😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,312 in Newton, MA versus $3,038 in Hilversum.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,265 in Newton, MA versus $4,445 in Hilversum.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,217 in Newton, MA versus $5,852 in Hilversum.
😐Living in Newton, MA is roughly 9% more expensive than Hilversum, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Newton, MA147% above, Hilversum127% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Newton, MA
Hilversum
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.78$24.78
$28.65€24.85
-13.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100$100
$90.9€78.9
10.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.04$11.04
$16.48€14.30
-33.01%
Cappuccino
$5.44$5.44
$4.46€3.87
21.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77$2.77
$3.90€3.38
-28.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27$2.27
$3.08€2.67
-26.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.32$6.32
$5.86€5.09
7.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.78$7.78
$5.09€4.42
52.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Newton, MA
Hilversum
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25$1.25
$1.35€1.17
-7.41%
White Bread(500g)
$4.08$4.08
$2.20€1.91
85.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$6.33$6.33
$3.78€3.28
67.46%
Eggs
$4.76$4.76
$4.90€4.25
-2.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.92$19.92
$12.96€11.24
53.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.86$12.86
$17.37€15.07
-25.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.53$14.53
$17.26€14.97
-15.82%
Apples(1kg)
$5.72$5.72
$1.89€1.64
202.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.95$1.95
$2.55€2.21
-23.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.92$5.92
$1.86€1.61
218.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.21$6.21
$3.77€3.27
64.72%
Potato(1kg)
$3.19$3.19
$2.11€1.83
51.18%
Onion(1kg)
$3.69$3.69
$2.24€1.94
64.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.50$2.50
$1.17€1.02
113.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.20$2.20
$0.91€0.79
141.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.69$13.69
$12.37€10.73
10.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.66$16.66
$7.01€6.09
137.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77$1.77
$1.56€1.36
13.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48$2.48
$2.83€2.46
-12.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Newton, MA
Hilversum
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.35$2.35
$4.69€4.07
-49.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$89.3$89.3
$95.7€83.1
-6.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.63$2.63
$5.67€4.92
-53.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.69$1.69
$2.04€1.77
-17.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.93$27.93
$29.48€25.57
-5.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.92$0.92
$2.30€2.00
-60.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K$27.7K
$40.9K€35.5K
-32.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0K$25.0K
$40.5K€35.1K
-38.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Newton, MA
Hilversum
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189$189
$265€230
-28.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.9$58.9
$30.38€26.36
94.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.6$70.6
$58.3€50.6
21.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Newton, MA
Hilversum
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$65.2$65.2
$70.4€61.1
-7.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$41.69€36.17
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.17$13.17
$17.20€14.92
-23.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Newton, MA
Hilversum
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,249$1,249
$663€575
88.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$27.2K$27.2K
$7,633€6,622
256.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Newton, MA
Hilversum
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.2$66.2
$127€110
-47.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.10$37.10
$60.7€52.7
-38.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.6$91.6
$132€114
-30.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$146$146
$184€160
-20.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Newton, MA
Hilversum
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,854$1,854
$1,732€1,503
7.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,842$1,842
$1,532€1,329
20.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,810$3,810
$3,027€2,626
25.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,683$3,683
$2,394€2,077
53.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,902$5,902
$7,097€6,158
-16.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,445$5,445
$5,465€4,741
-0.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Newton, MA
Hilversum
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$7,760$7,760
$3,837€3,329
102.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.38
4.5
41.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Newton, MA: May 30, 2026
Last update for Hilversum: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,854 in Newton, MA and $1,732 in Hilversum. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Newton, MA pays 102% 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 Newton, MA vs $91.0 in Hilversum for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $461 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
Newton, MA vs Hilversum: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Newton, MA and Hilversum?
Newton, MA and Hilversum differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($3,312 vs $3,038 including rent). Hilversum is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Newton, MA or Hilversum?
Newton, MA pays 102% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Newton, MA and Hilversum?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,854 in Newton, MA 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 Newton, MA and Hilversum?
A monthly transit pass in Hilversum runs roughly 7% less than in Newton, MA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Newton, MA and Hilversum?
Childcare runs $1,249 in Newton, MA 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 $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Hilversum 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 Newton, MA 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 Newton, MA or Hilversum safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Newton, MA 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: Newton, MA or Hilversum?
Expats usually find Hilversum gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Newton, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Newton, MA vs other spots: cost of living compared