Cost of Living Comparison Between Lillestrom and Hilversum Cost of Living Comparison Between Lillestrom and Hilversum

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,507 in Lillestrom versus $3,038 in Hilversum.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,952 in Lillestrom versus $4,445 in Hilversum.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,397 in Lillestrom versus $5,852 in Hilversum.

Living in Lillestrom costs roughly 17% less than in Hilversum, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lillestrom 87% above, Hilversum 127% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lillestrom
Hilversum
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.40 NOK 193
$28.65 €24.85
-28.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$103 NOK 974
$90.9 €78.9
13.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.73 NOK 101
$16.48 €14.30
-34.89%
Cappuccino
$4.90 NOK 46.30
$4.46 €3.87
9.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 NOK 23.21
$3.90 €3.38
-36.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 NOK 20.44
$3.08 €2.67
-29.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.21 NOK 87.1
$5.86 €5.09
57.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.18 NOK 96.3
$5.09 €4.42
100.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lillestrom
Hilversum
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.12 NOK 20.02
$1.35 €1.17
57.04%
White Bread (500g)
$3.27 NOK 30.88
$2.20 €1.91
48.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.31 NOK 31.31
$3.78 €3.28
-12.43%
Eggs
$4.29 NOK 40.53
$4.90 €4.25
-12.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.54 NOK 109
$12.96 €11.24
-10.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.07 NOK 133
$17.37 €15.07
-19.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$24.22 NOK 229
$17.26 €14.97
40.32%
Apples (1kg)
$3.07 NOK 28.99
$1.89 €1.64
62.43%
Banana (1kg)
$2.31 NOK 21.84
$2.55 €2.21
-9.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.37 NOK 31.88
$1.86 €1.61
81.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.11 NOK 38.86
$3.77 €3.27
9.02%
Potato (1kg)
$2.22 NOK 20.95
$2.11 €1.83
5.21%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 NOK 21.09
$2.24 €1.94
-0.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 NOK 18.62
$1.17 €1.02
68.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 NOK 17.43
$0.91 €0.79
102.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.29 NOK 135
$12.37 €10.73
15.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.97 NOK 160
$7.01 €6.09
142.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.19 NOK 30.11
$1.56 €1.36
104.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 NOK 36.43
$2.83 €2.46
36.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Lillestrom
Hilversum
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.13 NOK 39.00
$4.69 €4.07
-11.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.8 NOK 688
$95.7 €83.1
-23.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.17 NOK 48.84
$5.67 €4.92
-8.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.46 NOK 13.80
$2.04 €1.77
-28.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$60.4 NOK 571
$29.48 €25.57
104.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.10 NOK 19.83
$2.30 €2.00
-8.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K NOK 323.9K
$40.9K €35.5K
-16.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.8K NOK 290.8K
$40.5K €35.1K
-24.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lillestrom
Hilversum
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$60.0 NOK 567
$265 €230
-77.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.22 NOK 409
$30.38 €26.36
42.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18 NOK 351
$58.3 €50.6
-36.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lillestrom
Hilversum
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.7 NOK 677
$70.4 €61.1
1.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.55 NOK 166
$41.69 €36.17
-57.90%
Cinema Ticket
$14.91 NOK 141
$17.20 €14.92
-13.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lillestrom
Hilversum
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$240 NOK 2,266
$663 €575
-63.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,228 NOK 40.0K
$7,633 €6,622
-44.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lillestrom
Hilversum
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.4 NOK 921
$127 €110
-23.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.99 NOK 444
$60.7 €52.7
-22.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.3 NOK 929
$132 €114
-25.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$180 NOK 1,703
$184 €160
-2.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lillestrom
Hilversum
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 NOK 11.4K
$1,732 €1,503
-30.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,232 NOK 11.6K
$1,532 €1,329
-19.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,499 NOK 23.6K
$3,027 €2,626
-17.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,191 NOK 20.7K
$2,394 €2,077
-8.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,082 NOK 57.5K
$7,097 €6,158
-14.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,440 NOK 42.0K
$5,465 €4,741
-18.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lillestrom
Hilversum
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,818 NOK 36.1K
$3,837 €3,329
-0.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.38
4.5
-2.67%

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

Last update for Lillestrom: June 1, 2026

Last update for Hilversum: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,208 in Lillestrom and $1,732 in Hilversum. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hilversum pays 0% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $103 in Lillestrom vs $91.0 in Hilversum for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $424 vs $353 per month, with Hilversum cheaper across the board.

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
Lillestrom vs Hilversum: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lillestrom and Hilversum?
Lillestrom and Hilversum differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($2,507 vs $3,038 including rent). Lillestrom is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Hilversum earns 0% 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 Lillestrom and Hilversum?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,208 in Lillestrom versus $1,732 in Hilversum. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Lillestrom and Hilversum?
A monthly transit pass in Lillestrom runs roughly 32% 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 Lillestrom and Hilversum?
Childcare runs $240 in Lillestrom versus $663 in Hilversum. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is feasible on a $2,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Lillestrom 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 Lillestrom and Hilversum?
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 Lillestrom or Hilversum safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lillestrom and Hilversum 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: Lillestrom or Hilversum?
Expats usually find Lillestrom gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Hilversum. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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