😐A single person spends $2,992 per month in Utrecht vs $2,212 in Drammen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,240 per month in Utrecht vs $3,324 in Drammen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,489 per month in Utrecht vs $4,437 in Drammen, rent included.
😐Utrecht costs about 35% more than Drammen, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Utrecht and Drammen sit above the global median – Utrecht by 124%, Drammen by 66%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Utrecht
Drammen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.90€18.26
$20.63NOK 199
1.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.8€74.9
$74.8NOK 720
14.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.83€12.08
$13.18NOK 127
4.93%
Cappuccino
$4.62€4.04
$4.73NOK 45.58
-2.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08€3.57
$2.45NOK 23.61
66.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24€2.83
$2.68NOK 25.77
20.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.98€6.10
$8.14NOK 78.4
-14.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.64€4.93
$6.23NOK 60.0
-9.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Utrecht
Drammen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35€1.18
$2.11NOK 20.29
-36.02%
White Bread(500g)
$2.43€2.12
$3.13NOK 30.13
-22.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.08€2.69
$3.32NOK 31.96
-7.23%
Eggs
$5.30€4.63
$4.19NOK 40.36
26.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.05€12.27
$11.24NOK 108
25.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.20€14.15
$13.19NOK 127
22.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.28€15.10
$17.36NOK 167
-0.46%
Apples(1kg)
$2.36€2.06
$1.95NOK 18.79
21.03%
Banana(1kg)
$2.55€2.23
$2.26NOK 21.73
12.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96€1.71
$3.29NOK 31.67
-40.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.76€3.29
$3.79NOK 36.47
-0.79%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02€1.77
$2.30NOK 22.20
-12.17%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23€1.95
$1.34NOK 12.89
66.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36€1.19
$1.79NOK 17.21
-24.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15€1.00
$1.83NOK 17.67
-37.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.39€12.57
$14.30NOK 138
0.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.69€5.85
$12.44NOK 120
-46.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45€1.27
$2.93NOK 28.26
-50.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73€2.38
$4.08NOK 39.32
-33.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Utrecht
Drammen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.45€3.01
$2.83NOK 27.23
21.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$75.1€65.6
$76.5NOK 736
-1.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.70€3.23
$10.25NOK 98.7
-63.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.42€2.11
$1.22NOK 11.71
98.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.76€23.38
$99.6NOK 959
-73.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.30€2.01
$2.16NOK 20.81
6.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.0K€35.8K
$41.1KNOK 395.6K
-0.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K€34.7K
$39.1KNOK 376.7K
1.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Utrecht
Drammen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$288€252
$218NOK 2,101
32.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.02€22.73
$43.27NOK 417
-39.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.92€41.86
$37.61NOK 362
27.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Utrecht
Drammen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.93
$84.5NOK 814
-43.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.07€20.16
$35.41NOK 341
-34.85%
Cinema Ticket
$16.04€14.02
$15.17NOK 146
5.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Utrecht
Drammen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,628€2,296
$302NOK 2,906
770.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.0K€9,593
$10.1KNOK 97.5K
8.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Utrecht
Drammen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$118€103
$97.2NOK 936
20.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.7€54.8
$24.93NOK 240
151.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108€93.9
$101NOK 970
6.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130€114
$144NOK 1,390
-9.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Utrecht
Drammen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,887€1,648
$942NOK 9,070
100.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,523€1,331
$769NOK 7,407
98.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,924€2,555
$1,460NOK 14.1K
100.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,309€2,017
$1,366NOK 13.2K
69.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,310€6,387
$10.3KNOK 99.5K
-29.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,072€4,432
$6,145NOK 59.2K
-17.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Utrecht
Drammen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,271€3,732
$3,527NOK 34.0K
21.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.39
4.38
0.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Utrecht: July 13, 2026
Last update for Drammen: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,887 in Utrecht versus $942 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 Utrecht, 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 $86.0 in Utrecht versus $75.0 in Drammen. Groceries tell a different story – $356 in Utrecht vs $376 in Drammen – so Utrecht 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
Utrecht vs Drammen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Utrecht and in Drammen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,992 in Utrecht, $2,212 in Drammen – roughly 35% apart. Utrecht costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Utrecht compared to Drammen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,487 per month in Utrecht and $3,318 in Drammen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Utrecht 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 Utrecht and Drammen?
Kindergarten costs $2,628 per month in Utrecht and $302 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?
Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Utrecht – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
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 $2,212, than in Utrecht at $2,992. In Drammen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Utrecht it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Utrecht and Drammen?
It depends on your priorities. Utrecht has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,212 in Drammen to $2,992 in Utrecht. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Utrecht 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 Utrecht and Drammen?
If budget matters most, go with Drammen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Utrecht makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.