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: $2,539 in Lillestrom versus $3,081 in Hilversum.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,976 in Lillestrom versus $4,450 in Hilversum.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,413 in Lillestrom versus $5,819 in Hilversum.

Living in Lillestrom costs roughly 18% less than in Hilversum, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lillestrom 89% above, Hilversum 130% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lillestrom
Hilversum
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.83 NOK 194
$28.56 €24.36
-27.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 NOK 931
$91.4 €77.9
9.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.92 NOK 102
$16.18 €13.80
-32.51%
Cappuccino
$4.84 NOK 45.03
$4.58 €3.91
5.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 NOK 22.51
$3.77 €3.22
-35.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 NOK 20.05
$3.14 €2.68
-31.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.90 NOK 82.7
$5.84 €4.98
52.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.21 NOK 95.0
$5.24 €4.47
94.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lillestrom
Hilversum
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 NOK 20.16
$1.32 €1.13
64.39%
White Bread (500g)
$3.38 NOK 31.44
$2.17 €1.85
55.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.17 NOK 29.53
$3.73 €3.18
-15.01%
Eggs
$4.14 NOK 38.52
$4.97 €4.24
-16.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.38 NOK 106
$12.99 €11.08
-12.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.98 NOK 130
$17.56 €14.98
-20.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$24.65 NOK 229
$17.50 €14.93
40.86%
Apples (1kg)
$3.11 NOK 28.96
$1.97 €1.68
57.87%
Banana (1kg)
$2.32 NOK 21.57
$2.57 €2.19
-9.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.28 NOK 30.47
$1.95 €1.66
68.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.17 NOK 38.79
$3.79 €3.24
10.03%
Potato (1kg)
$2.20 NOK 20.49
$2.08 €1.77
5.77%
Onion (1kg)
$2.22 NOK 20.64
$2.13 €1.82
4.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.01 NOK 18.67
$1.17 €1.00
71.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 NOK 16.90
$0.96 €0.82
89.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.97 NOK 130
$12.18 €10.39
14.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.08 NOK 159
$6.99 €5.96
144.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.18 NOK 29.60
$1.48 €1.26
114.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06 NOK 37.78
$2.75 €2.34
47.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Lillestrom
Hilversum
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.18 NOK 38.87
$4.74 €4.05
-11.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.2 NOK 681
$97.2 €82.9
-24.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.05 NOK 46.95
$5.73 €4.89
-11.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 NOK 12.93
$2.11 €1.80
-34.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$61.6 NOK 573
$28.38 €24.21
117.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.20 NOK 20.45
$2.26 €1.93
-2.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K NOK 319.7K
$40.9K €34.9K
-15.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.7K NOK 285.2K
$39.7K €33.8K
-22.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lillestrom
Hilversum
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$60.9 NOK 566
$257 €219
-76.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.30 NOK 412
$29.99 €25.58
47.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.96 NOK 353
$57.7 €49.22
-34.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lillestrom
Hilversum
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$70.3 NOK 653
$69.8 €59.6
0.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.02 NOK 168
$41.11 €35.07
-56.17%
Cinema Ticket
$14.92 NOK 139
$17.06 €14.56
-12.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lillestrom
Hilversum
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$233 NOK 2,168
$676 €577
-65.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,128 NOK 38.4K
$7,468 €6,370
-44.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lillestrom
Hilversum
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.0 NOK 893
$128 €109
-24.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.15 NOK 439
$61.4 €52.4
-23.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.8 NOK 919
$133 €113
-25.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$178 NOK 1,653
$184 €157
-3.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lillestrom
Hilversum
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,220 NOK 11.3K
$1,750 €1,493
-30.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,212 NOK 11.3K
$1,531 €1,306
-20.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,525 NOK 23.5K
$3,054 €2,605
-17.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,246 NOK 20.9K
$2,401 €2,048
-6.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,923 NOK 55.1K
$7,355 €6,273
-19.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,555 NOK 42.4K
$5,502 €4,693
-17.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lillestrom
Hilversum
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,858 NOK 35.9K
$3,916 €3,340
-1.48%
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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Hilversum: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,220 in Lillestrom and $1,750 in Hilversum. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hilversum pays 2% 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: $100 in Lillestrom vs $91 in Hilversum for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $425 vs $355 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 ($2,539 vs $3,081 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 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 Lillestrom and Hilversum?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,220 in Lillestrom versus $1,750 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 33% 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 $233 in Lillestrom versus $676 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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