Cost of Living Comparison Between Utrecht and MiltonCost of Living Comparison Between Utrecht and Milton
Monthly Cost of Living
πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,947 in Utrecht versus $3,044 in Milton.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,160 in Utrecht versus $4,159 in Milton.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,373 in Utrecht versus $5,275 in Milton.
πLiving in Utrecht costs roughly 3% less than in Milton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Utrecht120% above, Milton127% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Utrecht
Milton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.14β¬18.19
$14.65CA$20.29
44.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.5β¬75.3
$72.4CA$100
20.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.95β¬12.00
$12.96CA$17.95
7.64%
Cappuccino
$4.39β¬3.78
$3.86CA$5.34
13.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.95β¬3.40
$3.23CA$4.48
22.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15β¬2.71
$2.50CA$3.46
26.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.03β¬6.05
$8.00CA$11.08
-12.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.86β¬5.04
$5.40CA$7.48
8.52%
π Groceries & Markets
Utrecht
Milton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35β¬1.16
$2.50CA$3.47
-46.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.52β¬2.17
$2.61CA$3.61
-3.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.00β¬2.58
$4.55CA$6.30
-34.07%
Eggs
$5.39β¬4.63
$3.47CA$4.81
55.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.04β¬12.08
$6.61CA$9.15
112.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.53β¬14.22
$29.96CA$41.49
-44.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.40β¬14.97
$19.04CA$26.37
-8.61%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35β¬2.02
$5.60CA$7.76
-58.04%
Banana(1kg)
$2.48β¬2.14
$1.57CA$2.18
57.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93β¬1.66
$2.91CA$4.03
-33.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.70β¬3.18
$3.29CA$4.56
12.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.94β¬1.67
$1.04CA$1.44
86.54%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23β¬1.92
$1.26CA$1.74
76.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36β¬1.17
$1.65CA$2.29
-17.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13β¬0.97
$2.27CA$3.15
-50.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.32β¬12.32
$12.57CA$17.40
13.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.22β¬6.21
$13.56CA$18.77
-46.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46β¬1.25
$2.26CA$3.12
-35.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67β¬2.30
$2.70CA$3.74
-1.11%
π Getting Around
Utrecht
Milton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.48β¬2.99
$2.93CA$4.06
18.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$75.2β¬64.7
$45.77CA$63.4
64.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.68β¬3.16
$3.13CA$4.34
17.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.54β¬2.19
$1.45CA$2.01
75.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.59β¬22.87
$37.15CA$51.4
-28.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.27β¬1.95
$1.09CA$1.51
108.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.8Kβ¬34.2K
$24.8KCA$34.4K
60.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.8Kβ¬34.3K
$24.2KCA$33.5K
64.43%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Utrecht
Milton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$296β¬254
$247CA$341
19.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.03β¬22.39
$60.4CA$83.6
-56.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.51β¬40.01
$67.7CA$93.8
-31.32%
π Sport & Entertainment
Utrecht
Milton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.94β¬40.38
$33.36CA$46.19
40.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.19β¬19.95
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.92β¬13.69
$16.87CA$23.35
-5.63%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Utrecht
Milton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,609β¬2,245
$556CA$770
369.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.2Kβ¬9,620
$11.8KCA$16.3K
-4.97%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Utrecht
Milton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$115β¬98.5
$57.5CA$79.6
99.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.7β¬52.2
$53.7CA$74.3
13.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108β¬92.6
$95.0CA$132
13.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130β¬112
$129CA$179
0.71%
π Accommodation & Living
Utrecht
Milton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888β¬1,624
$1,783CA$2,469
5.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,521β¬1,308
$1,672CA$2,315
-9.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,826β¬2,431
$2,588CA$3,583
9.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,241β¬1,928
$2,288CA$3,168
-2.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,022β¬6,901
$4,840CA$6,701
65.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,872β¬5,051
$4,220CA$5,843
39.16%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Utrecht
Milton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,615β¬3,970
$3,162CA$4,378
45.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.39
6.8
-35.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Utrecht: May 30, 2026
Last update for Milton: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,888 in Utrecht and $1,783 in Milton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Utrecht pays 46% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $88.0 in Utrecht vs $72.0 in Milton. Groceries flip the comparison at $358 vs $459, 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 Milton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Utrecht and Milton?
Utrecht and Milton differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($2,947 vs $3,044 including rent). Utrecht is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Utrecht or Milton?
Utrecht pays 46% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Utrecht and Milton?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,888 in Utrecht versus $1,783 in Milton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Utrecht and Milton?
A monthly transit pass in Utrecht runs roughly 64% less than in Milton. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Utrecht and Milton?
Childcare runs $2,609 in Utrecht versus $556 in Milton. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
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.
How does quality of life compare between Utrecht and Milton?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Utrecht or Milton safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Utrecht and Milton are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Utrecht or Milton?
Expats usually find Utrecht gentler on the wallet β expenses run 3% less than in Milton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.