Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens and Fredrikstad

For one person, living is cheaper in Athens: $1,775 a month against $2,983 in Fredrikstad, rent and utilities included – about $14,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,775
/mo nomad
Fredrikstad
🇳🇴 Norway
$2,983
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Athens and in Fredrikstad

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Athens and in Fredrikstad actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,775 in Athens versus $2,983 in Fredrikstad.

  • Athens $1,775
  • Fredrikstad $2,983

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,721 in Athens versus $4,345 in Fredrikstad.

  • Athens $2,721
  • Fredrikstad $4,345

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,666 in Athens versus $5,707 in Fredrikstad.

  • Athens $3,666
  • Fredrikstad $5,707

Living in Athens costs roughly 41% less than in Fredrikstad, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Athens 31% above, Fredrikstad 121% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Fredrikstad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.69 €14.84
$26.28 NOK 247
-36.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.8 €60.3
$124 NOK 1,170
-45.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.14 €9.91
$12.65 NOK 119
-11.94%
Cappuccino
$4.03 €3.58
$6.77 NOK 63.7
-40.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 €2.46
$5.55 NOK 52.3
-50.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 €0.49
$4.39 NOK 41.36
-87.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.74 €5.10
$11.55 NOK 109
-50.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.45 €4.85
$9.57 NOK 90.1
-43.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Fredrikstad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 €1.62
$2.34 NOK 22.00
-22.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.38 €1.23
$4.31 NOK 40.56
-67.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.80 €2.49
$3.43 NOK 32.31
-18.37%
Eggs
$4.83 €4.30
$5.82 NOK 54.8
-17.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.05 €13.39
$13.06 NOK 123
15.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.63 €9.45
$17.96 NOK 169
-40.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.43 €16.39
$34.38 NOK 324
-46.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.20 €1.96
$3.37 NOK 31.71
-34.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 €1.69
$3.64 NOK 34.24
-47.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.37 €1.22
$4.30 NOK 40.49
-68.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.10 €1.87
$5.00 NOK 47.06
-58.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 €0.96
$2.63 NOK 24.74
-58.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 €1.00
$2.71 NOK 25.53
-58.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 €1.00
$2.82 NOK 26.50
-60.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 €0.79
$2.33 NOK 21.95
-62.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.48 €4.88
$15.51 NOK 146
-64.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.13 €9.01
$22.16 NOK 209
-54.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.89
$3.49 NOK 32.81
-38.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €2.00
$4.39 NOK 41.34
-48.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
Fredrikstad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 €1.21
$4.11 NOK 38.71
-66.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.89 €26.59
$64.5 NOK 607
-53.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.45 €3.96
$12.56 NOK 118
-64.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 €0.90
$2.00 NOK 18.79
-49.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.92 €15.05
$70.1 NOK 660
-75.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 €2.00
$2.30 NOK 21.64
-2.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K €24.9K
$49.8K NOK 468.4K
-43.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K €25.1K
$46.9K NOK 441.1K
-39.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Fredrikstad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$205 €182
$331 NOK 3,118
-38.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.65 €23.71
$45.60 NOK 429
-41.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 €27.02
$66.9 NOK 630
-54.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Fredrikstad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.5 €48.47
$58.3 NOK 549
-6.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.88 €23.02
$40.86 NOK 385
-36.66%
Cinema Ticket
$10.42 €9.27
$20.19 NOK 190
-48.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Fredrikstad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$569 €506
$168 NOK 1,579
239.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K €11.2K
$12.5K NOK 117.8K
0.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Fredrikstad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.7 €78.9
$155 NOK 1,459
-42.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.46 €35.99
$78.7 NOK 741
-48.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €93.3
$144 NOK 1,358
-27.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 €108
$112 NOK 1,051
8.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Fredrikstad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$741 €659
$1,329 NOK 12.5K
-44.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$655 €582
$1,131 NOK 10.6K
-42.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,300 €1,156
$1,822 NOK 17.1K
-28.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 €1,021
$1,516 NOK 14.3K
-24.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,014 €3,570
$6,022 NOK 56.7K
-33.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,460 €3,078
$4,131 NOK 38.9K
-16.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Fredrikstad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,242 €1,105
$3,372 NOK 31.7K
-63.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
4.95
-9.49%

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

Last update for Athens: October 10, 2026

Last update for Fredrikstad: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Athens
$655
Fredrikstad
$1.1K 72.8% $477
Groceries & Markets
Athens
$310
Fredrikstad
$540 73.8% $229
Eating Out
Athens
$268
Fredrikstad
$446 66.4% $178
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
$262
Fredrikstad
$444 69.6% $182
Clothing & Footwear
Athens
$160
Fredrikstad
$220 37.8% $60
Sport & Entertainment
Athens
$75
Fredrikstad
$99 31% $23
Getting Around
Athens
$45
Fredrikstad
$103 131% $59

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $741 in Athens and $1,329 in Fredrikstad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fredrikstad pays 171% 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: $68.0 in Athens vs $124 in Fredrikstad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $310 vs $540 per month, with Athens cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇷 Athens
🇳🇴 Fredrikstad
🕒 Local time
00:26 12:26 AM
23:26 11:26 PM
1 h behind Athens
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,090,508 Capital
85,267
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

NOK, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Norwegian Krone exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 9.41 NOK (1 NOK = 0.106 USD). 1 EUR = 10.58 NOK (100 NOK = 9.45 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Athens Fredrikstad 2,530 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Athens
  • Fredrikstad

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Athens vs Fredrikstad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens or Fredrikstad?
Athens wins on cost – living expenses run 68% lower than in Fredrikstad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Athens the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Athens or in Fredrikstad?
On paper, salaries run 171% lower in Fredrikstad. 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 Athens compared to Fredrikstad?
Rent for a central apartment: $741 in Athens versus $1,329 in Fredrikstad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Athens and in Fredrikstad?
Dining out is cheaper in Athens – a meal for two runs $68.0 versus $124 in Fredrikstad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Athens compared to Fredrikstad?
All in, you'll spend $1,775 per month in Athens versus $2,983 in Fredrikstad – a 68% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Athens or in Fredrikstad?
At $1,775 in Athens versus $2,983 in Fredrikstad, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Athens but tight or insufficient in Fredrikstad. The gap between the two cities makes Athens the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Athens or Fredrikstad?
Both work as nomad bases, but Athens delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,775 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Athens hard to pass up.
How safe is Athens compared to Fredrikstad?
Safety-wise, Athens and Fredrikstad 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 Athens gentler on the wallet – expenses run 68% less than in Fredrikstad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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