Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between The Hague and Hoofddorp

For one person, living is cheaper in The Hague: $2,727 a month against $3,102 in Hoofddorp, rent and utilities included – about $4,500 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Hoofddorp outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

The Hague
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$2,727
/mo nomad
Hoofddorp
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$3,102
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in The Hague and in Hoofddorp

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in The Hague and in Hoofddorp actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,727 in The Hague versus $3,102 in Hoofddorp.

  • The Hague $2,727
  • Hoofddorp $3,102

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,085 in The Hague versus $4,244 in Hoofddorp.

  • The Hague $4,085
  • Hoofddorp $4,244

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,443 in The Hague versus $5,387 in Hoofddorp.

  • The Hague $5,443
  • Hoofddorp $5,387

Living in The Hague costs roughly 12% less than in Hoofddorp, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: The Hague 101% above, Hoofddorp 129% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
The Hague
Hoofddorp
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.22 €19.76
$22.21 €19.76
0.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.2 €79.4
$90.5 €80.5
-1.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.04 €13.38
$14.43 €12.84
4.23%
Cappuccino
$4.35 €3.87
$3.34 €2.97
30.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.15 €3.70
$2.83 €2.52
46.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28 €3.81
$2.29 €2.04
86.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.17 €6.38
$8.05 €7.16
-10.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.70 €6.85
$5.17 €4.60
48.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
The Hague
Hoofddorp
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.52 €1.35
$1.48 €1.32
2.70%
White Bread (500g)
$2.21 €1.96
$2.36 €2.10
-6.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.47 €2.20
$2.49 €2.21
-0.80%
Eggs
$4.51 €4.01
$5.20 €4.63
-13.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.94 €13.29
$12.58 €11.19
18.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.87 €11.45
$12.83 €11.42
0.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.53 €17.38
$17.67 €15.72
10.53%
Apples (1kg)
$2.67 €2.37
$2.75 €2.44
-2.91%
Banana (1kg)
$2.20 €1.95
$2.80 €2.49
-21.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.06 €1.83
$2.68 €2.39
-23.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.68 €3.27
$3.28 €2.92
12.20%
Potato (1kg)
$1.33 €1.18
$2.47 €2.20
-46.15%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 €1.19
$1.66 €1.48
-19.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 €1.00
$1.14 €1.01
-1.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 €0.84
$1.57 €1.40
-40.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.34 €12.76
$9.22 €8.20
55.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.05 €5.38
$7.20 €6.40
-15.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 €1.15
$1.50 €1.33
-13.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 €1.75
$2.65 €2.35
-25.66%
🚌 Getting Around
The Hague
Hoofddorp
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.38 €3.90
$5.16 €4.59
-15.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$94.1 €83.7
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.61 €4.10
$3.66 €3.25
25.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.34 €2.97
$2.79 €2.48
19.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.19 €29.52
$27.18 €24.18
22.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.53 €2.25
$2.47 €2.20
2.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.8K €37.2K
$37.7K €33.6K
10.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.8K €34.5K
$37.8K €33.6K
2.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
The Hague
Hoofddorp
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$283 €252
$298 €266
-5.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.32 €25.19
$22.45 €19.97
26.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.1 €48.09
$51.6 €45.85
4.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
The Hague
Hoofddorp
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.7 €45.96
$27.82 €24.74
85.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.96 €21.31
$11.02 €9.80
117.42%
Cinema Ticket
$16.01 €14.24
$10.54 €9.37
51.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
The Hague
Hoofddorp
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,402 €2,137
$1,921 €1,709
25.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K €10.5K
$17.3K €15.4K
-31.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
The Hague
Hoofddorp
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.5 €85.9
$88.7 €78.9
8.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.92 €38.18
$41.50 €36.91
3.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €93.8
$102 €91.0
3.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 €125
$136 €121
3.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
The Hague
Hoofddorp
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,655 €1,472
$2,020 €1,797
-18.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,281 €1,139
$1,801 €1,602
-28.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,769 €2,463
$2,792 €2,483
-0.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,244 €1,996
$2,495 €2,220
-10.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,171 €5,489
$5,936 €5,280
3.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,415 €3,927
$4,761 €4,235
-7.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
The Hague
Hoofddorp
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,128 €3,672
$3,413 €3,036
20.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.4
3.3
3.03%

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

Last update for The Hague: October 18, 2026

Last update for Hoofddorp: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
The Hague
$1.3K
Hoofddorp
$1.8K 40.6% $520
Monthly Utilities & Internet
The Hague
$365
Hoofddorp
$372 2% $7.2
Eating Out
The Hague
$360
Hoofddorp
$332 7.8% $28
Groceries & Markets
The Hague
$331
Hoofddorp
$343 3.6% $12
Clothing & Footwear
The Hague
$173
Hoofddorp
$166 4.4% $7.5
Getting Around
The Hague
$133
Hoofddorp
$38 * 71.2% $95
Sport & Entertainment
The Hague
$84
Hoofddorp
$49 41.6% $35

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,655 in The Hague and $2,020 in Hoofddorp. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

The Hague pays 21% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $89.0 in The Hague vs $90.0 in Hoofddorp for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $331 vs $343 per month, with The Hague cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇳🇱 The Hague
🇳🇱 Hoofddorp
🕒 Local time
15:16 3:16 PM
15:16 3:16 PM
Same time as The Hague
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
562,839
76,638
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • The Hague Hoofddorp 39 km
From you
  • The Hague
  • Hoofddorp

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Hoofddorp: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hoofddorp cheaper than The Hague?
The Hague is cheaper overall, especially in groceries. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: The Hague or Hoofddorp?
Average pay runs 21% 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 Hoofddorp?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,655 in The Hague versus $2,020 in Hoofddorp. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in The Hague and in Hoofddorp?
Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Hoofddorp. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in The Hague and in Hoofddorp?
All in, you'll spend $2,727 per month in The Hague versus $3,102 in Hoofddorp – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $3,000 enough to cover costs in The Hague or in Hoofddorp?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. The Hague is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is The Hague or Hoofddorp more family-friendly?
For families, The Hague is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hoofddorp, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, The Hague or Hoofddorp?
Safety-wise, The Hague and Hoofddorp 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 The Hague gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Hoofddorp. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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