😐A single person spends $2,879 per month in The Hague vs $2,230 in Hengelo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,275 per month in The Hague vs $3,402 in Hengelo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,672 per month in The Hague vs $4,573 in Hengelo, rent included.
😐The Hague costs about 29% more than Hengelo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both The Hague and Hengelo sit above the global median – The Hague by 115%, Hengelo by 67%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
The Hague
Hengelo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.18€15.04
$20.47€17.93
-16.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.5€80.2
$85.3€74.7
7.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.81€12.10
$13.92€12.19
-0.79%
Cappuccino
$4.47€3.91
$4.13€3.62
8.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30€2.89
$3.99€3.49
-17.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67€2.34
$2.88€2.52
-7.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.91€6.05
$6.91€6.05
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70€4.99
$5.81€5.09
-1.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
The Hague
Hengelo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32€1.16
$1.25€1.10
5.60%
White Bread(500g)
$2.27€1.98
$2.32€2.03
-2.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.92€2.55
$3.09€2.70
-5.50%
Eggs
$4.91€4.30
$4.54€3.97
8.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.65€12.83
$14.05€12.30
4.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.70€13.75
$15.76€13.80
-0.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.92€14.82
$16.47€14.43
2.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.45€2.15
$2.35€2.06
4.26%
Banana(1kg)
$2.42€2.12
$2.48€2.17
-2.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97€1.73
$2.01€1.76
-1.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.58€4.02
$3.85€3.37
18.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99€1.74
$2.04€1.79
-2.45%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06€1.81
$1.97€1.73
4.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.25€1.10
$1.25€1.10
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.79
$0.77€0.67
16.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.96€12.22
$14.27€12.50
-2.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.84€5.12
$6.92€6.06
-15.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40€1.23
$1.40€1.23
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51€2.20
$2.74€2.40
-8.39%
🚌 Getting Around
The Hague
Hengelo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.51€3.07
$5.30€4.64
-33.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$121€106
$92.8€81.3
30.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.66€4.08
$3.65€3.20
27.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.13€2.74
$2.48€2.17
26.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.13€29.89
$26.67€23.36
27.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.02
$2.31€2.02
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.4K€37.1K
$34.3K€30.0K
23.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.1K€30.7K
$36.7K€32.1K
-4.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
The Hague
Hengelo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$244€214
$293€257
-16.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.15€22.90
$26.35€23.07
-0.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.38€40.62
$47.02€41.18
-1.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
The Hague
Hengelo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.54€37.26
$31.35€27.45
35.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.04€22.80
$22.82€19.99
14.11%
Cinema Ticket
$16.55€14.49
$15.64€13.70
5.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
The Hague
Hengelo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,409€2,110
$1,111€973
116.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K€10.4K
$10.8K€9,485
9.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
The Hague
Hengelo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$129€113
$113€98.9
14.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.16€43.06
$46.57€40.78
5.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121€106
$97.3€85.2
24.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156€136
$128€112
22.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
The Hague
Hengelo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,675€1,467
$1,333€1,168
25.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,472€1,290
$873€764
68.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,010€2,636
$1,839€1,611
63.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,476€2,168
$1,532€1,341
61.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,436€5,637
$5,408€4,736
19.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,635€4,059
$4,577€4,009
1.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
The Hague
Hengelo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,226€3,701
$2,687€2,353
57.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
4.39
-8.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for The Hague: July 13, 2026
Last update for Hengelo: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,675 in The Hague versus $1,333 in Hengelo. 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 57% 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 $85.0 in Hengelo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $348 vs $341 – making Hengelo 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 Hengelo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in The Hague and in Hengelo compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,879 in The Hague, $2,230 in Hengelo – roughly 29% apart. The Hague costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in The Hague compared to Hengelo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,318 per month in The Hague and $3,345 in Hengelo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between The Hague and Hengelo?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hengelo, 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?
Groceries cost about 2% more in The Hague, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $92.0 in The Hague and $85.0 in Hengelo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Hengelo, where all-in costs run around $2,230, than in The Hague at $2,879. In Hengelo it covers expenses comfortably, while in The Hague it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between The Hague and Hengelo?
It depends on your priorities. The Hague has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,230 in Hengelo to $2,879 in The Hague. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is The Hague or Hengelo 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 Hengelo?
If budget matters most, go with Hengelo. 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.