Cost of Living Comparison Between The Hague and Madison, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between The Hague and Madison, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,894 per month in The Hague vs $2,885 in Madison, WI, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,283 per month in The Hague vs $4,152 in Madison, WI, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,673 per month in The Hague vs $5,420 in Madison, WI, rent included.

The Hague and Madison, WI have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both The Hague and Madison, WI sit above the global median – The Hague by 117%, Madison, WI by 117%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
The Hague
Madison, WI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.17 €14.87
$15.25 $15.25
12.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.7 €80.3
$76.1 $76.1
21.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.11 €12.22
$11.10 $11.10
27.12%
Cappuccino
$4.47 €3.87
$5.24 $5.24
-14.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 €2.97
$2.76 $2.76
24.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 €2.31
$2.28 $2.28
17.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.84 €5.92
$5.93 $5.93
15.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.92 €5.13
$6.94 $6.94
-14.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
The Hague
Madison, WI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 €1.19
$0.87 $0.87
57.47%
White Bread (500g)
$2.23 €1.93
$3.71 $3.71
-39.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.04 €2.63
$5.15 $5.15
-40.97%
Eggs
$5.02 €4.35
$3.98 $3.98
26.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.22 €12.31
$13.70 $13.70
3.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.46 €13.39
$13.15 $13.15
17.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.78 €14.53
$16.43 $16.43
2.13%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 €2.07
$4.49 $4.49
-46.77%
Banana (1kg)
$2.51 €2.18
$1.48 $1.48
69.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 €1.71
$5.76 $5.76
-65.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.60 €3.98
$4.67 $4.67
-1.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 €1.66
$2.59 $2.59
-25.87%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 €1.74
$2.91 $2.91
-30.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.26 €1.09
$1.95 $1.95
-35.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 €0.78
$2.03 $2.03
-55.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.77 €11.92
$10.02 $10.02
37.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.60 €4.85
$15.59 $15.59
-64.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 €1.27
$2.40 $2.40
-38.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 €2.14
$4.85 $4.85
-49.07%
🚌 Getting Around
The Hague
Madison, WI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.43 €2.97
$2.02 $2.02
69.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$119 €103
$62.9 $62.9
89.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.83 €4.18
$4.55 $4.55
6.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.09 €2.67
$2.16 $2.16
43.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.36 €30.63
$42.21 $42.21
-16.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.20 €1.90
$0.88 $0.88
150.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.3K €36.7K
$25.3K $25.3K
67.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.1K €30.4K
$25.8K $25.8K
36.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
The Hague
Madison, WI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$243 €211
$218 $218
11.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.56 €23.00
$50.3 $50.3
-47.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.86 €38.85
$76.0 $76.0
-40.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
The Hague
Madison, WI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.86 €37.12
$65.0 $65.0
-34.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.42 €22.02
$29.76 $29.76
-14.58%
Cinema Ticket
$16.62 €14.39
$14.71 $14.71
12.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
The Hague
Madison, WI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,435 €2,109
$1,639 $1,639
48.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.7K €10.1K
$24.5K $24.5K
-52.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
The Hague
Madison, WI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$129 €112
$66.9 $66.9
92.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.96 €42.40
$48.80 $48.80
0.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 €104
$100 $100
20.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153 €133
$131 $131
17.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
The Hague
Madison, WI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,673 €1,449
$1,665 $1,665
0.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,454 €1,259
$1,469 $1,469
-1.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,985 €2,585
$3,092 $3,092
-3.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,411 €2,088
$2,443 $2,443
-1.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,313 €5,467
$4,475 $4,475
41.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,717 €4,085
$2,468 $2,468
91.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
The Hague
Madison, WI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,285 €3,711
$4,258 $4,258
0.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4
6.55
-38.93%

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

Last update for The Hague: July 25, 2026

Last update for Madison, WI: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,673 in The Hague versus $1,665 in Madison, WI. 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 1% higher in The Hague. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $93.0 in The Hague versus $76.0 in Madison, WI. Groceries tell a different story – $346 in The Hague vs $415 in Madison, WI – so The Hague wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Madison, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What salary covers living expenses in The Hague compared to Madison, WI?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,341 per month in The Hague and $4,328 in Madison, WI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between The Hague and Madison, WI?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Madison, WI, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $93.0 in The Hague and $76.0 in Madison, WI. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in The Hague and in Madison, WI?
Public transport costs about 90% less in Madison, WI. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,894 in The Hague and $2,885 in Madison, WI. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between The Hague and Madison, WI?
It depends on your priorities. The Hague has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,885 in Madison, WI to $2,894 in The Hague. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is The Hague or Madison, WI 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 Madison, WI?
If budget matters most, go with Madison, WI. 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.

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