🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,777 in Arendal versus $4,073 in Redmond, WA.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,905 in Arendal versus $5,333 in Redmond, WA.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,034 in Arendal versus $6,592 in Redmond, WA.
🌍Living in Arendal costs roughly 32% less than in Redmond, WA, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Arendal102% above, Redmond, WA196% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arendal
Redmond, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.31NOK 189
$20.11$20.11
0.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5NOK 629
$81.5$81.5
-17.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.90NOK 148
$11.07$11.07
43.63%
Cappuccino
$5.55NOK 51.7
$4.73$4.73
17.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60NOK 33.54
$2.57$2.57
40.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41NOK 31.80
$2.05$2.05
66.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.90NOK 111
$7.08$7.08
68.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.15NOK 113
$7.93$7.93
53.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arendal
Redmond, WA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.40NOK 22.33
$1.21$1.21
98.35%
White Bread(500g)
$3.60NOK 33.58
$4.84$4.84
-25.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.95NOK 36.78
$3.33$3.33
18.62%
Eggs
$5.04NOK 46.95
$5.28$5.28
-4.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.87NOK 139
$17.81$17.81
-16.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.26NOK 142
$14.10$14.10
8.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$34.60NOK 322
$22.87$22.87
51.29%
Apples(1kg)
$3.61NOK 33.60
$5.76$5.76
-37.33%
Banana(1kg)
$2.83NOK 26.36
$1.95$1.95
45.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.64NOK 33.90
$3.91$3.91
-6.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.95NOK 46.14
$4.52$4.52
9.51%
Potato(1kg)
$2.60NOK 24.26
$2.68$2.68
-2.99%
Onion(1kg)
$3.15NOK 29.32
$2.38$2.38
32.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.78NOK 25.93
$2.39$2.39
16.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.35NOK 21.85
$2.61$2.61
-9.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.77NOK 166
$12.36$12.36
43.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.84NOK 138
$15.25$15.25
-2.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.85NOK 35.86
$1.70$1.70
126.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43NOK 41.27
$3.31$3.31
33.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Arendal
Redmond, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.81NOK 35.49
$3.15$3.15
20.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$90.9NOK 847
$90.6$90.6
0.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.40NOK 59.6
$2.61$2.61
145.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.75NOK 16.35
$1.64$1.64
6.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$104NOK 972
$29.63$29.63
252.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.33NOK 21.69
$1.43$1.43
62.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.4KNOK 450.8K
$35.9K$35.9K
34.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.5KNOK 395.8K
$25.6K$25.6K
66.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arendal
Redmond, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$251NOK 2,337
$288$288
-12.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.15NOK 327
$68.8$68.8
-48.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$80.5NOK 750
$85.4$85.4
-5.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arendal
Redmond, WA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.73NOK 352
$81.5$81.5
-53.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$40.46$40.46
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.95NOK 149
$18.29$18.29
-12.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arendal
Redmond, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$324NOK 3,021
$2,688$2,688
-87.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.4KNOK 134.4K
$31.1K$31.1K
-53.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arendal
Redmond, WA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$130NOK 1,210
$68.7$68.7
89.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.60NOK 416
$54.3$54.3
-17.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$129NOK 1,206
$101$101
28.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$205NOK 1,912
$161$161
27.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arendal
Redmond, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,141NOK 10.6K
$2,943$2,943
-61.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,074NOK 10.0K
$2,490$2,490
-56.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,623NOK 15.1K
$3,986$3,986
-59.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,489NOK 13.9K
$3,162$3,162
-52.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,313$7,313
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$7,131$7,131
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arendal
Redmond, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,115NOK 38.3K
$8,986$8,986
-54.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.68
6.27
-25.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Arendal: August 31, 2026
Last update for Redmond, WA: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,141 in Arendal and $2,943 in Redmond, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Redmond, WA pays 118% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $67.0 in Arendal vs $82.0 in Redmond, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $506 vs $465, with Redmond, WA 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
Arendal vs Redmond, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Arendal and in Redmond, WA?
Arendal and Redmond, WA differ by about 47% in total monthly costs ($2,777 vs $4,073 including rent). Arendal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 118% lower in Redmond, WA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Arendal and in Redmond, WA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,141 in Arendal versus $2,943 in Redmond, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Arendal and Redmond, WA?
Childcare runs $324 in Arendal versus $2,688 in Redmond, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Redmond, WA pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,777 in Arendal versus $4,073 in Redmond, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Arendal but tight or insufficient in Redmond, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Arendal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Arendal and Redmond, WA?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Arendal or Redmond, WA safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Arendal and Redmond, WA 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: Arendal or Redmond, WA?
Expats usually find Arendal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Redmond, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.