😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,038 in Hilversum versus $2,769 in Jessheim.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,445 in Hilversum versus $4,027 in Jessheim.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,852 in Hilversum versus $5,284 in Jessheim.
😐Living in Hilversum is roughly 10% more expensive than Jessheim, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hilversum127% above, Jessheim107% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hilversum
Jessheim
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.65€24.64
$25.66NOK 238
11.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.9€78.2
$79.9NOK 742
13.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.48€14.18
$15.05NOK 140
9.50%
Cappuccino
$4.46€3.83
$4.71NOK 43.73
-5.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90€3.35
$2.82NOK 26.16
38.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08€2.65
$3.25NOK 30.17
-5.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.86€5.04
$10.08NOK 93.6
-41.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.09€4.38
$8.69NOK 80.8
-41.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hilversum
Jessheim
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35€1.16
$2.04NOK 18.93
-33.82%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20€1.89
$4.03NOK 37.46
-45.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.78€3.25
$2.15NOK 19.98
75.81%
Eggs
$4.90€4.22
$3.01NOK 28.00
62.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.96€11.15
$13.46NOK 125
-3.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$17.37€14.94
$13.77NOK 128
26.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.26€14.84
$26.94NOK 250
-35.93%
Apples(1kg)
$1.89€1.62
$2.32NOK 21.54
-18.53%
Banana(1kg)
$2.55€2.19
$2.10NOK 19.54
21.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$2.75NOK 25.53
-32.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.77€3.24
$3.73NOK 34.66
1.07%
Potato(1kg)
$2.11€1.82
$1.90NOK 17.69
11.05%
Onion(1kg)
$2.24€1.93
$2.57NOK 23.88
-12.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17€1.01
$2.35NOK 21.86
-50.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.78
$0.62NOK 5.78
46.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.37€10.64
$13.68NOK 127
-9.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.01€6.03
$18.21NOK 169
-61.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56€1.34
$3.33NOK 30.90
-53.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.44
$4.36NOK 40.50
-35.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Hilversum
Jessheim
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.69€4.03
$4.55NOK 42.29
3.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$95.7€82.4
$89.2NOK 829
7.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.67€4.88
$10.26NOK 95.4
-44.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.75
$1.46NOK 13.57
39.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.48€25.36
$42.24NOK 392
-30.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.30€1.98
$2.09NOK 19.37
10.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.9K€35.2K
$35.9KNOK 333.7K
13.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.5K€34.8K
$34.9KNOK 324.4K
15.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hilversum
Jessheim
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$265€228
$296NOK 2,746
-10.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.38€26.13
$30.66NOK 285
-0.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.3€50.2
$55.5NOK 515
5.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hilversum
Jessheim
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$70.4€60.6
$49.07NOK 456
43.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.69€35.86
$36.10NOK 335
15.48%
Cinema Ticket
$17.20€14.79
$18.01NOK 167
-4.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hilversum
Jessheim
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$663€570
$271NOK 2,514
145.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,633€6,566
$14.8KNOK 137.5K
-48.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hilversum
Jessheim
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$127€109
$104NOK 965
21.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.7€52.2
$65.7NOK 610
-7.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$132€113
$123NOK 1,142
7.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$184€158
$164NOK 1,523
12.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hilversum
Jessheim
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,732€1,490
$1,314NOK 12.2K
31.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,532€1,318
$1,134NOK 10.5K
35.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,027€2,604
$1,854NOK 17.2K
63.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,394€2,060
$1,723NOK 16.0K
38.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,097€6,105
$8,453NOK 78.5K
-16.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,465€4,701
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hilversum
Jessheim
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,837€3,301
$3,927NOK 36.5K
-2.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.5
5.08
-11.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hilversum: May 31, 2026
Last update for Jessheim: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,732 in Hilversum and $1,314 in Jessheim. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Jessheim pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $91.0 in Hilversum vs $80.0 in Jessheim. Groceries flip the comparison at $353 vs $415, with Hilversum cheaper for home cooking.
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
Hilversum vs Jessheim: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Hilversum and Jessheim?
Hilversum and Jessheim differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($3,038 vs $2,769 including rent). Jessheim is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Jessheim earns 2% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Hilversum and Jessheim?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,732 in Hilversum versus $1,314 in Jessheim. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Hilversum and Jessheim?
A monthly transit pass in Jessheim runs roughly 7% less than in Hilversum. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Hilversum and Jessheim?
Childcare runs $663 in Hilversum versus $271 in Jessheim. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is feasible on a $2,500 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Jessheim is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Hilversum and Jessheim?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Hilversum or Jessheim safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Hilversum and Jessheim are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Hilversum or Jessheim?
Expats usually find Jessheim gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Hilversum. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.