😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,794 in The Hague versus $2,752 in Douglas.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,266 in The Hague versus $4,183 in Douglas.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,738 in The Hague versus $5,614 in Douglas.
🌍Living in The Hague is roughly 2% more expensive than in Douglas, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: The Hague104% above, Douglas101% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
The Hague
Douglas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.83€19.90
$28.84IMP 21.40
-20.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.8€80.9
$123IMP 91.4
-24.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.51€13.52
$12.09IMP 8.97
28.29%
Cappuccino
$4.57€3.98
$5.18IMP 3.84
-11.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46€3.89
$2.84IMP 2.11
57.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.17€3.64
$2.14IMP 1.59
94.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.72€5.86
$6.74IMP 5.00
-0.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.29€6.36
$6.02IMP 4.47
21.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
The Hague
Douglas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56€1.36
$2.61IMP 1.93
-40.23%
White Bread(500g)
$2.28€1.98
$2.74IMP 2.04
-16.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.54€2.22
$2.16IMP 1.60
17.59%
Eggs
$4.62€4.03
$5.52IMP 4.10
-16.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.92€13.00
$8.38IMP 6.22
78.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.19€11.50
$8.99IMP 6.67
46.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.68€17.15
$13.09IMP 9.71
50.34%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63€2.29
$3.00IMP 2.23
-12.33%
Banana(1kg)
$2.25€1.96
$1.81IMP 1.34
24.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04€1.78
$3.82IMP 2.83
-46.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.84€3.34
$3.61IMP 2.68
6.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34€1.17
$3.12IMP 2.31
-57.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.38€1.20
$3.08IMP 2.28
-55.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21€1.05
$2.18IMP 1.61
-44.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97€0.85
$2.74IMP 2.03
-64.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.16€13.21
$23.18IMP 17.20
-34.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.99€5.22
$12.25IMP 9.09
-51.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34€1.16
$4.47IMP 3.31
-70.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.71
$4.47IMP 3.32
-56.15%
🚌 Getting Around
The Hague
Douglas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.50€3.92
$2.93IMP 2.17
53.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$95.1€82.9
$98.3IMP 72.9
-3.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.77€4.16
$5.28IMP 3.92
-9.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.62€3.16
$1.51IMP 1.12
139.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.79€30.33
$80.1IMP 59.4
-56.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.68€2.33
$1.97IMP 1.46
36.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.9K€37.4K
$45.7KIMP 33.9K
-6.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.2K€35.0K
$44.9KIMP 33.3K
-10.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
The Hague
Douglas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$288€251
$357IMP 265
-19.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.40€25.62
$63.0IMP 46.76
-53.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.4€50.0
$75.6IMP 56.1
-24.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
The Hague
Douglas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.5€45.77
$65.6IMP 48.70
-20.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.22€21.98
$19.92IMP 14.78
26.61%
Cinema Ticket
$17.65€15.38
$16.24IMP 12.05
8.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
The Hague
Douglas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,525€2,201
$1,798IMP 1,334
40.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.3K€10.7K
$53.0KIMP 39.3K
-76.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
The Hague
Douglas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.7€85.2
$100IMP 74.4
-2.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.35€38.66
$46.53IMP 34.53
-4.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109€95.0
$116IMP 86.1
-6.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145€126
$72.2IMP 53.6
100.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
The Hague
Douglas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,702€1,484
$1,267IMP 940
34.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,315€1,147
$1,105IMP 820
19.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,870€2,502
$2,349IMP 1,743
22.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,317€2,020
$2,068IMP 1,535
12.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,281€5,475
$5,063IMP 3,757
24.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,673€4,074
$3,958IMP 2,937
18.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
The Hague
Douglas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,378€3,817
$3,057IMP 2,269
43.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.4
4.76
-28.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for The Hague: September 12, 2026
Last update for Douglas: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,702 in The Hague and $1,267 in Douglas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰The Hague pays 43% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $93.0 in The Hague vs $123 in Douglas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $337 vs $366 per month, with The Hague cheaper across the board.
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 Douglas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Douglas cheaper than The Hague?
Douglas is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: The Hague or Douglas?
Average pay runs 43% higher in The Hague, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between The Hague and Douglas?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,702 in The Hague versus $1,267 in Douglas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in The Hague and in Douglas?
All in, you'll spend $2,794 per month in The Hague versus $2,752 in Douglas – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Douglas runs roughly 3% less than in The Hague. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in The Hague or in Douglas?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Douglas is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is The Hague or Douglas more family-friendly?
For families, Douglas is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in The Hague, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, The Hague or Douglas?
Safety-wise, The Hague and Douglas 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 Douglas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in The Hague. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.