πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,842 in The Hague versus $1,265 in Phuket.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,202 in The Hague versus $2,297 in Phuket.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,562 in The Hague versus $3,329 in Phuket.
πLiving in The Hague is roughly 125% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: The Hague is 112% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
The Hague
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.50β¬15.07
$4.70ΰΈΏ154
272.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.2β¬78.6
$45.37ΰΈΏ1,483
101.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.94β¬12.00
$8.43ΰΈΏ276
65.36%
Cappuccino
$4.40β¬3.79
$2.93ΰΈΏ95.7
50.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40β¬2.92
$0.69ΰΈΏ22.42
392.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78β¬2.39
$0.37ΰΈΏ12.00
651.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.08β¬6.10
$2.41ΰΈΏ78.7
193.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.89β¬5.08
$3.72ΰΈΏ122
58.33%
π Groceries & Markets
The Hague
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.31β¬1.13
$2.23ΰΈΏ73.0
-41.26%
White Bread(500g)
$2.33β¬2.00
$1.83ΰΈΏ59.9
27.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.94β¬2.53
$2.17ΰΈΏ70.9
35.48%
Eggs
$4.86β¬4.18
$2.21ΰΈΏ72.4
119.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.58β¬12.55
$19.74ΰΈΏ645
-26.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.69β¬13.51
$3.63ΰΈΏ119
332.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.40β¬14.13
$13.53ΰΈΏ442
21.21%
Apples(1kg)
$2.38β¬2.05
$3.28ΰΈΏ107
-27.44%
Banana(1kg)
$2.46β¬2.12
$1.61ΰΈΏ52.7
52.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.95β¬1.68
$2.41ΰΈΏ78.7
-19.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.66β¬4.02
$2.08ΰΈΏ68.1
124.04%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99β¬1.71
$1.53ΰΈΏ49.97
30.07%
Onion(1kg)
$2.08β¬1.79
$1.48ΰΈΏ48.41
40.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.25β¬1.08
$0.99ΰΈΏ32.32
26.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86β¬0.74
$0.51ΰΈΏ16.68
68.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.84β¬11.92
$4.41ΰΈΏ144
213.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.87β¬5.06
$19.38ΰΈΏ634
-69.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45β¬1.25
$1.78ΰΈΏ58.1
-18.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38β¬2.05
$2.71ΰΈΏ88.7
-12.18%
π Getting Around
The Hague
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.37β¬2.91
$1.37ΰΈΏ44.83
145.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$117β¬100
$11.39ΰΈΏ372
923.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.87β¬4.20
$3.02ΰΈΏ98.7
61.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.16β¬2.72
$0.99ΰΈΏ32.51
219.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.26β¬30.36
$14.10ΰΈΏ461
150.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.21β¬1.90
$1.36ΰΈΏ44.55
62.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.3Kβ¬36.4K
$28.2KΰΈΏ921.9K
50.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0Kβ¬30.1K
$32.9KΰΈΏ1.1M
6.39%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
The Hague
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$243β¬209
$122ΰΈΏ3,978
99.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.72β¬22.15
$13.57ΰΈΏ444
89.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.73β¬39.38
$18.31ΰΈΏ599
149.75%
π Sport & Entertainment
The Hague
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.17β¬37.17
$60.2ΰΈΏ1,969
-28.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.41β¬22.74
$17.14ΰΈΏ560
54.08%
Cinema Ticket
$16.89β¬14.55
$8.69ΰΈΏ284
94.36%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
The Hague
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,369β¬2,040
$693ΰΈΏ22.7K
241.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.7Kβ¬10.0K
$15.7KΰΈΏ512.8K
-25.63%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
The Hague
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$127β¬109
$59.5ΰΈΏ1,946
113.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.38β¬41.66
$34.77ΰΈΏ1,137
39.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117β¬101
$115ΰΈΏ3,746
2.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154β¬133
$83.3ΰΈΏ2,723
85.42%
π Accommodation & Living
The Hague
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,692β¬1,457
$613ΰΈΏ20.0K
175.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,484β¬1,278
$437ΰΈΏ14.3K
239.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,068β¬2,642
$2,094ΰΈΏ68.5K
46.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,431β¬2,094
$1,509ΰΈΏ49.3K
61.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,528β¬5,621
$3,749ΰΈΏ122.6K
74.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,719β¬4,064
$2,616ΰΈΏ85.5K
80.42%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
The Hague
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,597β¬3,958
$508ΰΈΏ16.6K
804.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
5.33
-24.95%
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 Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,692 in The Hague and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°The Hague pays 805% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $91.0 in The Hague vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $346 vs $293 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.
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 Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than The Hague?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 125% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: The Hague or Phuket?
The Hague pays 805% more on average, 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 Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,692 in The Hague versus $613 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $2,369 in The Hague versus $693 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in The Hague and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in The Hague. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for The Hague or Phuket?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $2,842 in The Hague, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in The Hague. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is The Hague or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in The Hague, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, The Hague or Phuket?
Safety-wise, The Hague and Phuket 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet β expenses run 125% less than in The Hague. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.