πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $3,019 in Utrecht versus $3,504 in Huntington Beach, CA.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,253 in Utrecht versus $5,833 in Huntington Beach, CA.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,486 in Utrecht versus $8,161 in Huntington Beach, CA.
πLiving in Utrecht costs roughly 14% less than in Huntington Beach, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Utrecht125% above, Huntington Beach, CA161% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Utrecht
Huntington Beach, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.75β¬17.70
$19.72$19.72
5.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.3β¬73.6
$85.0$85.0
1.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.73β¬11.71
$12.13$12.13
13.19%
Cappuccino
$4.47β¬3.81
$4.87$4.87
-8.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.12β¬3.52
$2.64$2.64
56.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29β¬2.80
$2.14$2.14
53.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.11β¬6.06
$6.97$6.97
2.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75β¬4.91
$8.12$8.12
-29.19%
π Groceries & Markets
Utrecht
Huntington Beach, CA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33β¬1.14
$1.19$1.19
11.76%
White Bread(500g)
$2.46β¬2.10
$4.97$4.97
-50.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.14β¬2.68
$4.15$4.15
-24.34%
Eggs
$5.36β¬4.57
$5.05$5.05
6.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.11β¬12.03
$12.25$12.25
15.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.14β¬13.77
$11.47$11.47
40.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.49β¬14.92
$14.75$14.75
18.58%
Apples(1kg)
$2.47β¬2.11
$4.35$4.35
-43.22%
Banana(1kg)
$2.51β¬2.14
$1.86$1.86
34.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00β¬1.70
$3.83$3.83
-47.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.79β¬3.24
$5.63$5.63
-32.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96β¬1.67
$4.32$4.32
-54.63%
Onion(1kg)
$2.21β¬1.88
$2.92$2.92
-24.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.32β¬1.12
$1.77$1.77
-25.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.14β¬0.97
$2.11$2.11
-45.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.23β¬12.14
$9.61$9.61
48.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.34β¬6.26
$14.99$14.99
-51.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39β¬1.19
$1.70$1.70
-18.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71β¬2.31
$4.49$4.49
-39.64%
π Getting Around
Utrecht
Huntington Beach, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.52β¬3.01
$3.07$3.07
14.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$75.8β¬64.6
$50.8$50.8
49.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.79β¬3.23
$3.90$3.90
-2.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.43β¬2.08
$2.78$2.78
-12.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.94β¬22.98
$32.46$32.46
-17.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.23β¬1.91
$1.25$1.25
78.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.2Kβ¬34.3K
$23.9K$23.9K
68.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.0Kβ¬34.2K
$25.3K$25.3K
58.10%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Utrecht
Huntington Beach, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$287β¬245
$197$197
45.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.72β¬22.79
$54.2$54.2
-50.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.67β¬40.66
$70.9$70.9
-32.72%
π Sport & Entertainment
Utrecht
Huntington Beach, CA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.86β¬39.97
$44.85$44.85
4.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.46β¬20.01
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.07β¬13.71
$14.26$14.26
12.69%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Utrecht
Huntington Beach, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,672β¬2,279
$1,193$1,193
124.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.0Kβ¬9,384
$40.8K$40.8K
-73.02%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Utrecht
Huntington Beach, CA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$116β¬98.7
$57.5$57.5
101.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.9β¬52.8
$34.61$34.61
78.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106β¬90.5
$84.8$84.8
25.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127β¬109
$124$124
2.45%
π Accommodation & Living
Utrecht
Huntington Beach, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,863β¬1,589
$2,571$2,571
-27.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,580β¬1,348
$2,185$2,185
-27.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,853β¬2,433
$5,071$5,071
-43.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,278β¬1,943
$5,170$5,170
-55.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,806β¬6,658
$8,043$8,043
-2.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,648β¬4,817
$5,038$5,038
12.11%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Utrecht
Huntington Beach, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,682β¬3,994
$5,427$5,427
-13.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.39
6.58
-33.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Utrecht: April 21, 2026
Last update for Huntington Beach, CA: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,863 in Utrecht and $2,571 in Huntington Beach, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Huntington Beach, CA pays 16% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $86 in Utrecht vs $85 in Huntington Beach, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $358 vs $412, with Utrecht cheaper for home cooking.
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 Huntington Beach, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Utrecht or Huntington Beach, CA?
Utrecht wins on cost β living expenses run 16% lower than in Huntington Beach, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Utrecht the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Utrecht or Huntington Beach, CA?
On paper, Huntington Beach, CA earns 16% less. 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 Utrecht vs Huntington Beach, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,863 in Utrecht versus $2,571 in Huntington Beach, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Utrecht or Huntington Beach, CA?
Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Huntington Beach, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Utrecht vs Huntington Beach, CA?
Dining out is cheaper in Utrecht β a meal for two runs $86.0 versus $85.0 in Huntington Beach, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Utrecht or Huntington Beach, CA?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Utrecht is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Utrecht or Huntington Beach, CA?
Both work as nomad bases, but Utrecht delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $3,019 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Utrecht hard to pass up.
How safe is Utrecht compared to Huntington Beach, CA?
Safety-wise, Utrecht and Huntington Beach, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Utrecht gentler on the wallet β expenses run 16% less than in Huntington Beach, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.