🙂A single person spends $2,947 per month in Dartford vs $2,992 in Utrecht, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,395 per month in Dartford vs $4,240 in Utrecht, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,844 per month in Dartford vs $5,489 in Utrecht, rent included.
🙂Dartford is about 1% cheaper than Utrecht, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Dartford and Utrecht sit above the global median – Dartford by 121%, Utrecht by 124%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dartford
Utrecht
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.01£20.08
$20.90€18.26
29.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$110£81.6
$85.8€74.9
27.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.99£8.17
$13.83€12.08
-20.54%
Cappuccino
$5.05£3.75
$4.62€4.04
9.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73£2.03
$4.08€3.57
-33.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85£1.38
$3.24€2.83
-42.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.22£6.11
$6.98€6.10
17.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.63£4.93
$5.64€4.93
17.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dartford
Utrecht
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65£1.22
$1.35€1.18
22.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33£0.99
$2.43€2.12
-45.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.58£1.92
$3.08€2.69
-16.23%
Eggs
$3.52£2.62
$5.30€4.63
-33.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.80£7.29
$14.05€12.27
-30.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.62£6.41
$16.20€14.15
-46.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.48£10.76
$17.28€15.10
-16.20%
Apples(1kg)
$3.47£2.58
$2.36€2.06
47.03%
Banana(1kg)
$2.04£1.52
$2.55€2.23
-20.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.87£2.13
$1.96€1.71
46.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.37£2.51
$3.76€3.29
-10.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47£1.09
$2.02€1.77
-27.23%
Onion(1kg)
$1.45£1.08
$2.23€1.95
-34.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99£0.73
$1.36€1.19
-27.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50£1.12
$1.15€1.00
30.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$23.24£17.28
$14.39€12.57
61.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.60£10.11
$6.69€5.85
103.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28£1.70
$1.45€1.27
57.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38£2.51
$2.73€2.38
23.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Dartford
Utrecht
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.28£2.44
$3.45€3.01
-4.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$89.4£66.4
$75.1€65.6
18.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.54£4.12
$3.70€3.23
49.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.70£1.26
$2.42€2.11
-29.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.05£11.19
$26.76€23.38
-43.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.95£1.45
$2.30€2.01
-15.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K£28.9K
$41.0K€35.8K
-5.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.8K£28.8K
$39.7K€34.7K
-2.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dartford
Utrecht
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$224£167
$288€252
-22.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.88£14.78
$26.02€22.73
-23.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.99£31.96
$47.92€41.86
-10.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dartford
Utrecht
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.85£32.60
$47.99€41.93
-8.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$23.07€20.16
-
Cinema Ticket
$20.45£15.20
$16.04€14.02
27.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dartford
Utrecht
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,904£1,415
$2,628€2,296
-27.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$25.8K£19.2K
$11.0K€9,593
135.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dartford
Utrecht
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.5£62.1
$118€103
-28.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.25£36.61
$62.7€54.8
-21.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109£80.9
$108€93.9
1.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.8£72.7
$130€114
-24.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dartford
Utrecht
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,247£1,671
$1,887€1,648
19.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,631£1,213
$1,523€1,331
7.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,907£2,161
$2,924€2,555
-0.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,694£2,003
$2,309€2,017
16.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,326£3,959
$7,310€6,387
-27.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,361£3,242
$5,072€4,432
-14.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dartford
Utrecht
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,550£2,639
$4,271€3,732
-16.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.05
4.39
15.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dartford: July 12, 2026
Last update for Utrecht: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $2,247 in Dartford versus $1,887 in Utrecht. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 20% higher in Utrecht, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $110 in Dartford versus $86.0 in Utrecht. Groceries tell a different story – $303 in Dartford vs $356 in Utrecht – so Dartford wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Dartford vs Utrecht: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Utrecht cheaper than Dartford?
Yes – Utrecht is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,420 per month in Dartford and $4,487 in Utrecht. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Dartford, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Dartford or in Utrecht?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $110 in Dartford and $86.0 in Utrecht. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Dartford and in Utrecht?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,947 in Dartford and $2,992 in Utrecht. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Dartford or in Utrecht?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,947 in Dartford and $2,992 in Utrecht. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Dartford or Utrecht more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Dartford – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Dartford or Utrecht?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Dartford. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Utrecht makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.