Cost of Living Comparison Between Oslo and DrammenCost of Living Comparison Between Oslo and Drammen
Monthly Cost of Living
πA single person spends $3,141 per month in Oslo vs $2,214 in Drammen, rent included.
πA couple spends around $4,597 per month in Oslo vs $3,324 in Drammen, rent included.
πA family of three spends $6,053 per month in Oslo vs $4,434 in Drammen, rent included.
πOslo costs about 42% more than Drammen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth Oslo and Drammen sit above the global median β Oslo by 134%, Drammen by 65%.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Oslo
Drammen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.53NOKΒ 238
$20.64NOKΒ 192
23.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$123NOKΒ 1,140
$75.3NOKΒ 701
62.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.15NOKΒ 141
$13.06NOKΒ 122
16.00%
Cappuccino
$4.86NOKΒ 45.28
$4.99NOKΒ 46.43
-2.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08NOKΒ 38.03
$2.42NOKΒ 22.52
68.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19NOKΒ 29.71
$2.64NOKΒ 24.60
20.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.02NOKΒ 112
$7.82NOKΒ 72.8
53.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.22NOKΒ 104
$6.19NOKΒ 57.6
81.26%
π Groceries & Markets
Oslo
Drammen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.39NOKΒ 22.28
$2.20NOKΒ 20.51
8.64%
White Bread(500g)
$4.09NOKΒ 38.06
$3.13NOKΒ 29.17
30.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.66NOKΒ 34.09
$3.15NOKΒ 29.34
16.19%
Eggs
$5.03NOKΒ 46.87
$4.19NOKΒ 38.98
20.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.46NOKΒ 125
$11.60NOKΒ 108
16.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.04NOKΒ 149
$13.42NOKΒ 125
19.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$30.76NOKΒ 286
$17.23NOKΒ 160
78.53%
Apples(1kg)
$3.49NOKΒ 32.54
$2.05NOKΒ 19.08
70.24%
Banana(1kg)
$2.63NOKΒ 24.46
$2.32NOKΒ 21.62
13.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.35NOKΒ 31.23
$3.42NOKΒ 31.83
-2.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.16NOKΒ 48.06
$3.95NOKΒ 36.79
30.63%
Potato(1kg)
$2.43NOKΒ 22.62
$2.27NOKΒ 21.14
7.05%
Onion(1kg)
$2.71NOKΒ 25.26
$1.34NOKΒ 12.48
102.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.85NOKΒ 26.53
$1.85NOKΒ 17.18
54.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.34NOKΒ 21.77
$1.93NOKΒ 17.93
21.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.19NOKΒ 160
$14.45NOKΒ 135
18.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.93NOKΒ 176
$13.02NOKΒ 121
45.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.35NOKΒ 31.19
$3.07NOKΒ 28.58
9.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38NOKΒ 40.75
$3.91NOKΒ 36.39
12.02%
π Getting Around
Oslo
Drammen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.31NOKΒ 40.08
$2.81NOKΒ 26.17
53.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9NOKΒ 725
$75.5NOKΒ 703
3.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.04NOKΒ 93.5
$10.01NOKΒ 93.2
0.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.38NOKΒ 12.89
$1.26NOKΒ 11.77
9.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.24NOKΒ 393
$103NOKΒ 959
-59.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.18NOKΒ 20.29
$2.17NOKΒ 20.21
0.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5KNOKΒ 339.5K
$39.9KNOKΒ 371.5K
-8.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.7KNOKΒ 397.3K
$38.9KNOKΒ 362.0K
9.77%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oslo
Drammen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$304NOKΒ 2,826
$217NOKΒ 2,021
39.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.63NOKΒ 294
$44.32NOKΒ 413
-28.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.0NOKΒ 531
$38.34NOKΒ 357
48.75%
π Sport & Entertainment
Oslo
Drammen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.8NOKΒ 538
$86.1NOKΒ 801
-32.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.64NOKΒ 267
$35.80NOKΒ 333
-20.00%
Cinema Ticket
$18.01NOKΒ 168
$14.77NOKΒ 138
21.94%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Oslo
Drammen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$274NOKΒ 2,548
$310NOKΒ 2,887
-11.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.5KNOKΒ 135.4K
$10.2KNOKΒ 95.4K
41.95%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Oslo
Drammen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106NOKΒ 985
$97.8NOKΒ 910
8.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.4NOKΒ 609
$25.22NOKΒ 235
159.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124NOKΒ 1,154
$97.7NOKΒ 909
26.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$168NOKΒ 1,567
$142NOKΒ 1,326
18.22%
π Accommodation & Living
Oslo
Drammen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,671NOKΒ 15.6K
$932NOKΒ 8,676
79.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,446NOKΒ 13.5K
$777NOKΒ 7,229
86.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,749NOKΒ 25.6K
$1,491NOKΒ 13.9K
84.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,165NOKΒ 20.2K
$1,343NOKΒ 12.5K
61.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$12.0KNOKΒ 111.9K
$10.8KNOKΒ 100.7K
11.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$7,295NOKΒ 67.9K
$6,561NOKΒ 61.1K
11.19%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Oslo
Drammen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,411NOKΒ 41.1K
$3,747NOKΒ 34.9K
17.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.08
4.38
15.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Oslo: May 31, 2026
Last update for Drammen: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $1,671 in Oslo versus $932 in Drammen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
π°Salaries run about 18% higher in Oslo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $122 in Oslo versus $75.0 in Drammen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $500 vs $383 β making Drammen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Oslo vs Drammen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Oslo and Drammen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,141 in Oslo, $2,214 in Drammen β roughly 42% apart. Oslo costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Oslo compared to Drammen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,711 per month in Oslo and $3,321 in Drammen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Oslo and Drammen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Drammen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Oslo and Drammen?
Kindergarten costs $274 per month in Oslo and $310 in Drammen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 31% more in Oslo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Drammen, where all-in costs run around $2,214, than in Oslo at $3,141. In Drammen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Oslo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Oslo and Drammen?
It depends on your priorities. Oslo has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,214 in Drammen to $3,141 in Oslo. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Oslo or Drammen safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Oslo and Drammen?
If budget matters most, go with Drammen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Oslo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.