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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,879 per month in The Hague vs $2,577 in Zaandam, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,275 per month in The Hague vs $3,733 in Zaandam, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,672 per month in The Hague vs $4,890 in Zaandam, rent included.

The Hague costs about 12% more than Zaandam, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both The Hague and Zaandam sit above the global median – The Hague by 115%, Zaandam by 93%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.18 €15.04

$17.47 €15.30

-1.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$91.5 €80.2

$87.7 €76.8

4.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.81 €12.10

$13.72 €12.02

0.66%

Cappuccino

$4.47 €3.91

$4.11 €3.60

8.76%

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

$3.30 €2.89

$3.80 €3.33

-13.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 €2.34

$3.30 €2.89

-19.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.91 €6.05

$7.00 €6.13

-1.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.70 €4.99

$5.92 €5.19

-3.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 €1.16

$1.27 €1.11

3.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 €1.98

$2.45 €2.14

-7.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.92 €2.55

$2.94 €2.58

-0.68%

Eggs

$4.91 €4.30

$4.90 €4.29

0.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.65 €12.83

$14.31 €12.53

2.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.70 €13.75

$15.31 €13.41

2.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.92 €14.82

$17.06 €14.95

-0.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 €2.15

$2.32 €2.03

5.60%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 €2.12

$2.54 €2.22

-4.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.97 €1.73

$1.93 €1.69

2.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.58 €4.02

$3.90 €3.41

17.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 €1.74

$2.07 €1.82

-3.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 €1.81

$1.94 €1.70

6.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 €1.10

$1.19 €1.04

5.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 €0.79

$0.88 €0.77

2.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.96 €12.22

$13.27 €11.62

5.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.84 €5.12

$7.34 €6.43

-20.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 €1.23

$1.49 €1.31

-6.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 €2.20

$2.50 €2.19

0.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.51 €3.07

$3.55 €3.11

-1.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$121 €106

$93.6 €82.0

29.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.66 €4.08

$4.13 €3.62

12.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.13 €2.74

$2.46 €2.15

27.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.13 €29.89

$27.08 €23.71

26.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.31 €2.02

$2.25 €1.97

2.67%

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

$42.4K €37.1K

$38.3K €33.6K

10.57%

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

$35.1K €30.7K

$37.0K €32.4K

-5.25%

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

$244 €214

$271 €237

-10.01%

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

$26.15 €22.90

$23.54 €20.61

11.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.38 €40.62

$51.8 €45.37

-10.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.54 €37.26

$47.27 €41.40

-10.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.04 €22.80

$23.49 €20.57

10.86%

Cinema Ticket

$16.55 €14.49

$15.34 €13.44

7.89%

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

$2,409 €2,110

$2,081 €1,822

15.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K €10.4K

$6,266 €5,487

89.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$129 €113

$112 €97.9

15.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.16 €43.06

$45.74 €40.06

7.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 €106

$114 €99.7

5.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 €136

$150 €132

3.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,675 €1,467

$1,429 €1,251

17.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,472 €1,290

$1,169 €1,024

25.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,010 €2,636

$2,304 €2,017

30.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,476 €2,168

$1,723 €1,509

43.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,436 €5,637

$5,380 €4,712

19.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,635 €4,059

$4,470 €3,914

3.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,226 €3,701

$4,772 €4,180

-11.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.28

-6.54%

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

Last update for The Hague: July 13, 2026

Last update for Zaandam: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,675 in The Hague versus $1,429 in Zaandam. 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 13% higher in Zaandam, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $92.0 in The Hague versus $88.0 in Zaandam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $348 vs $346 – making Zaandam 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 Zaandam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,879 in The Hague, $2,577 in Zaandam – roughly 12% apart. The Hague costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,318 per month in The Hague and $3,866 in Zaandam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Zaandam, 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 $2,879 in The Hague and $2,577 in Zaandam. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 29% less in Zaandam. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Zaandam, where all-in costs run around $2,577, than in The Hague at $2,879. In Zaandam it covers expenses comfortably, while in The Hague it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. The Hague has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,577 in Zaandam to $2,879 in The Hague. 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 Zaandam. 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.