Cost of Living Comparison Between Drammen and Utrecht Cost of Living Comparison Between Drammen and Utrecht

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,645 per month in Drammen vs $2,992 in Utrecht, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,089 per month in Drammen vs $4,267 in Utrecht, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,533 per month in Drammen vs $5,542 in Utrecht, rent included.

Drammen is about 12% cheaper than Utrecht, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Drammen and Utrecht sit above the global median – Drammen by 93%, Utrecht by 118%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Drammen
Utrecht
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.54 NOK 201
$22.86 €19.72
-5.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$128 NOK 1,196
$85.4 €73.6
50.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.37 NOK 106
$13.71 €11.82
-17.07%
Cappuccino
$5.27 NOK 49.17
$4.83 €4.17
9.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.18 NOK 39.03
$3.92 €3.38
6.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 NOK 18.11
$3.49 €3.01
-44.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.87 NOK 111
$7.68 €6.63
54.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.98 NOK 65.2
$7.39 €6.37
-5.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Drammen
Utrecht
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.57 NOK 23.98
$1.64 €1.41
56.71%
White Bread (500g)
$4.17 NOK 38.87
$2.95 €2.54
41.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.61 NOK 42.97
$2.58 €2.22
78.68%
Eggs
$4.73 NOK 44.13
$4.85 €4.18
-2.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.74 NOK 128
$13.69 €11.81
0.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.34 NOK 143
$14.45 €12.47
6.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$30.34 NOK 283
$19.44 €16.77
56.07%
Apples (1kg)
$3.48 NOK 32.46
$2.95 €2.54
17.97%
Banana (1kg)
$2.67 NOK 24.88
$2.57 €2.21
3.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.49 NOK 32.60
$2.18 €1.88
60.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.14 NOK 57.3
$3.84 €3.31
59.90%
Potato (1kg)
$2.64 NOK 24.60
$1.79 €1.55
47.49%
Onion (1kg)
$2.98 NOK 27.82
$1.93 €1.66
54.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.10 NOK 28.89
$1.64 €1.42
89.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.49 NOK 23.25
$1.44 €1.24
72.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.28 NOK 161
$15.39 €13.28
12.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.19 NOK 151
$7.17 €6.18
125.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.44 NOK 32.14
$1.44 €1.24
138.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 NOK 40.13
$2.85 €2.46
50.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Drammen
Utrecht
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.40 NOK 31.71
$3.76 €3.25
-9.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$93.7 NOK 874
$141 €122
-33.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$12.04 NOK 112
$3.88 €3.35
210.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 NOK 17.68
$2.87 €2.47
-33.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$70.9 NOK 662
$47.52 €40.98
49.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.32 NOK 21.67
$2.63 €2.26
-11.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.5K NOK 424.9K
$42.3K €36.5K
7.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.8K NOK 417.6K
$41.2K €35.5K
8.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Drammen
Utrecht
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$265 NOK 2,473
$250 €215
6.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.49 NOK 313
$21.86 €18.86
53.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.3 NOK 497
$49.84 €42.99
6.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Drammen
Utrecht
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$81.7 NOK 762
$46.75 €40.32
74.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$33.26 €28.68
-
Cinema Ticket
$18.06 NOK 168
$16.33 €14.08
10.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Drammen
Utrecht
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$245 NOK 2,281
$3,148 €2,715
-92.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K NOK 148.9K
$8,193 €7,067
94.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Drammen
Utrecht
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 NOK 956
$98.5 €85.0
4.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.9 NOK 577
$52.6 €45.33
17.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$131 NOK 1,224
$110 €95.2
18.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155 NOK 1,447
$132 €114
17.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Drammen
Utrecht
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,383 NOK 12.9K
$1,926 €1,661
-28.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,022 NOK 9,533
$1,531 €1,321
-33.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,074 NOK 19.4K
$3,285 €2,833
-36.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,636 NOK 15.3K
$2,323 €2,004
-29.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.7K NOK 99.4K
$7,283 €6,282
46.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,516 NOK 60.8K
$4,976 €4,292
30.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Drammen
Utrecht
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,693 NOK 34.5K
$4,525 €3,903
-18.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.54
3.21
41.43%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Drammen: August 30, 2026

Last update for Utrecht: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,383 in Drammen versus $1,926 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 23% 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 $128 in Drammen versus $85.0 in Utrecht. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $506 vs $366 – making Utrecht the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Drammen vs Utrecht: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Drammen and in Utrecht compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,645 in Drammen, $2,992 in Utrecht – roughly 13% apart. Utrecht costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Drammen compared to Utrecht?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,968 per month in Drammen and $4,487 in Utrecht. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Drammen and Utrecht?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Drammen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Drammen and Utrecht?
Kindergarten costs $245 per month in Drammen and $3,148 in Utrecht. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 38% cheaper in Utrecht – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,645 in Drammen and $2,992 in Utrecht. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Drammen and Utrecht?
It depends on your priorities. Utrecht has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,645 in Drammen to $2,992 in Utrecht. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Drammen or Utrecht safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Drammen and Utrecht?
If budget matters most, go with Drammen. 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.

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