What's the cost of living in The Hague in 2026?

Living in The Hague is a great alternative for those wanting to live in a major city and save on cost of living. Read more to budget correctly.

Shreya

11 minute read

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Updated on 16 Sep 2026

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Living

Living in The Hague costs a single person around €2,108 a month in total, or €1,034 excluding rent. The Hague is a perfect place for those wanting to live in a city that has both a historic Dutch feel and a city vibe. As the third major city in the Randstad area, and one of the best cities to live in the Netherlands, Den Haag is attractive to many expats. The city has a central location, a relaxed feel, the many green spaces, and the international community.

If you're comparing cities, make sure to see the cost of living across the Netherlands to understand how The Hague stacks up nationally.

So before you decide to move to this city, it's important to do your research and find out the average cost of living in The Hague. Find out below how much money you'll need to comfortably live in The Hague and budget accordingly.

• Overall budget: a single person needs about €2,108 a month in The Hague (rent included), or €1,034 excluding rent.
• Students: budget €1,784 a month excluding tuition. Rooms start around €750, and student discounts on transport and museums cut costs further.
• Young professionals/expats: a studio averages €1,074 and an apartment €1,520. Add €269 for utilities and €159 for health insurance to your monthly total.
• Couples and families: budget €3,577 for a couple and €5,874 for a family of 3, factoring in bigger rent, childcare, and school costs.
• The Hague vs. other Dutch cities: it's pricier than the Dutch average but cheaper than Amsterdam, making it a solid middle-ground choice.
• Hidden costs to plan for: deposits, registration, and municipal taxes catch out most newcomers, so budget for them before you move.

Your rent in The Hague will depend on 3 factors -- furnished or unfurnished; the neighbourhood in The Hague you choose; property type. Typically, unfurnished homes located outside the city centre are cheaper than furnished homes or homes in the centre. Here are the average rent prices according to the HousingAnywhere Rent Index

These prices shift considerably depending on where you live, costs in Scheveningen and the city centre differ quite a bit from quieter residential spots like Ypenburg. To find a neighbourhood that fits your budget, compare listings by area before you start deciding.

The apartment average above covers everything from a 1-bedroom flat to larger family homes, so if you're specifically after a 1-bedroom apartment in The Hague, expect a price close to or slightly below that €1,520 average, depending on the neighbourhood. Sharing a flat with roommates works out cheapest per person: split a 3-bedroom apartment between three tenants and you'll often pay less than renting a studio solo. If you'd rather live near campus, look for student life and budgets, which typically comes furnished and bundled with utilities, making budgeting simpler even if the base rent runs a bit higher than a private room.

While these rent prices offer a good estimate, it's worth noting that The Hague can have high rental costs. Fortunately, if you meet the criteria, you can check if you're eligible for rent allowance (Huurtoeslag), which can help offset some of the housing expenses in The Hague, making it more affordable to live in this vibrant city.

You'll need to budget around €269 per month for utility bills in The Hague.

Utility costs vary depending on your provider and contract. Before you move in, choose an energy provider in the Netherlands to get the right deal for your monthly bills.

Expect your bills to run higher in winter months, since heating makes up a large share of the "basic" cost above. Some providers ask for a security deposit or an upfront advance payment when you sign a contract, so factor that into your first month's budget alongside the deposit for your home.

Grocery costs

The average monthly cost of doing groceries in The Hague is €200-€300 per person. This includes shopping at both the local market (Haagse Markt) and relatively cheap grocery stores.

If you primarily buy groceries from more expensive stores, such as Albert Heijn, or tend to buy a lot of imported items, then your costs will go up.

Eating out costs

Unlike the costs mentioned above, this is one category that you can control. How much you spend on eating out in The Hague really depends on the types of restaurants you go to and the frequency of eating out.

The good thing is that The Hague has a plethora of restaurants to suit every type of budget.

Compared to Amsterdam, both groceries and eating out in The Hague run slightly cheaper, though the gap is small. You'll notice the bigger savings in rent, not in your weekly shop.

As one of the main cities, The Hague has a well developed public transport system. You'll find 6 train stations and several tram, metro, and bus stops scattered throughout the city.

Most people living in the Netherlands purchase a personalised OV chipkaart (travel card) for €7.50. The advantage of this is that you can load a season ticket on your OV Chipkaart and significantly reduce your travel costs across trams, busses, metros, and trains. Below is the breakdown of train subscriptions available from NS:

If you only want to use The Hague's tram and bus service, you can use the services provided by HTM. The cost of a single journey is €1.16 and the cost of a day ticket is €8.60. Regular travelers can opt for a season ticket on the HTM website to enjoy discounts or unlimited travel.

Students get further discounts through their student OV product on top of these standard fares, so check your university's arrangement before buying a season ticket at full price.

Tip to reduce your travel costs: As with any Dutch city, the first mode of transport is the bicycle. You can purchase a second-hand cycle and a good lock for €80- €160 in The Hague.

Leisure costs

There's plenty to do in The Hague. In the summers or slightly warmer days, you can head down to the Scheveningen Beach. If the beach is not your scene and you want to get away from the flat landscape, try exploring the dunes! For culture and art enthusiasts, there're plenty of museums to satisfy keep you intrigued. You'll also find many consulates, embassies, and the Palace of Justice here.

Apart from this, you can enjoy a nice meal, a borrel, or drinks at the many restaurants; watch a movie or theatre show; head to the gym; or simply head to the boulder centre for indoor climbing.

Health insurance costs

Dutch people love their insurances and it's quite common to get liability, car, or home insurance. But one insurance that is compulsory for all those living and working here is health insurance.

Dutch public health insurance with supplemental packages, such as dental care, can cost you about €159 per month on average. If you have a lower income or are a student, you can apply for healthcare allowance in the Netherlands to help with healthcare costs.

Other than health insurance, it's also mandatory to have third-party liability insurance if you own a car and it's highly advised to have residential premise insurance if you plan on taking a mortgage for a home.

International students from the EU/EEA can often rely on their European Health Insurance Card during a short exchange, but anyone working part-time or staying long-term needs Dutch health insurance. Non-EU students typically need private cover, such as AON, until they switch to a Dutch policy.

Education costs

The Hague offers a range of educational establishments for international and EU/EEA students. Your tuition fees at any of these institutions depend on your citizenship status and whether you're enrolling for a degree for the first time.

The tuition fees for EU/EEA students is on average €2,694 per year. The tuition fees for non-EU students is on average €10,164 - €16,713 per year.

Expat parents who want to send their child to an international school in The Hague should expect to pay around €9,000 per year. A cheaper alternative is to send children to local Dutch schools, where you only need to pay for school supplies and administrative fees.

Scholarships and exchange programmes can also reduce or waive tuition entirely for non-EU students, so check with your institution before you budget the full sticker price.

Childcare costs

Expat parents in The Hague should expect to pay €10.46-€13.28 per hour or roughly €2,416-€3,068 per month for full-day, private daycare or pre-school. The costs can be adjusted depending on how many days a week and how many weeks in a year you sign up for.

To reduce your childcare costs, consider sending your child to a local daycare or pre-school. This has several advantages such as your child integrating with other local children and you being eligible for childcare allowance from the Dutch government. How much allowance you get depends on your particular financial situation and the type of childcare.

If you do get the subsidy, you can expect to pay €550 per month on average for full-day, 5 days a week daycare.

One-off costs when you move

Beyond your monthly budget, plan for these one-time costs before and right after you arrive:

• Deposit: landlords typically ask for 1-2 months' rent upfront, refunded when you move out if there's no damage.
• Booking or Tenant Protection fees: platforms like HousingAnywhere charge a fee alongside your first month's rent, which covers move-in support and payment protection.
• Municipal registration (BSN): registering your address at the gemeente is free and gives you the BSN you need for a bank account, health insurance, and payroll.
• Municipal taxes: expect roughly €150-350 a year for waste collection, sewage, and water authority charges, billed by the municipality.
• OV chipkaart and bike: budget €7.50 for your travel card and €80-160 for a second-hand bike and lock, both near-essential in your first week.

Budgeting tips for The Hague

Cut your monthly spend with a few habits that make a real difference over a year:

• Carry your student card everywhere. Many shops, museums, and services offer student discounts, and platforms like UNiDAYS add extra deals on top.
• Shop at Lidl, Aldi, or Dirk instead of Albert Heijn. You'll cover the same groceries for noticeably less.
• Use apps like Too Good To Go to grab unsold food from bakeries and supermarkets at a fraction of the price.
• Get the Museumcard for €75 a year if you plan to visit more than 2-3 museums, since The Hague has plenty worth seeing.
• Buy furniture second-hand from Marktplaats or Kringloop stores rather than buying new when you move in.
• Apply for Huurtoeslag and zorgtoeslag if you're eligible. Both allowances directly reduce your two biggest fixed costs: rent and health insurance.

The Hague sits in the middle of the Dutch rental market: pricier than Utrecht for a private room, but consistently cheaper than Amsterdam across every accommodation type.

Source: HousingAnywhere Rent Index.

If affordability is your top priority, The Hague or Rotterdam give you the most for your money among the 4 major cities. Choose The Hague specifically if you want beach access, a large international and diplomatic community, and a shorter commute to work in government or EU-adjacent organisations.

The average monthly cost of living in The Hague is €2,108 for a single person, €3,577 for a couple, €5,874 for a family of 3, and €1,784 for an international student (without tuition fees). Use the breakdowns above to build a realistic monthly budget before you commit to a move.

If you're wondering whether this fits your income, see the average salary in the Netherlands or estimate your take-home pay to get a full affordability check.

Once your numbers add up, start your search for homes for rent in The Hague. Booking through HousingAnywhere means you deal with ID-verified landlords and can complete your rental application before you arrive, so you're not stuck viewing places or wiring deposits to strangers once your budget is already tight. Use this arrival checklist for the Netherlands to sort your BSN, registration, and all the essentials before you move in.

How much does it cost to live in The Hague as a student? Budget around €1,784 a month excluding tuition. This covers a room from €750, groceries, transport, and leisure, but not your course fees.

What is the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in The Hague in 2026? Expect a price close to the city's apartment average of €1,520, though it varies by neighbourhood and whether the place is furnished.

Are groceries and eating out expensive in The Hague compared to other Dutch cities? No. Groceries run €200-300 a month and a mid-range meal for 2 costs about €80, both slightly cheaper than in Amsterdam and in line with the rest of the Netherlands.

What are the cheapest neighborhoods for students to live in The Hague? Quieter residential areas like Ypenburg cost less than central spots such as Scheveningen or the city centre. Compare listings by neighbourhood before you decide.

Do students get discounts on public transport or activities in The Hague? Yes. Students get discounted OV travel products on top of standard NS and HTM fares, plus student pricing on museums and many local activities.

Is The Hague a good city for international students in terms of affordability? Yes. It's cheaper than Amsterdam across rent, groceries, and eating out, while still offering a large international community, direct trains, and a well-connected public transport network.