Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Oshawa and Utrecht

For one person, living is cheaper in Oshawa: $2,370 a month against $2,939 in Utrecht, rent and utilities included – about $6,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Oshawa, Canada
Utrecht, Netherlands
Oshawa
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,370
/mo nomad
Utrecht
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$2,939
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Oshawa and in Utrecht

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Oshawa and in Utrecht actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,370 in Oshawa versus $2,939 in Utrecht.

  • Oshawa $2,370
  • Utrecht $2,939

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,414 in Oshawa versus $4,216 in Utrecht.

  • Oshawa $3,414
  • Utrecht $4,216

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Oshawa versus $5,494 in Utrecht.

  • Oshawa $4,457
  • Utrecht $5,494

Living in Oshawa costs roughly 19% less than in Utrecht, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Oshawa 75% above, Utrecht 117% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oshawa
Utrecht
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.25 CA$19.90
$22.91 €20.41
-37.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.6 CA$88.7
$83.2 €74.1
-23.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.33 CA$11.63
$13.23 €11.78
-37.04%
Cappuccino
$3.54 CA$4.95
$4.77 €4.25
-25.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 CA$2.47
$3.85 €3.43
-54.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 CA$1.90
$3.25 €2.89
-58.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.86 CA$6.79
$6.78 €6.04
-28.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.04 CA$8.43
$7.12 €6.34
-15.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oshawa
Utrecht
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.91 CA$4.06
$1.53 €1.36
90.20%
White Bread (500g)
$2.91 CA$4.06
$2.87 €2.56
1.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.12 CA$5.75
$2.47 €2.20
66.80%
Eggs
$2.97 CA$4.14
$4.64 €4.14
-35.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.14 CA$14.15
$13.59 €12.11
-25.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.74 CA$19.19
$13.98 €12.45
-1.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.60 CA$23.17
$19.01 €16.93
-12.68%
Apples (1kg)
$4.20 CA$5.87
$2.80 €2.49
50.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 CA$1.70
$2.40 €2.14
-49.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.94 CA$4.10
$2.16 €1.92
36.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.84 CA$5.36
$3.71 €3.30
3.50%
Potato (1kg)
$3.36 CA$4.69
$1.74 €1.55
93.10%
Onion (1kg)
$2.57 CA$3.59
$1.86 €1.66
38.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.35 CA$3.28
$1.57 €1.40
49.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 CA$2.41
$1.38 €1.23
25.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.29 CA$19.95
$14.76 €13.15
-3.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.63 CA$17.63
$6.78 €6.04
86.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.53 CA$4.92
$1.39 €1.24
153.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 CA$4.87
$2.74 €2.44
27.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Oshawa
Utrecht
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.82 CA$3.94
$3.67 €3.27
-23.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$87.1 CA$122
$133 €118
-34.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.74 CA$3.82
$4.30 €3.83
-36.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 CA$2.00
$3.62 €3.22
-60.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.58 CA$27.33
$44.49 €39.63
-55.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 CA$1.74
$2.50 €2.22
-50.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K CA$40.2K
$40.7K €36.2K
-29.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9K CA$32.0K
$38.7K €34.5K
-40.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oshawa
Utrecht
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$139 CA$194
$246 €219
-43.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.94 CA$53.0
$21.97 €19.57
72.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.3 CA$75.9
$47.25 €42.09
15.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oshawa
Utrecht
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.91 CA$31.98
$43.19 €38.47
-46.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.28 CA$40.87
$32.16 €28.65
-8.96%
Cinema Ticket
$10.86 CA$15.17
$15.21 €13.55
-28.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oshawa
Utrecht
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$922 CA$1,287
$3,178 €2,831
-71.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,083 CA$11.3K
$7,609 €6,778
6.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oshawa
Utrecht
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 CA$81.4
$95.8 €85.4
-39.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.7 CA$80.5
$51.9 €46.26
11.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 CA$150
$103 €91.9
3.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 CA$180
$126 €112
2.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oshawa
Utrecht
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,400 CA$1,954
$1,967 €1,752
-28.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,207 CA$1,685
$1,501 €1,337
-19.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,003 CA$2,795
$3,203 €2,853
-37.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,824 CA$2,546
$2,283 €2,034
-20.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,158 CA$7,200
$7,380 €6,574
-30.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$10.3K CA$14.4K
$5,047 €4,496
104.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oshawa
Utrecht
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,049 CA$4,256
$4,436 €3,952
-31.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.53
3.16
43.35%

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

Last update for Oshawa: October 31, 2026

Last update for Utrecht: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Oshawa
$1.2K
Utrecht
$1.5K 24.3% $294
Groceries & Markets
Oshawa
$390
Utrecht
$354 9.3% $36
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oshawa
$231
Utrecht
$315 36.2% $84
Eating Out
Oshawa
$230
Utrecht
$357 54.8% $126
Clothing & Footwear
Oshawa
$158
Utrecht
$170 7.1% $11
Getting Around
Oshawa
$108
Utrecht
$170 56.6% $61
Sport & Entertainment
Oshawa
$45
Utrecht
$74 64.9% $29

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,400 in Oshawa and $1,967 in Utrecht. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Utrecht pays 46% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $64 in Oshawa vs $83 in Utrecht. Groceries flip the comparison at $390 vs $354, with Utrecht cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Oshawa
🇳🇱 Utrecht
🕒 Local time
22:03 10:03 PM
04:03 4:03 AM
6 h ahead of Oshawa
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
159,458
367,947
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.716 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.638 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 0.891 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Oshawa Utrecht 5,960 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Oshawa
  • Utrecht

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Oshawa vs Utrecht: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Oshawa or Utrecht?
Oshawa wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Utrecht. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Oshawa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Oshawa or in Utrecht?
On paper, salaries run 31% lower in Oshawa. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Oshawa compared to Utrecht?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,400 in Oshawa versus $1,967 in Utrecht. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Oshawa and in Utrecht?
Dining out is cheaper in Oshawa – a meal for two runs $64 versus $83 in Utrecht. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Oshawa compared to Utrecht?
All in, you’ll spend $2,370 per month in Oshawa versus $2,939 in Utrecht – Oshawa is about 19% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Oshawa or in Utrecht?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Oshawa is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Oshawa or Utrecht?
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.
Should I move to Oshawa or to Utrecht?
It comes down to priorities – Oshawa wins on affordability, Utrecht on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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