Cost of Living Comparison Between Boulder, CO and Asker Cost of Living Comparison Between Boulder, CO and Asker

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,416 per month in Boulder, CO vs $2,769 in Asker, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,710 per month in Boulder, CO vs $4,059 in Asker, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,003 per month in Boulder, CO vs $5,349 in Asker, rent included.

Boulder, CO costs about 23% more than Asker, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Boulder, CO and Asker sit above the global median – Boulder, CO by 155%, Asker by 107%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.76 $19.76

$25.67 NOK 243

-23.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.3 $69.3

$100 NOK 949

-30.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.91 $10.91

$13.60 NOK 129

-19.78%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.10 NOK 48.20

14.51%

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

$3.28 $3.28

$2.62 NOK 24.77

25.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$2.12 NOK 20.02

8.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.29 $6.29

$11.19 NOK 106

-43.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.83 $6.83

$9.77 NOK 92.4

-30.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$2.12 NOK 20.00

-51.42%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.45 NOK 32.64

2.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$3.63 NOK 34.30

19.83%

Eggs

$5.54 $5.54

$4.22 NOK 39.88

31.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.47 $13.47

$11.22 NOK 106

20.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.01 $15.01

$13.99 NOK 132

7.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.09 $17.09

$31.40 NOK 297

-45.57%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$3.81 NOK 35.97

19.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$2.63 NOK 24.89

-42.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.65 $3.65

$3.37 NOK 31.88

8.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$4.27 NOK 40.34

9.60%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.43 NOK 22.98

6.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.49 NOK 23.52

9.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.31 $2.31

$2.88 NOK 27.21

-19.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$1.97 NOK 18.65

17.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.86 $9.86

$14.24 NOK 135

-30.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.67 $16.67

$18.97 NOK 179

-12.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$3.39 NOK 32.03

-43.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 $3.79

$4.27 NOK 40.40

-11.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$4.29 NOK 40.53

-37.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$147 $147

$76.9 NOK 727

91.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.53 $2.53

$10.04 NOK 95.0

-74.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.41 NOK 13.32

0.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.72 $23.72

$42.16 NOK 399

-43.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$2.27 NOK 21.49

-62.11%

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

$27.3K $27.3K

$36.7K NOK 346.9K

-25.65%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$43.2K NOK 408.1K

-39.86%

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

$195 $195

$221 NOK 2,092

-11.68%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$31.02 NOK 293

96.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.2 $70.2

$37.18 NOK 352

88.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.8 $79.8

$49.09 NOK 464

62.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.67 $19.67

$35.91 NOK 339

-45.22%

Cinema Ticket

$16.41 $16.41

$14.68 NOK 139

11.78%

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

$1,427 $1,427

$274 NOK 2,587

421.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$14.7K NOK 139.0K

111.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.4 $72.4

$103 NOK 972

-29.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.26 $37.26

$47.74 NOK 451

-21.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.0 $89.0

$124 NOK 1,171

-28.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.2 $99.2

$154 NOK 1,460

-35.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,183 $2,183

$1,542 NOK 14.6K

41.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,889 $1,889

$1,200 NOK 11.3K

57.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,984 $3,984

$2,251 NOK 21.3K

76.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,828 $2,828

$1,744 NOK 16.5K

62.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,368 $4,368

$10.2K NOK 96.2K

-57.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,414 $4,414

$8,949 NOK 84.6K

-50.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,405 $5,405

$4,041 NOK 38.2K

33.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

4.38

46.58%

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

Last update for Boulder, CO: June 1, 2026

Last update for Asker: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,183 in Boulder, CO versus $1,542 in Asker. 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 34% higher in Boulder, CO, 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 $69.0 in Boulder, CO versus $100 in Asker. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $423 vs $465 – making Boulder, CO the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Boulder, CO vs Asker: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Boulder, CO costs about 23% more than Asker, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,124 per month in Boulder, CO and $4,153 in Asker. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $1,427 per month in Boulder, CO and $274 in Asker. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Boulder, CO – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,416 in Boulder, CO and $2,769 in Asker. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Asker costs $2,769 versus $3,416 in Boulder, CO. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Asker. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Boulder, CO makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.