Cost of Living Comparison Between The Hague and 's-Hertogenbosch Cost of Living Comparison Between The Hague and 's-Hertogenbosch

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,814 per month in The Hague vs $2,586 in 's-Hertogenbosch, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,239 per month in The Hague vs $4,180 in 's-Hertogenbosch, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,664 per month in The Hague vs $5,773 in 's-Hertogenbosch, rent included.

The Hague costs about 9% more than 's-Hertogenbosch, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both The Hague and 's-Hertogenbosch sit above the global median – The Hague by 105%, 's-Hertogenbosch by 88%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
The Hague
's-Hertogenbosch
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.07 €19.85
$26.62 €22.90
-13.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.7 €78.9
$107 €92.1
-14.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.46 €13.30
$16.16 €13.91
-4.33%
Cappuccino
$4.68 €4.02
$5.05 €4.34
-7.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 €3.70
$4.00 €3.44
7.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35 €3.74
$3.42 €2.95
27.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.81 €5.86
$5.73 €4.93
18.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.72 €6.65
$4.73 €4.07
63.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
The Hague
's-Hertogenbosch
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 €1.35
$1.24 €1.07
26.61%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 €1.96
$2.28 €1.96
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.71 €2.33
$3.56 €3.07
-23.88%
Eggs
$4.64 €4.00
$5.85 €5.04
-20.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.93 €12.84
$15.54 €13.37
-3.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.43 €11.56
$16.49 €14.19
-18.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.16 €17.35
$18.87 €16.24
6.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 €2.38
$3.28 €2.82
-15.85%
Banana (1kg)
$2.30 €1.98
$2.52 €2.17
-8.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.06 €1.77
$2.52 €2.17
-18.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.80 €3.27
$5.71 €4.92
-33.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.37 €1.18
$2.07 €1.78
-33.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 €1.14
$2.43 €2.09
-45.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.21 €1.04
$1.40 €1.21
-13.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 €0.81
$1.32 €1.13
-28.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.30 €13.16
$13.27 €11.42
15.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.93 €5.11
$7.21 €6.21
-17.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.15
$1.55 €1.34
-14.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 €1.73
$3.36 €2.89
-40.18%
🚌 Getting Around
The Hague
's-Hertogenbosch
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.54 €3.90
$3.33 €2.87
36.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$97.0 €83.5
$65.6 €56.4
47.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 €4.10
$3.66 €3.15
30.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.60 €3.10
$2.43 €2.09
48.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.16 €30.25
$29.77 €25.61
18.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.61 €2.25
$2.50 €2.15
4.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.6K €37.5K
$42.5K €36.6K
2.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.8K €35.1K
$40.0K €34.4K
1.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
The Hague
's-Hertogenbosch
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$292 €251
$203 €175
43.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.38 €25.28
$23.84 €20.52
23.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.3 €48.42
$46.57 €40.07
20.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
The Hague
's-Hertogenbosch
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.1 €44.80
$44.83 €38.58
16.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.49 €21.94
$15.96 €13.74
59.71%
Cinema Ticket
$17.20 €14.80
$14.41 €12.40
19.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
The Hague
's-Hertogenbosch
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,541 €2,186
$1,397 €1,202
81.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K €10.5K
$5,971 €5,138
103.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
The Hague
's-Hertogenbosch
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.6 €85.7
$72.5 €62.4
37.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.25 €38.94
$59.0 €50.7
-23.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 €95.0
$104 €89.9
5.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 €121
$148 €127
-5.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
The Hague
's-Hertogenbosch
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,719 €1,479
$1,632 €1,405
5.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,335 €1,149
$1,230 €1,058
8.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,886 €2,484
$2,680 €2,306
7.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,388 €2,055
$2,546 €2,191
-6.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,429 €5,532
$6,849 €5,894
-6.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,581 €3,942
$5,046 €4,342
-9.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
The Hague
's-Hertogenbosch
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,373 €3,763
$3,736 €3,215
17.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.4
4.46
-23.77%

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

Last update for The Hague: August 31, 2026

Last update for 's-Hertogenbosch: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,719 in The Hague versus $1,632 in 's-Hertogenbosch. 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 17% higher in The Hague, 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 $92.0 in The Hague versus $107 in 's-Hertogenbosch. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $341 vs $390 – making The Hague 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
The Hague vs 's-Hertogenbosch: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in The Hague and in 's-Hertogenbosch compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,814 in The Hague, $2,586 in 's-Hertogenbosch – roughly 9% apart. The Hague costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in The Hague compared to 's-Hertogenbosch?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,221 per month in The Hague and $3,879 in 's-Hertogenbosch. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between The Hague and 's-Hertogenbosch?
Rent is clearly cheaper in 's-Hertogenbosch, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in The Hague – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $92.0 in The Hague and $107 in 's-Hertogenbosch. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,814 in The Hague and $2,586 in 's-Hertogenbosch. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between The Hague and 's-Hertogenbosch?
It depends on your priorities. The Hague has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,586 in 's-Hertogenbosch to $2,814 in The Hague. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is The Hague or 's-Hertogenbosch safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between The Hague and 's-Hertogenbosch?
If budget matters most, go with 's-Hertogenbosch. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, The Hague makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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