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 $2,794 per month in The Hague vs $2,979 in Madison, WI, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,266 per month in The Hague vs $4,390 in Madison, WI, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,738 per month in The Hague vs $5,802 in Madison, WI, rent included.

The Hague is about 6% cheaper than Madison, WI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both The Hague and Madison, WI sit above the global median – The Hague by 104%, Madison, WI by 118%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.83 €19.88

$19.87 $19.87

14.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$92.8 €80.8

$66.5 $66.5

39.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.51 €13.51

$13.06 $13.06

18.76%

Cappuccino

$4.57 €3.98

$5.64 $5.64

-18.97%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 €3.89

$3.24 $3.24

37.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.17 €3.64

$2.47 $2.47

68.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.72 €5.86

$6.85 $6.85

-1.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.29 €6.35

$7.72 $7.72

-5.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 €1.36

$0.95 $0.95

64.21%

White Bread (500g)

$2.28 €1.98

$3.59 $3.59

-36.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.54 €2.21

$4.62 $4.62

-45.02%

Eggs

$4.62 €4.03

$3.62 $3.62

27.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.92 €12.99

$14.71 $14.71

1.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.19 €11.49

$13.29 $13.29

-0.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.68 €17.14

$19.96 $19.96

-1.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 €2.29

$4.76 $4.76

-44.75%

Banana (1kg)

$2.25 €1.96

$1.59 $1.59

41.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 €1.78

$5.40 $5.40

-62.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.84 €3.34

$4.99 $4.99

-23.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 €1.17

$2.78 $2.78

-51.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 €1.20

$3.11 $3.11

-55.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 €1.05

$2.08 $2.08

-41.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 €0.85

$2.42 $2.42

-59.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.16 €13.20

$10.81 $10.81

40.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.99 €5.22

$15.85 $15.85

-62.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 €1.16

$2.76 $2.76

-51.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 €1.70

$4.34 $4.34

-54.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.50 €3.92

$2.02 $2.02

122.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$95.1 €82.8

$64.8 $64.8

46.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.77 €4.16

$3.89 $3.89

22.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.62 €3.16

$1.97 $1.97

83.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.79 €30.30

$42.90 $42.90

-18.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.68 €2.33

$1.01 $1.01

165.35%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$42.9K €37.3K

$35.4K $35.4K

20.98%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$40.2K €35.0K

$25.0K $25.0K

60.96%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$288 €251

$273 $273

5.55%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$29.40 €25.60

$51.6 $51.6

-43.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.4 €50.0

$80.6 $80.6

-28.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.5 €45.73

$58.9 $58.9

-10.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.22 €21.97

$10.52 $10.52

139.73%

Cinema Ticket

$17.65 €15.37

$15.05 $15.05

17.28%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,525 €2,200

$1,722 $1,722

46.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.3K €10.7K

$23.7K $23.7K

-47.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$97.7 €85.1

$64.9 $64.9

50.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.35 €38.63

$49.75 $49.75

-10.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 €95.0

$107 $107

2.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 €126

$120 $120

20.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,702 €1,483

$1,739 $1,739

-2.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,315 €1,146

$1,510 $1,510

-12.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,870 €2,500

$3,144 $3,144

-8.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,317 €2,018

$2,544 $2,544

-8.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,281 €5,471

$4,481 $4,481

40.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,673 €4,070

$2,478 $2,478

88.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,378 €3,814

$4,387 $4,387

-0.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.4

6.26

-45.69%

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

Last update for The Hague: September 12, 2026

Last update for Madison, WI: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,702 in The Hague versus $1,739 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 0% higher in Madison, WI, 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 $93.0 in The Hague versus $67.0 in Madison, WI. Groceries tell a different story – $337 in The Hague vs $435 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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,794 in The Hague, $2,979 in Madison, WI – roughly 7% apart. Madison, WI costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,191 per month in The Hague and $4,468 in Madison, WI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in The Hague, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 47% less in The Hague. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,525 per month in The Hague and $1,722 in Madison, WI. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,794 in The Hague and $2,979 in Madison, WI. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. The Hague has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,794 in The Hague to $2,979 in Madison, WI. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with The Hague. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Madison, WI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.