The Hague (Den Haag) vs Yens: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
The Hague (Den Haag) leads on digital nomad suitability. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Yens is approximately 16% less expensive than The Hague (Den Haag) based on cost of living including rent. This makes Yens a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Yens has a FIRE Score of N/A/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 89, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Yens 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 Yens
Yens is a tiny, safe Swiss village, not a city, and the numbers reflect that: rent for a one-bedroom in the center runs $1,412/mo, but the budget tier total of $1,121/mo is a fantasy unless you share or live far outside the center. The expat score of 86/100 is generous given the small expat community and limited English, but the safety index of 89/100 and excellent healthcare are real draws for retirees. Digital nomads should look elsewhere: the 63/100 score, 107 Mbps internet, and a monthly public transport pass at $83/mo won't thrill remote workers. If you want Swiss order without Zurich prices, Yens works, but don't expect a scene, and the lump sum tax visa requires at least $2,100/mo in income, which barely covers the comfortable tier.
About Switzerland
Only wealthy, financially independent retirees 55+ should look here: the retirement visa exists, but at CHF 2100/mo income minimum against rent alone hitting $2,030/mo in city centers, this filters out anyone not already comfortable. Safety (73.5) and healthcare (71.5) are excellent trade-offs for top combined rates that can reach around 45% in higher-tax cantons and difficult citizenship path. Bad fit: digital nomads (no visa), budget seekers, or anyone wanting an easy path to permanent residency.
$919/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | The Hague (Den Haag) | Yens |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $1640.08 | $1411.63 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $1289.64 | $1176.35 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $2760.95 | N/A |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $2280.57 | N/A |
| Safety Index | 85 | 89 |
| Internet Speed | 250Mbps | 106.9Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | The Hague (Den Haag) | Yens |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $2,356/mo | $2,599/mo |
| Excluding rent | $1,066/mo | $1,423/mo |
| Rent | $1,290/mo | $1,176/mo |
| Groceries | $249/mo | $461/mo |
| Dining out | $224/mo | $288/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $137/mo | $240/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $363/mo | $351/mo |
| Transport | $93.00/mo | $83.00/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 Yens -- Frequently Asked Questions
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