🙂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: Lillestrom89% above, Hilversum130% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lillestrom
Hilversum
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.83NOK 194
$28.56€24.36
-27.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100NOK 931
$91.4€77.9
9.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.92NOK 102
$16.18€13.80
-32.51%
Cappuccino
$4.84NOK 45.03
$4.58€3.91
5.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42NOK 22.51
$3.77€3.22
-35.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16NOK 20.05
$3.14€2.68
-31.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.90NOK 82.7
$5.84€4.98
52.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.21NOK 95.0
$5.24€4.47
94.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lillestrom
Hilversum
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17NOK 20.16
$1.32€1.13
64.39%
White Bread(500g)
$3.38NOK 31.44
$2.17€1.85
55.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.17NOK 29.53
$3.73€3.18
-15.01%
Eggs
$4.14NOK 38.52
$4.97€4.24
-16.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.38NOK 106
$12.99€11.08
-12.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.98NOK 130
$17.56€14.98
-20.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$24.65NOK 229
$17.50€14.93
40.86%
Apples(1kg)
$3.11NOK 28.96
$1.97€1.68
57.87%
Banana(1kg)
$2.32NOK 21.57
$2.57€2.19
-9.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.28NOK 30.47
$1.95€1.66
68.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.17NOK 38.79
$3.79€3.24
10.03%
Potato(1kg)
$2.20NOK 20.49
$2.08€1.77
5.77%
Onion(1kg)
$2.22NOK 20.64
$2.13€1.82
4.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.01NOK 18.67
$1.17€1.00
71.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.82NOK 16.90
$0.96€0.82
89.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.97NOK 130
$12.18€10.39
14.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.08NOK 159
$6.99€5.96
144.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.18NOK 29.60
$1.48€1.26
114.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06NOK 37.78
$2.75€2.34
47.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Lillestrom
Hilversum
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.18NOK 38.87
$4.74€4.05
-11.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.2NOK 681
$97.2€82.9
-24.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.05NOK 46.95
$5.73€4.89
-11.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.39NOK 12.93
$2.11€1.80
-34.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.6NOK 573
$28.38€24.21
117.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.20NOK 20.45
$2.26€1.93
-2.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4KNOK 319.7K
$40.9K€34.9K
-15.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.7KNOK 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)
$60.9NOK 566
$257€219
-76.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.30NOK 412
$29.99€25.58
47.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.96NOK 353
$57.7€49.22
-34.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lillestrom
Hilversum
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$70.3NOK 653
$69.8€59.6
0.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.02NOK 168
$41.11€35.07
-56.17%
Cinema Ticket
$14.92NOK 139
$17.06€14.56
-12.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lillestrom
Hilversum
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$233NOK 2,168
$676€577
-65.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,128NOK 38.4K
$7,468€6,370
-44.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lillestrom
Hilversum
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.0NOK 893
$128€109
-24.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.15NOK 439
$61.4€52.4
-23.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.8NOK 919
$133€113
-25.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$178NOK 1,653
$184€157
-3.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lillestrom
Hilversum
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,220NOK 11.3K
$1,750€1,493
-30.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,212NOK 11.3K
$1,531€1,306
-20.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,525NOK 23.5K
$3,054€2,605
-17.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,246NOK 20.9K
$2,401€2,048
-6.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,923NOK 55.1K
$7,355€6,273
-19.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,555NOK 42.4K
$5,502€4,693
-17.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lillestrom
Hilversum
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,858NOK 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.
Lillestrom vs other spots: cost of living compared