102
/mo nomad
The Hague
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$2,727
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hoofddorp and in The Hague

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Hoofddorp and in The Hague actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,102 in Hoofddorp versus $2,727 in The Hague.

  • Hoofddorp $3,102
  • The Hague $2,727

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,244 in Hoofddorp versus $4,085 in The Hague.

  • Hoofddorp $4,244
  • The Hague $4,085

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,387 in Hoofddorp versus $5,443 in The Hague.

  • Hoofddorp $5,387
  • The Hague $5,443

Living in Hoofddorp is roughly 14% more expensive than in The Hague, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hoofddorp 129% above, The Hague 101% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hoofddorp
The Hague
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.21 €19.76
$22.22 €19.76
-0.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.5 €80.5
$89.2 €79.4
1.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.43 €12.84
$15.04 €13.38
-4.06%
Cappuccino
$3.34 €2.97
$4.35 €3.87
-23.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 €2.52
$4.15 €3.70
-31.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.04
$4.28 €3.81
-46.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 €7.16
$7.17 €6.38
12.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.17 €4.60
$7.70 €6.85
-32.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hoofddorp
The Hague
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 €1.32
$1.52 €1.35
-2.63%
White Bread (500g)
$2.36 €2.10
$2.21 €1.96
6.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.49 €2.21
$2.47 €2.20
0.81%
Eggs
$5.20 €4.63
$4.51 €4.01
15.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.58 €11.19
$14.94 €13.29
-15.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.83 €11.42
$12.87 €11.45
-0.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.67 €15.72
$19.53 €17.38
-9.52%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 €2.44
$2.67 €2.37
3.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.80 €2.49
$2.20 €1.95
27.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.68 €2.39
$2.06 €1.83
30.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.28 €2.92
$3.68 €3.27
-10.87%
Potato (1kg)
$2.47 €2.20
$1.33 €1.18
85.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.66 €1.48
$1.34 €1.19
23.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 €1.01
$1.12 €1.00
1.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.40
$0.94 €0.84
67.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.22 €8.20
$14.34 €12.76
-35.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.20 €6.40
$6.05 €5.38
19.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.33
$1.30 €1.15
15.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 €2.35
$1.97 €1.75
34.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Hoofddorp
The Hague
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.16 €4.59
$4.38 €3.90
17.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$94.1 €83.7
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.66 €3.25
$4.61 €4.10
-20.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.79 €2.48
$3.34 €2.97
-16.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.18 €24.18
$33.19 €29.52
-18.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.47 €2.20
$2.53 €2.25
-2.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K €33.6K
$41.8K €37.2K
-9.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.8K €33.6K
$38.8K €34.5K
-2.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hoofddorp
The Hague
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$298 €266
$283 €252
5.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45 €19.97
$28.32 €25.19
-20.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.6 €45.85
$54.1 €48.09
-4.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hoofddorp
The Hague
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.82 €24.74
$51.7 €45.96
-46.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.02 €9.80
$23.96 €21.31
-54.01%
Cinema Ticket
$10.54 €9.37
$16.01 €14.24
-34.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hoofddorp
The Hague
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,921 €1,709
$2,402 €2,137
-20.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.3K €15.4K
$11.8K €10.5K
46.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hoofddorp
The Hague
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.7 €78.9
$96.5 €85.9
-8.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.50 €36.91
$42.92 €38.18
-3.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €91.0
$105 €93.8
-3.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136 €121
$140 €125
-3.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hoofddorp
The Hague
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,797
$1,655 €1,472
22.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,801 €1,602
$1,281 €1,139
40.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,792 €2,483
$2,769 €2,463
0.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,495 €2,220
$2,244 €1,996
11.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,936 €5,280
$6,171 €5,489
-3.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,761 €4,235
$4,415 €3,927
7.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hoofddorp
The Hague
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,413 €3,036
$4,128 €3,672
-17.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.3
3.4
-2.94%

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

Last update for Hoofddorp: October 17, 2026

Last update for The Hague: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hoofddorp
$1.8K
The Hague
$1.3K 28.9% $520
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hoofddorp
$372
The Hague
$365 1.9% $7.2
Groceries & Markets
Hoofddorp
$343
The Hague
$331 3.5% $12
Eating Out
Hoofddorp
$332
The Hague
$360 8.4% $28
Clothing & Footwear
Hoofddorp
$166
The Hague
$173 4.6% $7.5
Sport & Entertainment
Hoofddorp
$49
The Hague
$84 71.2% $35
Getting Around
Hoofddorp
$38 *
The Hague
$133 247% $95

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,020 in Hoofddorp and $1,655 in The Hague. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

The Hague pays 21% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $90.0 in Hoofddorp vs $89.0 in The Hague for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $343 vs $331 per month, with The Hague cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇳🇱 Hoofddorp
🇳🇱 The Hague
🕒 Local time
13:43 1:43 PM
13:43 1:43 PM
Same time as Hoofddorp
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
76,638
562,839
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hoofddorp The Hague 39 km
From you
  • Hoofddorp
  • The Hague

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Hoofddorp vs The Hague: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Hague cheaper than Hoofddorp?
The Hague is cheaper overall, especially in groceries. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Hoofddorp or The Hague?
On paper, salaries run 21% lower in The Hague. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Hoofddorp and The Hague?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,020 in Hoofddorp versus $1,655 in The Hague. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Hoofddorp and in The Hague?
Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Hoofddorp. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Hoofddorp and in The Hague?
All in, you'll spend $3,102 per month in Hoofddorp versus $2,727 in The Hague – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $3,000 enough to cover costs in Hoofddorp or in The Hague?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. The Hague is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Hoofddorp or The Hague more family-friendly?
For families, The Hague is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hoofddorp, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Hoofddorp or The Hague?
Safety-wise, Hoofddorp and The Hague are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find The Hague gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Hoofddorp. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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