Cost of Living Comparison Between Berkeley, CA and Trondheim Cost of Living Comparison Between Berkeley, CA and Trondheim

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,847 per month in Berkeley, CA vs $2,780 in Trondheim, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,765 per month in Berkeley, CA vs $4,125 in Trondheim, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,682 per month in Berkeley, CA vs $5,471 in Trondheim, rent included.

Berkeley, CA costs about 38% more than Trondheim, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Berkeley, CA and Trondheim sit above the global median – Berkeley, CA by 188%, Trondheim by 108%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.30 $22.30

$22.76 NOK 219

-2.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.6 $99.6

$120 NOK 1,151

-16.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.70 $11.70

$14.31 NOK 138

-18.24%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$4.67 NOK 45.01

21.20%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.54 NOK 34.11

-7.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$3.00 NOK 28.85

-18.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.23 $8.23

$10.77 NOK 104

-23.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.10 $9.10

$11.45 NOK 110

-20.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.65 NOK 25.56

-42.26%

White Bread (500g)

$4.96 $4.96

$3.59 NOK 34.57

38.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.35 $6.35

$3.81 NOK 36.71

66.67%

Eggs

$4.77 $4.77

$4.42 NOK 42.55

7.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.27 $21.27

$12.33 NOK 119

72.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$14.88 NOK 143

-1.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.23 $23.23

$27.83 NOK 268

-16.53%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$3.77 NOK 36.27

63.66%

Banana (1kg)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.89 NOK 27.81

-9.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$2.69 NOK 25.88

77.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.03 $7.03

$5.28 NOK 50.8

33.14%

Potato (1kg)

$3.50 $3.50

$2.91 NOK 28.01

20.27%

Onion (1kg)

$3.94 $3.94

$3.21 NOK 30.90

22.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.78 $2.78

$3.24 NOK 31.21

-14.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.52 NOK 24.31

14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.14 $12.14

$15.47 NOK 149

-21.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.16 $13.16

$18.24 NOK 176

-27.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$3.77 NOK 36.36

-37.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 $3.24

$4.67 NOK 45.01

-30.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.45 $2.45

$4.54 NOK 43.77

-46.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.2 $88.2

$94.6 NOK 911

-6.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.55 $3.55

$15.38 NOK 148

-76.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.24 NOK 21.59

-14.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.72 $29.72

$89.4 NOK 861

-66.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$2.21 NOK 21.33

-39.82%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.5K $30.5K

$31.4K NOK 302.8K

-2.83%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.7K $26.7K

$43.3K NOK 417.5K

-38.36%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$220 $220

$326 NOK 3,142

-32.55%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$48.86 $48.86

$43.18 NOK 416

13.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.9 $67.9

$76.6 NOK 738

-11.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.3 $70.3

$42.89 NOK 413

63.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.17 $7.17

$46.70 NOK 450

-84.65%

Cinema Ticket

$15.42 $15.42

$17.51 NOK 169

-11.94%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,161 $2,161

$330 NOK 3,175

555.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.7K $32.7K

$8,333 NOK 80.3K

292.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$110 NOK 1,062

-38.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.24 $45.24

$47.54 NOK 458

-4.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$126 NOK 1,211

-17.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$129 NOK 1,246

15.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,278 $2,278

$1,378 NOK 13.3K

65.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,302 $2,302

$1,060 NOK 10.2K

117.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,633 $4,633

$2,251 NOK 21.7K

105.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,949 $3,949

$1,660 NOK 16.0K

137.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,142 $8,142

$6,307 NOK 60.8K

29.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,157 $7,157

$4,811 NOK 46.3K

48.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,783 $6,783

$4,102 NOK 39.5K

65.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

4.32

50.69%

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

Last update for Berkeley, CA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Trondheim: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,278 in Berkeley, CA versus $1,378 in Trondheim. 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 65% higher in Berkeley, CA, 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 $100 in Berkeley, CA versus $120 in Trondheim. Groceries tell a different story – $526 in Berkeley, CA vs $487 in Trondheim – so Trondheim 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

Berkeley, CA vs Trondheim: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Berkeley, CA is pricier by about 38%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,770 per month in Berkeley, CA and $4,170 in Trondheim. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Trondheim, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 7% less in Trondheim. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,161 per month in Berkeley, CA and $330 in Trondheim. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,847 in Berkeley, CA and $2,780 in Trondheim. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Trondheim – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Trondheim. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Berkeley, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.