😐A single person spends $2,894 per month in The Hague vs $2,418 in Geleen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,283 per month in The Hague vs $3,514 in Geleen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,673 per month in The Hague vs $4,611 in Geleen, rent included.
😐The Hague costs about 20% more than Geleen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both The Hague and Geleen sit above the global median – The Hague by 117%, Geleen by 82%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
The Hague
Geleen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.17€14.87
$17.11€14.81
0.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.7€80.3
$81.2€70.3
14.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.11€12.22
$12.48€10.81
13.06%
Cappuccino
$4.47€3.87
$3.97€3.44
12.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43€2.97
$3.18€2.75
7.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67€2.31
$2.34€2.02
14.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.84€5.92
$6.21€5.38
10.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.92€5.13
$5.34€4.63
10.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
The Hague
Geleen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37€1.19
$1.25€1.09
9.60%
White Bread(500g)
$2.23€1.93
$2.11€1.82
5.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.04€2.63
$3.27€2.84
-7.03%
Eggs
$5.02€4.35
$4.63€4.01
8.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.22€12.31
$13.49€11.68
5.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.46€13.39
$15.38€13.32
0.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.78€14.53
$17.16€14.86
-2.21%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39€2.07
$2.28€1.98
4.82%
Banana(1kg)
$2.51€2.18
$2.55€2.21
-1.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98€1.71
$1.89€1.63
4.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.60€3.98
$4.27€3.69
7.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.66
$2.09€1.81
-8.13%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.74
$2.10€1.82
-4.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.26€1.09
$1.22€1.05
3.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.78
$0.76€0.66
18.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.77€11.92
$14.58€12.62
-5.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.60€4.85
$6.93€6.01
-19.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47€1.27
$1.50€1.30
-2.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47€2.14
$2.78€2.41
-11.15%
🚌 Getting Around
The Hague
Geleen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.43€2.97
$3.61€3.12
-4.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$119€103
$93.0€80.6
28.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.83€4.18
$3.53€3.05
36.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.09€2.67
$2.17€1.88
42.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.36€30.63
$29.05€25.16
21.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.20€1.90
$2.22€1.92
-0.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.3K€36.7K
$37.2K€32.2K
13.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.1K€30.4K
$32.9K€28.5K
6.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
The Hague
Geleen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$243€211
$197€171
23.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.56€23.00
$24.93€21.59
6.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.86€38.85
$40.30€34.90
11.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
The Hague
Geleen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.86€37.12
$40.86€35.38
4.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.42€22.02
$22.89€19.83
11.05%
Cinema Ticket
$16.62€14.39
$14.83€12.84
12.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
The Hague
Geleen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,435€2,109
$1,589€1,376
53.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.7K€10.1K
$6,324€5,477
85.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
The Hague
Geleen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$129€112
$74.7€64.7
72.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.96€42.40
$37.72€32.67
29.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121€104
$118€102
2.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153€133
$132€114
16.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
The Hague
Geleen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,673€1,449
$1,399€1,211
19.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,454€1,259
$1,153€998
26.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,985€2,585
$2,258€1,955
32.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,411€2,088
$1,754€1,519
37.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,313€5,467
$5,555€4,810
13.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,717€4,085
$4,717€4,085
-0.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
The Hague
Geleen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,285€3,711
$4,477€3,877
-4.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
4.33
-7.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for The Hague: July 25, 2026
Last update for Geleen: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,673 in The Hague versus $1,399 in Geleen. 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 4% higher in Geleen, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $93.0 in The Hague versus $81.0 in Geleen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $346 vs $341 – making Geleen 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 Geleen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Geleen cheaper than The Hague?
Yes – The Hague is pricier by about 20%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,341 per month in The Hague and $3,626 in Geleen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Geleen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 28% less in Geleen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $2,435 per month in The Hague and $1,589 in Geleen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in The Hague or in Geleen?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,894 in The Hague and $2,418 in Geleen. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is The Hague or Geleen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Geleen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, The Hague or Geleen?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Geleen. 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.