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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,842 per month in The Hague vs $2,947 in Utrecht, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,202 per month in The Hague vs $4,160 in Utrecht, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,562 per month in The Hague vs $5,373 in Utrecht, rent included.

The Hague is about 4% cheaper than Utrecht, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both The Hague and Utrecht sit above the global median – The Hague by 112%, Utrecht by 120%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.50 €15.07

$21.14 €18.20

-17.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$91.2 €78.6

$87.5 €75.4

4.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.94 €12.00

$13.95 €12.01

-0.07%

Cappuccino

$4.40 €3.79

$4.39 €3.78

0.23%

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

$3.40 €2.92

$3.95 €3.40

-13.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 €2.39

$3.15 €2.71

-11.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.08 €6.10

$7.03 €6.06

0.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.89 €5.08

$5.86 €5.04

0.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 €1.13

$1.35 €1.16

-2.96%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 €2.00

$2.52 €2.17

-7.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.94 €2.53

$3.00 €2.59

-2.00%

Eggs

$4.86 €4.18

$5.39 €4.64

-9.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.58 €12.55

$14.04 €12.09

3.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.69 €13.51

$16.53 €14.24

-5.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.40 €14.13

$17.40 €14.98

-5.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 €2.05

$2.35 €2.02

1.28%

Banana (1kg)

$2.46 €2.12

$2.48 €2.14

-0.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.95 €1.68

$1.93 €1.66

1.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.66 €4.02

$3.70 €3.19

25.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 €1.71

$1.94 €1.67

2.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.08 €1.79

$2.23 €1.92

-6.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 €1.08

$1.36 €1.18

-8.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 €0.74

$1.13 €0.98

-23.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.84 €11.92

$14.32 €12.33

-3.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.87 €5.06

$7.22 €6.21

-18.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 €1.25

$1.46 €1.26

-0.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 €2.05

$2.67 €2.30

-10.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.37 €2.91

$3.48 €3.00

-3.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$117 €100

$75.2 €64.7

55.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.87 €4.20

$3.68 €3.17

32.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.16 €2.72

$2.54 €2.19

24.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.26 €30.36

$26.59 €22.89

32.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.21 €1.90

$2.27 €1.95

-2.64%

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

$42.3K €36.4K

$39.8K €34.3K

6.35%

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

$35.0K €30.1K

$39.8K €34.3K

-12.12%

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

$243 €209

$296 €255

-17.78%

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

$25.72 €22.15

$26.03 €22.42

-1.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.73 €39.38

$46.51 €40.05

-1.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.17 €37.17

$46.94 €40.42

-8.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.41 €22.74

$23.19 €19.97

13.89%

Cinema Ticket

$16.89 €14.55

$15.92 €13.71

6.09%

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

$2,369 €2,040

$2,609 €2,247

-9.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K €10.0K

$11.2K €9,630

4.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$127 €109

$115 €98.6

10.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.38 €41.66

$60.7 €52.2

-20.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 €101

$108 €92.7

8.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$154 €133

$130 €112

18.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,692 €1,457

$1,888 €1,626

-10.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,484 €1,278

$1,521 €1,310

-2.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,068 €2,642

$2,826 €2,433

8.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,431 €2,094

$2,241 €1,930

8.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,528 €5,621

$8,022 €6,908

-18.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,719 €4,064

$5,872 €5,057

-19.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,597 €3,958

$4,615 €3,974

-0.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.39

-8.88%

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

Last update for The Hague: June 2, 2026

Last update for Utrecht: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,692 in The Hague versus $1,888 in Utrecht. 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 Utrecht, 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 $91.0 in The Hague versus $88.0 in Utrecht. Groceries tell a different story – $346 in The Hague vs $358 in Utrecht – 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 Utrecht: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,842 in The Hague, $2,947 in Utrecht – roughly 4% apart. Utrecht costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,262 per month in The Hague and $4,420 in Utrecht. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,842 in The Hague and $2,947 in Utrecht. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 55% less in The Hague. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,842 in The Hague and $2,947 in Utrecht. 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 $2,842 in The Hague to $2,947 in Utrecht. 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, Utrecht makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.