The Hague (Den Haag) vs Edam: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Edam costs roughly 71% less than The Hague (Den Haag). The Hague (Den Haag) leads on digital nomad infrastructure, with faster average internet speeds. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
The Hague (Den Haag) is approximately 37% less expensive than Edam based on cost of living including rent. This makes The Hague (Den Haag) a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
The Hague (Den Haag) has a FIRE Score of 67/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 85, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: The Hague (Den Haag) is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.
About The Hague (Den Haag)
The Hague is a quietly excellent choice for expats who want big-city amenities without Amsterdam's price tag or tourist crush. At $1,640/mo for a city-center one-bedroom and a $2,253/mo mid-range budget for a single adult, it is not cheap, but a $4,101/mo average net salary and an 82/100 expat score make the math work. The city pairs an 85/100 safety index and excellent healthcare with a large, active expat community and English spoken widely, which explains the strong 84/100 digital nomad score. If you can handle gray coastal winters and a flat, bike-first existence, this is one of the most livable mid-sized cities in Europe.
About Netherlands
Best for digital nomads with high income: the Netherlands offers a self-employment residency visa with a posted income floor of $1,713/month, but check the latest application details. Safety is top-tier with a 73.1 Safety Index and a US Travel Advisory Level 2, comparable to safe US metros. The trade-off: a progressive income tax up to 49.5% on local earnings, which can erode remote-work arbitrage gains.
$747/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Edam
Edam is a tiny, safe, walkable town of 11 thousand where a single adult can live comfortably for $3,444/mo, and the $34/mo transport pass plus 210 Mbps internet make it easy to skip a car. The catch is that the expat community is small, so you are trading big-city social life for a quiet Old Town and a 22 km hop to AMS. Rent is the real test: $2,243/mo for a one-bedroom in the center is steep for a town this size, though $1,682/mo outside the center is more reasonable. Come for the safety, air quality, and English-friendly daily life, not for nightlife or a ready-made friend group.
About Netherlands
Best for digital nomads with high income: the Netherlands offers a self-employment residency visa with a posted income floor of $1,713/month, but check the latest application details. Safety is top-tier with a 73.1 Safety Index and a US Travel Advisory Level 2, comparable to safe US metros. The trade-off: a progressive income tax up to 49.5% on local earnings, which can erode remote-work arbitrage gains.
$370/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | The Hague (Den Haag) | Edam |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $1640.08 | $2242.85 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $1289.64 | $1682.14 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $2760.95 | $2803.56 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $2280.57 | $2242.85 |
| Safety Index | 85 | 90 |
| Internet Speed | 250Mbps | 210Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | The Hague (Den Haag) | Edam |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $2,356/mo | $2,735/mo |
| Excluding rent | $1,066/mo | $1,053/mo |
| Rent | $1,290/mo | $1,682/mo |
| Groceries | $249/mo | $250/mo |
| Dining out | $224/mo | $224/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $137/mo | $153/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $363/mo | $392/mo |
| Transport | $93.00/mo | $34.00/mo |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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The Hague (Den Haag) vs Edam -- Frequently Asked Questions
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