Cost of Living: New York vs The Hague (2026)

United States vs Netherlands — relocation comparison

TL;DRThe Hague is 64% cheaper on rent ($1548/mo vs $4281/mo). The Hague is safer — homicide rate 0.7 vs 5.8 per 100k. You can get by in English in both — your Duolingo streak can wait.
57
Livability Score
🇺🇸 New York
United States
Full profile
74
Livability Score
🇳🇱 The Hague
Netherlands
Full profile
The Hague scores 74 to New York's 57 on livability — the gap is real. New York has its charms, but the numbers favor The Hague.
💰
Cost of Living
The Hague
$2732/mo cheaper on rent alone
🔒
Safety
The Hague
0.7 homicides per 100k
🗳️
Democracy
The Hague
9.0/10 EIU index
☀️
Weather
28°C vs 20°C summers
New York
Metric
The Hague
$4281/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$1548/mo
$997/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$731/mo
$13,582
🧳
Cost to land
$6,793
5.8 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
0.7 / 100k
51 / 100
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
20 / 100
28°C
☀️
Summer high
20°C
-1°C
❄️
Winter low
2°C
162 Mbps
Internet speed
99 Mbps
7.8 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
9.0 / 10
Very High (100/100)
🗣️
English ease
Very High (99/100)
$86k
💼
GDP per capita
$86k
2.9%
📈
Inflation
3.3%
57 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
74 / 100
83/100 — Mostly stable
Grid reliability
94/100 — Reliable
80/100
🗽
Freedom House
97/100
5 years
📋
Time to PR
5 years

For the Kids

Schools, pediatric care, and whether your children can actually enroll

489
PISA
country avg
480
15
Intl schools
2
Yes (English)
Public school
Yes (Dutch)
CHIP covers children in low-income families; otherwise depends on employer plan
Pediatric care
Full pediatric coverage in basic insurance package
2–6 weeks
Specialist wait
3–6 weeks
$3390/mo
Childcare
full-day
$2253/mo

Sources: OECD PISA 2022 · Wikipedia · Numbeo · official health systems

Settler Essentials

stable
Democracy trend
stable
financemediatechfashion
Industries
governmentlegal-internationaltechsecurity
hub
Startup ecosystem
nascent
83/100
Grid reliability
94/100
5 yrs
Time to PR
5 yrs
Moderate
EU visa
Easy
Complex
RU visa
Complex
Moderate
UA visa
Easy
⚠️ Your partner can exist, not earn
Spouse works
Your partner can also work

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

The Short Version

  • Rent is 64% cheaper in The Hague ($1548/mo vs $4281/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are dramatically warmer in New York (28°C vs 20°C).
  • The Hague is safer by homicide rate (0.7 vs 5.8 per 100k).
  • The Hague scores higher on democracy (9.0 vs 7.8 / 10 EIU).

New York vs The Hague — Common Questions

Is New York cheaper than The Hague?

The Hague is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $1548/month in The Hague vs $4281/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, New York or The Hague?

The Hague is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. New York has a rate of 5.80 per 100,000 and The Hague has 0.73 per 100,000.

Should I move to New York or The Hague?

The Hague scores 74 to New York's 57 on livability — the gap is real. New York has its charms, but the numbers favor The Hague. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in New York or The Hague?

New York: US Employment-Based Green Card (complex process, Permanent residence). The Hague: Netherlands Highly Skilled Migrant (complex process, Up to 5 years). See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Which has better weather, New York or The Hague?

New York is warmer in summer (28°C vs 20°C). The Hague has milder summers, which suits those who prefer cooler weather. Climate preference is personal — use the weather section above to compare seasons.

Don't agree? Take the quiz and see what fits you.

Factor in your salary, family size, weather preferences, and deal-breakers.