Is Amsterdam more expensive than The Hague?
Cost of living in The Hague (Netherlands) is 10% cheaper than in Amsterdam (Netherlands)
This year, just two Dutch cities feature in InterNations' ranking of the top 50 cities around the world according to expats - but which one came out on top? Well, according to internationals in the Netherlands, The Hague is a better place to live than Amsterdam.
Amsterdam is by far the most expensive city and the region around Amsterdam the most expensive region in the Netherlands when speaking about housing. Amsterdam is followed by Utrecht, Eindhoven, The Hague and Rotterdam.
Summary of cost of living in The Hague (Den Haag), Netherlands: A family of four estimated monthly costs are 3,240.1$ (3,007.5€) without rent. A single person estimated monthly costs are 925.8$ (859.4€) without rent.
Cost of Living Comparison Between The Hague (Den Haag) and Rotterdam. You would need around 4,581.5€ in Rotterdam to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 4,300.0€ in The Hague (Den Haag) (assuming you rent in both cities).
The Hague is the country's administrative centre and its seat of government, and while the official capital of the Netherlands is Amsterdam, The Hague has been described as the country's de facto capital.
Cost of Living Comparison Between Amsterdam and The Hague (Den Haag) You would need around 4,350.6€ in The Hague (Den Haag) to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 5,400.0€ in Amsterdam (assuming you rent in both cities).
New York City, which shared the top spot with Singapore last year, tied to share the third spot with Geneva, Switzerland. Two other U.S. cities made the top 10 list of the world's most expensive cities to live: Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The most populars area in the Netherlands for the rich & famous: '20 km east of Amsterdam in/around the places Laren, Blaricum, Huizen, Bussum, Hilversum. West of Amsterdam and close to Haarlem in/around he villages: Bloemendaal, Aerdenhout, Heemstede. North of Den Haag: Wassenaar.
- Zurich and Singapore (tie)
- New York and Geneva (tie)
- Hong Kong.
- Los Angeles.
- Paris.
- Tel Aviv and Copenhagen (tie)
- San Francisco. Follow CNN Travel.
Why is The Hague so popular?
What is The Hague known for? The Hague is the seat of government of the Netherlands. It is famous for being the permanent home of the United Nations' International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration. It is also a leading center for international conferences.
The Hague is perhaps best known among visitors for its beaches, monuments and bustling shopping district, but secretly this city has more to offer. Much more. As the political centre of the Netherlands, it offers a variety of cultural institutions and museums and there is an abundance of welcoming restaurants and bars.
Globally, The Hague is known as the international city of peace and justice. For over more than a century, it has been the place where countries gathered in peace conferences and international courts to foster peace through justice, rather than through war and conflict.
The Hague and Utrecht, the third and fourth-largest cities in the Netherlands, together have approximately as many inhabitants as Amsterdam alone.
On the downside, the cost of living in The Hague is relatively high, and the city can be quite crowded during peak tourist season. Additionally, the weather can be unpredictable, with strong winds and rain common during the winter months.
An Overview of The Hague
From Amsterdam, it takes just 50 minutes to get here by train, so The Hague makes a great day trip destination from Amsterdam. In one day, you can visit several art museums, visit the beach if the weather is nice, and enjoy The Hague's awesome international food scene.
Language and Multilingualism
Several other regional dialects and related languages are also protected under law. Whilst the vast majority (over 90 percent of people under the age of 50) will speak English, some older people may not- or may choose not to.
Rotterdam has a distinct city vibe while Amsterdam is more of a town. Amsterdam has centuries-old architecture, coffee-shops and liberal attitude to life and Rotterdam has striking modern architecture, world-class dining and a very cool, laid back feel. While Amsterdam has a big port, Rotterdam's port is huge!
Amsterdam now ranks consistently highly in international cost-of-living indexes. Property prices have soared, as have other costs such as food and transport, all amplified by the Covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine. All this has had a knock-on effect for visitors to the city.
Is it fun to live in The Hague?
The Hague has some of the best quality of life in Europe. The city has a bustling, historic city centre, is surrounded by forests and greenery, and is even just a short bike ride from the beach! In short, a superb place to live, with a cosmopolitan feel, plenty of culture, and lots to discover.
Amsterdam Zuid/Museum Quarter
Expect to find the most expensive houses, bars, restaurants, hotels, and shopping in town here. Amsterdam Zuid is also home to the Museum Quarter, where most of Amsterdam's major museums, including the world-renowned Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum have stood for centuries.
The top 10 most expensive cities are, in order from rank 1 to rank 10: Hong Kong, Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bern, Tel Aviv, New York City, Singapore, Tokyo, Beijing. The 10 least expensive cities are, in order from rank 218 to 227: Algiers, Almaty, Tunis, Tashkent, Istanbul, Karachi, Islamabad, Dushanbe, Bishkek, Ankara.
- Singapore.
- Shanghai.
- Hong Kong.
- London.
- New York.
- Monaco.
- Dubai.
- Taipei.
Switzerland is the most expensive country in Europe, and its cost of living is 88.4% higher than the United Kingdom. It's a European and world hub for finance and technology with vibrant multicultural cities and spectacular natural scenery.