Cost of living comparison

compared to

Chicago vs. The Hague (Den Haag) Cost of Living Summary

Chicago is 15.1% more expensive than The Hague (Den Haag).

Restaurants
pay 8.7% less in Chicago
Groceries
pay 27.9% more in Chicago
Transportation
pay 46.0% less in Chicago
Housing
pay 18.4% more in Chicago
Childcare
pay 2.1 times more in Chicago
Entertainment and Sports
pay 23.1% more in Chicago
Clothing
pay 16.6% less in Chicago

The cost of childcare, groceries, entertainment and sports, and housing in Chicago are more expensive than in The Hague (Den Haag). Expenses including transportation, clothing, and restaurants are lower in Chicago. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Chicago.

Chicago vs. The Hague (Den Haag) Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Chicago instead of The Hague (Den Haag), you would:

pay 8.7% less for restaurants

 
The Hague (Den Haag)
Chicago
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $18.69
€16.05
$20.50
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$14.02
€12.04
$12.00
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $3.32
€2.85
$2.96
 

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pay 27.9% more for groceries

 
The Hague (Den Haag)
Chicago
Bread
1 loaf
$2.29
€1.96
$4.01
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $7.23
€6.21
$7.05
 
Milk (1 gallon) $5.18
€4.45
$4.30
 

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pay 46.0% less for transportation

 
The Hague (Den Haag)
Chicago
Gasoline (1 gallon) $8.69
€7.47
$3.81
 
Monthly public transit pass $175.19
€150.45
$75.00
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $42,045.51
€36,109.15
$35,691.85
 

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pay 18.4% more for housing

 
The Hague (Den Haag)
Chicago
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$47.19
€40.53
$65.83
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,796.15
€1,542.56
$2,418.00
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,415.80
€1,215.91
$1,692.50
 

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pay 2.1 times more for childcare

 
The Hague (Den Haag)
Chicago
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $2,348.84
€2,017.21
$2,050.00
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $11,933.92
€10,248.98
$39,114.29
 

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pay 23.1% more for entertainment and sports

 
The Hague (Den Haag)
Chicago
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $7.01
€6.02
$7.00
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $4.45
€3.82
$5.53
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$14.60
€12.54
$17.00
 

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pay 16.6% less for clothing

 
The Hague (Den Haag)
Chicago
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$123.12
€105.74
$64.24
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$52.45
€45.05
$49.62
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$124.01
€106.50
$99.48
 

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: December 2025
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