😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,879 in The Hague versus $2,106 in Groningen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,275 in The Hague versus $3,107 in Groningen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,672 in The Hague versus $4,107 in Groningen.
🌍Living in The Hague is roughly 37% more expensive than in Groningen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: The Hague115% above, Groningen58% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
The Hague
Groningen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.18€15.04
$17.16€15.02
0.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.5€80.2
$93.9€82.2
-2.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.81€12.10
$13.66€11.97
1.10%
Cappuccino
$4.47€3.91
$3.84€3.37
16.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30€2.89
$2.96€2.59
11.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67€2.34
$2.59€2.27
3.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.91€6.05
$5.92€5.18
16.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70€4.99
$4.01€3.51
42.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
The Hague
Groningen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32€1.16
$1.25€1.10
5.60%
White Bread(500g)
$2.27€1.98
$2.01€1.76
12.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.92€2.55
$3.16€2.76
-7.59%
Eggs
$4.91€4.30
$4.81€4.21
2.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.65€12.83
$13.65€11.96
7.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.70€13.75
$15.59€13.66
0.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.92€14.82
$17.30€15.15
-2.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.45€2.15
$2.21€1.93
10.86%
Banana(1kg)
$2.42€2.12
$2.56€2.24
-5.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97€1.73
$2.01€1.76
-1.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.58€4.02
$3.60€3.15
27.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99€1.74
$2.08€1.82
-4.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06€1.81
$1.91€1.67
7.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.25€1.10
$1.30€1.14
-3.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.79
$0.74€0.65
21.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.96€12.22
$13.94€12.20
0.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.84€5.12
$6.77€5.93
-13.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40€1.23
$1.50€1.31
-6.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51€2.20
$2.54€2.23
-1.18%
🚌 Getting Around
The Hague
Groningen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.51€3.07
$4.06€3.56
-13.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$121€106
$68.8€60.2
75.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.66€4.08
$3.82€3.35
21.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.13€2.74
$2.56€2.24
22.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.13€29.89
$29.76€26.06
14.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.02
$2.29€2.01
0.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.4K€37.1K
$28.8K€25.3K
47.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.1K€30.7K
$32.2K€28.2K
8.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
The Hague
Groningen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$244€214
$212€186
15.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.15€22.90
$21.70€19.00
20.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.38€40.62
$47.20€41.34
-1.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
The Hague
Groningen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.54€37.26
$38.96€34.12
9.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.04€22.80
$14.54€12.73
79.09%
Cinema Ticket
$16.55€14.49
$14.46€12.66
14.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
The Hague
Groningen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,409€2,110
$1,766€1,547
36.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K€10.4K
$8,627€7,555
37.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
The Hague
Groningen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$129€113
$68.1€59.7
89.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.16€43.06
$25.94€22.72
89.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121€106
$86.9€76.2
38.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156€136
$90.9€79.6
71.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
The Hague
Groningen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,675€1,467
$1,186€1,038
41.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,472€1,290
$912€799
61.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,010€2,636
$1,721€1,508
74.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,476€2,168
$1,405€1,230
76.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,436€5,637
$5,361€4,696
20.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,635€4,059
$3,973€3,479
16.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
The Hague
Groningen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,226€3,701
$3,058€2,678
38.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
3.64
9.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for The Hague: July 13, 2026
Last update for Groningen: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,675 in The Hague and $1,186 in Groningen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰The Hague pays 38% 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: $92.0 in The Hague vs $94.0 in Groningen. Groceries flip the comparison at $348 vs $338, with Groningen cheaper for home cooking.
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 Groningen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, The Hague or Groningen?
Groningen wins on cost – living expenses run 37% lower than in The Hague. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Groningen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in The Hague or in Groningen?
Average pay runs 38% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in The Hague compared to Groningen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,675 in The Hague versus $1,186 in Groningen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in The Hague or in Groningen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in The Hague. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in The Hague and in Groningen?
Dining out is cheaper in Groningen – a meal for two runs $94.0 versus $92.0 in The Hague. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in The Hague or in Groningen?
At $2,106 in Groningen versus $2,879 in The Hague, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Groningen but tight or insufficient in The Hague. The gap between the two cities makes Groningen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, The Hague or Groningen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Groningen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,106 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Groningen hard to pass up.
How safe is The Hague compared to Groningen?
Safety-wise, The Hague and Groningen 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Groningen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in The Hague. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.