Cost of Living Comparison Between Oslo and Drammen Cost of Living Comparison Between Oslo and Drammen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,482 per month in Oslo vs $2,645 in Drammen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,887 per month in Oslo vs $4,089 in Drammen, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,292 per month in Oslo vs $5,533 in Drammen, rent included.

Oslo costs about 32% more than Drammen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Oslo and Drammen sit above the global median – Oslo by 153%, Drammen by 93%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oslo
Drammen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.52 NOK 200
$21.54 NOK 200
-0.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$127 NOK 1,181
$128 NOK 1,190
-0.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.83 NOK 147
$11.37 NOK 106
39.23%
Cappuccino
$6.01 NOK 55.8
$5.27 NOK 48.93
14.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.17 NOK 38.71
$4.18 NOK 38.83
-0.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 NOK 31.81
$1.94 NOK 18.02
76.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.58 NOK 108
$11.87 NOK 110
-2.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.62 NOK 117
$6.98 NOK 64.8
80.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oslo
Drammen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.57 NOK 23.89
$2.57 NOK 23.86
-
White Bread (500g)
$4.31 NOK 40.04
$4.17 NOK 38.68
3.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.59 NOK 42.61
$4.61 NOK 42.76
-0.43%
Eggs
$5.96 NOK 55.4
$4.73 NOK 43.91
26.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.97 NOK 139
$13.74 NOK 128
8.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.70 NOK 146
$15.34 NOK 142
2.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$30.01 NOK 279
$30.34 NOK 282
-1.09%
Apples (1kg)
$3.48 NOK 32.33
$3.48 NOK 32.30
-
Banana (1kg)
$2.67 NOK 24.82
$2.67 NOK 24.76
-
Oranges (1kg)
$3.63 NOK 33.67
$3.49 NOK 32.44
4.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.97 NOK 55.4
$6.14 NOK 57.0
-2.77%
Potato (1kg)
$2.74 NOK 25.48
$2.64 NOK 24.48
3.79%
Onion (1kg)
$2.94 NOK 27.30
$2.98 NOK 27.69
-1.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.21 NOK 29.80
$3.10 NOK 28.75
3.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.46 NOK 22.79
$2.49 NOK 23.14
-1.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.43 NOK 180
$17.28 NOK 160
12.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.63 NOK 154
$16.19 NOK 150
2.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.46 NOK 32.15
$3.44 NOK 31.98
0.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.29 NOK 39.85
$4.30 NOK 39.93
-0.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Oslo
Drammen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.95 NOK 46.00
$3.40 NOK 31.56
45.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$83.6 NOK 776
$93.7 NOK 870
-10.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$12.10 NOK 112
$12.04 NOK 112
0.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 NOK 17.82
$1.90 NOK 17.59
1.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$71.7 NOK 666
$70.9 NOK 659
1.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.27 NOK 21.10
$2.32 NOK 21.57
-2.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.0K NOK 464.3K
$45.5K NOK 422.8K
9.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.3K NOK 420.2K
$44.8K NOK 415.5K
1.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oslo
Drammen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$431 NOK 4,001
$265 NOK 2,460
62.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.70 NOK 304
$33.49 NOK 311
-2.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.7 NOK 526
$53.3 NOK 494
6.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oslo
Drammen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.6 NOK 553
$81.7 NOK 758
-27.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 NOK 268
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.06 NOK 177
$18.06 NOK 168
5.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oslo
Drammen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$251 NOK 2,335
$245 NOK 2,270
2.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K NOK 147.0K
$16.0K NOK 148.1K
-0.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oslo
Drammen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 NOK 952
$102 NOK 951
0.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.1 NOK 576
$61.9 NOK 574
0.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 NOK 1,283
$131 NOK 1,218
5.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161 NOK 1,492
$155 NOK 1,440
3.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oslo
Drammen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,079 NOK 19.3K
$1,383 NOK 12.8K
50.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,577 NOK 14.6K
$1,022 NOK 9,486
54.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,043 NOK 28.3K
$2,074 NOK 19.3K
46.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,251 NOK 20.9K
$1,636 NOK 15.2K
37.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$12.1K NOK 112.6K
$10.7K NOK 98.9K
13.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,880 NOK 63.9K
$6,516 NOK 60.5K
5.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oslo
Drammen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,469 NOK 41.5K
$3,693 NOK 34.3K
20.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.96
4.54
9.25%

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

Last update for Oslo: August 29, 2026

Last update for Drammen: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,079 in Oslo versus $1,383 in Drammen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 21% higher in Oslo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $127 in Oslo versus $128 in Drammen. Groceries tell a different story – $518 in Oslo vs $506 in Drammen – so Drammen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 in Drammen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,482 in Oslo, $2,645 in Drammen – roughly 32% apart. Oslo costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Oslo compared to Drammen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,223 per month in Oslo and $3,968 in Drammen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – 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 $251 per month in Oslo and $245 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 2% 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 feasible on a $3,000 budget?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,482 in Oslo and $2,645 in Drammen. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
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 $2,645 in Drammen to $3,482 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 – 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.

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