Cost of Living Comparison Between The Hague and Rijswijk Cost of Living Comparison Between The Hague and Rijswijk

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,814 in The Hague versus $2,717 in Rijswijk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,239 in The Hague versus $3,684 in Rijswijk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,664 in The Hague versus $4,650 in Rijswijk.

Living in The Hague is roughly 4% more expensive than in Rijswijk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: The Hague 105% above, Rijswijk 98% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
The Hague
Rijswijk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.07 €19.83
$23.58 €20.27
-2.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.7 €78.9
$81.0 €69.6
13.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.46 €13.29
$8.79 €7.55
75.88%
Cappuccino
$4.68 €4.02
$3.74 €3.22
25.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 €3.70
$3.58 €3.08
20.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35 €3.74
$3.15 €2.71
38.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.81 €5.85
$6.80 €5.85
0.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.72 €6.64
$6.02 €5.18
28.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
The Hague
Rijswijk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 €1.35
$1.40 €1.20
12.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 €1.96
$1.79 €1.53
27.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.71 €2.33
$2.08 €1.79
30.29%
Eggs
$4.64 €3.99
$4.13 €3.55
12.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.93 €12.83
$14.25 €12.25
4.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.43 €11.55
$11.80 €10.15
13.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.16 €17.33
$17.67 €15.19
14.09%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 €2.38
$2.01 €1.73
37.31%
Banana (1kg)
$2.30 €1.98
$2.08 €1.79
10.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.06 €1.77
$2.09 €1.80
-1.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.80 €3.27
$2.35 €2.02
61.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.37 €1.18
$1.27 €1.09
7.87%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 €1.14
$1.40 €1.20
-5.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.21 €1.04
$1.21 €1.04
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 €0.81
$0.99 €0.85
-5.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.30 €13.15
$13.87 €11.93
10.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.93 €5.10
$5.90 €5.07
0.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.15
$1.36 €1.17
-2.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.83 €1.57
9.84%
🚌 Getting Around
The Hague
Rijswijk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.54 €3.90
$5.58 €4.80
-18.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$97.0 €83.4
$74.8 €64.3
29.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 €4.10
$4.85 €4.17
-1.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.60 €3.10
$3.46 €2.98
4.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.16 €30.23
$35.37 €30.40
-0.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.61 €2.25
$2.55 €2.19
2.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.6K €37.5K
$43.4K €37.3K
0.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.8K €35.1K
$39.8K €34.3K
2.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
The Hague
Rijswijk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$292 €251
$293 €251
-0.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.38 €25.25
$20.43 €17.57
43.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.3 €48.37
$51.3 €44.10
9.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
The Hague
Rijswijk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.1 €44.76
$43.09 €37.04
20.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.49 €21.92
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.20 €14.79
$14.08 €12.10
22.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
The Hague
Rijswijk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,541 €2,184
$2,475 €2,128
2.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K €10.4K
$12.2K €10.5K
-0.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
The Hague
Rijswijk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.6 €85.6
$99.0 €85.1
0.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.25 €38.91
$45.35 €38.99
-0.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 €94.9
$112 €96.1
-1.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 €121
$145 €125
-3.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
The Hague
Rijswijk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,719 €1,478
$1,481 €1,273
16.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,335 €1,148
$1,350 €1,161
-1.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,886 €2,481
$1,554 €1,336
85.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,388 €2,053
$1,609 €1,384
48.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,429 €5,527
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,581 €3,938
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
The Hague
Rijswijk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,373 €3,760
$3,881 €3,337
12.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.4
3.4
-

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

Last update for The Hague: August 31, 2026

Last update for Rijswijk: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,719 in The Hague and $1,481 in Rijswijk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

The Hague pays 13% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $92.0 in The Hague vs $81.0 in Rijswijk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $341 vs $300 per month, with Rijswijk 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 Rijswijk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in The Hague and in Rijswijk?
The Hague and Rijswijk differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($2,814 vs $2,717 including rent). Rijswijk is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: The Hague or Rijswijk?
Average pay runs 13% 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.
How do apartment prices compare in The Hague and in Rijswijk?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,719 in The Hague versus $1,481 in Rijswijk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in The Hague. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Rijswijk – a meal for two runs $81.0 versus $92.0 in The Hague. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Rijswijk is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between The Hague and Rijswijk?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is The Hague or Rijswijk safer for residents?
Safety-wise, The Hague and Rijswijk are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: The Hague or Rijswijk?
Expats usually find Rijswijk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in The Hague. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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