πA single person spends $2,842 per month in The Hague vs $2,447 in Middelburg, rent included.
πA couple spends around $4,202 per month in The Hague vs $3,600 in Middelburg, rent included.
πA family of three spends $5,562 per month in The Hague vs $4,754 in Middelburg, rent included.
πThe Hague costs about 16% more than Middelburg, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth The Hague and Middelburg sit above the global median β The Hague by 112%, Middelburg by 83%.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
The Hague
Middelburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.50β¬15.07
$13.78β¬11.86
27.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.2β¬78.6
$73.9β¬63.7
23.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.94β¬12.00
$10.31β¬8.88
35.21%
Cappuccino
$4.40β¬3.79
$4.31β¬3.71
2.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40β¬2.92
$3.28β¬2.83
3.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78β¬2.39
$2.76β¬2.38
0.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.08β¬6.10
$7.08β¬6.10
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.89β¬5.08
$5.71β¬4.92
3.15%
π Groceries & Markets
The Hague
Middelburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.31β¬1.13
$1.35β¬1.16
-2.96%
White Bread(500g)
$2.33β¬2.00
$2.26β¬1.95
3.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.94β¬2.53
$1.74β¬1.50
68.97%
Eggs
$4.86β¬4.18
$3.85β¬3.31
26.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.58β¬12.55
$11.07β¬9.54
31.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.69β¬13.51
$15.13β¬13.03
3.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.40β¬14.13
$16.68β¬14.36
-1.68%
Apples(1kg)
$2.38β¬2.05
$2.45β¬2.11
-2.86%
Banana(1kg)
$2.46β¬2.12
$2.52β¬2.17
-2.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.95β¬1.68
$1.90β¬1.63
2.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.66β¬4.02
$3.53β¬3.04
32.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99β¬1.71
$2.00β¬1.73
-0.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.08β¬1.79
$1.13β¬0.97
84.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.25β¬1.08
$1.25β¬1.08
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86β¬0.74
$0.54β¬0.46
59.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.84β¬11.92
$8.66β¬7.46
59.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.87β¬5.06
$7.25β¬6.25
-19.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45β¬1.25
$1.08β¬0.93
34.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38β¬2.05
$2.49β¬2.14
-4.42%
π Getting Around
The Hague
Middelburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.37β¬2.91
$3.69β¬3.18
-8.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$117β¬100
$93.1β¬80.2
25.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.87β¬4.20
$4.82β¬4.15
1.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.16β¬2.72
$2.10β¬1.81
50.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.26β¬30.36
$34.04β¬29.31
3.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.21β¬1.90
$2.18β¬1.88
1.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.3Kβ¬36.4K
$41.1Kβ¬35.4K
2.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0Kβ¬30.1K
$34.5Kβ¬29.7K
1.46%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
The Hague
Middelburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$243β¬209
$152β¬131
60.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.72β¬22.15
$26.53β¬22.85
-3.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.73β¬39.38
$45.28β¬38.99
0.99%
π Sport & Entertainment
The Hague
Middelburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.17β¬37.17
$45.36β¬39.06
-4.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.41β¬22.74
$14.67β¬12.63
80.03%
Cinema Ticket
$16.89β¬14.55
$10.61β¬9.13
59.19%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
The Hague
Middelburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,369β¬2,040
$2,425β¬2,088
-2.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.7Kβ¬10.0K
$11.7Kβ¬10.0K
0.11%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
The Hague
Middelburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$127β¬109
$126β¬108
0.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.38β¬41.66
$48.63β¬41.87
-0.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117β¬101
$118β¬101
-0.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154β¬133
$151β¬130
2.14%
π Accommodation & Living
The Hague
Middelburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,692β¬1,457
$1,439β¬1,239
17.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,484β¬1,278
$1,277β¬1,100
16.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,068β¬2,642
$2,070β¬1,782
48.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,431β¬2,094
$1,972β¬1,698
23.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,528β¬5,621
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,719β¬4,064
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
The Hague
Middelburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,597β¬3,958
$2,949β¬2,539
55.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
4
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for The Hague: June 2, 2026
Last update for Middelburg: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $1,692 in The Hague versus $1,439 in Middelburg. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
π°Salaries run about 56% higher in The Hague, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $91.0 in The Hague versus $74.0 in Middelburg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $346 vs $315 β making Middelburg 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 Middelburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Middelburg cheaper than The Hague?
Yes β The Hague is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,262 per month in The Hague and $3,670 in Middelburg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Middelburg, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in The Hague vs Middelburg?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,842 in The Hague and $2,447 in Middelburg. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for The Hague or Middelburg?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Middelburg, where all-in costs run around $2,447, than in The Hague at $2,842. In Middelburg it covers expenses comfortably, while in The Hague it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is The Hague or Middelburg more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Middelburg β lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, The Hague or Middelburg?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Middelburg. 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.