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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,879 per month in The Hague vs $2,540 in Zoetermeer, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,275 per month in The Hague vs $3,494 in Zoetermeer, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,672 per month in The Hague vs $4,448 in Zoetermeer, rent included.

The Hague costs about 13% more than Zoetermeer, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both The Hague and Zoetermeer sit above the global median – The Hague by 115%, Zoetermeer by 90%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.18 €15.04

$20.12 €17.62

-14.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$91.5 €80.2

$91.3 €80.0

0.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.81 €12.10

$11.71 €10.25

17.93%

Cappuccino

$4.47 €3.91

$4.31 €3.77

3.71%

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

$3.30 €2.89

$2.29 €2.01

44.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 €2.34

$2.37 €2.08

12.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.91 €6.05

$5.71 €5.00

21.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.70 €4.99

$5.72 €5.01

-0.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 €1.16

$1.16 €1.02

13.79%

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 €1.98

$1.15 €1.00

97.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.92 €2.55

$3.21 €2.81

-9.03%

Eggs

$4.91 €4.30

$4.49 €3.94

9.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.65 €12.83

$13.79 €12.08

6.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.70 €13.75

$13.83 €12.11

13.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.92 €14.82

$17.01 €14.90

-0.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 €2.15

$1.79 €1.57

36.87%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 €2.12

$2.47 €2.17

-2.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.97 €1.73

$1.51 €1.32

30.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.58 €4.02

$3.84 €3.36

19.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 €1.74

$2.05 €1.80

-2.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 €1.81

$1.50 €1.32

37.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 €1.10

$1.22 €1.07

2.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 €0.79

$1.07 €0.94

-15.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.96 €12.22

$11.53 €10.10

21.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.84 €5.12

$6.85 €6.00

-14.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 €1.23

$1.34 €1.18

4.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 €2.20

$2.62 €2.30

-4.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.51 €3.07

$4.68 €4.10

-25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$121 €106

$90.9 €79.6

33.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.66 €4.08

$5.26 €4.60

-11.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.13 €2.74

$2.14 €1.87

46.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.13 €29.89

$20.66 €18.10

65.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.31 €2.02

$2.23 €1.95

3.59%

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

$42.4K €37.1K

$37.9K €33.2K

11.81%

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

$35.1K €30.7K

$33.0K €28.9K

6.18%

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

$244 €214

$243 €213

0.45%

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

$26.15 €22.90

$24.20 €21.19

8.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.38 €40.62

$37.34 €32.70

24.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.54 €37.26

$29.04 €25.43

46.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.04 €22.80

$28.87 €25.29

-9.80%

Cinema Ticket

$16.55 €14.49

$16.57 €14.51

-0.12%

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

$2,409 €2,110

$2,289 €2,005

5.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K €10.4K

$4,209 €3,686

182.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$129 €113

$93.0 €81.4

38.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.16 €43.06

$49.74 €43.56

-1.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 €106

$111 €97.5

8.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 €136

$180 €158

-13.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,675 €1,467

$1,387 €1,215

20.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,472 €1,290

$1,283 €1,124

14.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,010 €2,636

$1,716 €1,503

75.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,476 €2,168

$1,508 €1,321

64.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,436 €5,637

$5,912 €5,178

8.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,635 €4,059

$4,684 €4,102

-1.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,226 €3,701

$4,587 €4,018

-7.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.08

-1.96%

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

Last update for The Hague: July 13, 2026

Last update for Zoetermeer: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,675 in The Hague versus $1,387 in Zoetermeer. 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 9% higher in Zoetermeer, 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 $91.0 in Zoetermeer. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $348 vs $317 – making Zoetermeer 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 Zoetermeer: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,879 in The Hague, $2,540 in Zoetermeer – roughly 13% apart. The Hague costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,318 per month in The Hague and $3,810 in Zoetermeer. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Zoetermeer, 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 $2,540 in Zoetermeer. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 33% less in Zoetermeer. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Zoetermeer, where all-in costs run around $2,540, than in The Hague at $2,879. In Zoetermeer 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 $2,540 in Zoetermeer 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 Zoetermeer. 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.