Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Grimstad and Oslo

For one person, living is cheaper in Grimstad: $2,179 a month against $3,538 in Oslo, rent and utilities included – about $16,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Grimstad, Norway
Oslo, Norway
Grimstad
🇳🇴 Norway
$2,179
/mo nomad
Oslo
🇳🇴 Norway
$3,538
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Grimstad and in Oslo

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,179 in Grimstad versus $3,538 in Oslo.

  • Grimstad $2,179
  • Oslo $3,538

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,734 in Grimstad versus $5,096 in Oslo.

  • Grimstad $3,734
  • Oslo $5,096

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,290 in Grimstad versus $6,653 in Oslo.

  • Grimstad $5,290
  • Oslo $6,653

Living in Grimstad costs roughly 38% less than in Oslo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Grimstad 60% above, Oslo 160% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Grimstad
Oslo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.29 NOK 198
$21.75 NOK 202
-2.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.4 NOK 737
$130 NOK 1,206
-38.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.38 NOK 143
$16.04 NOK 149
-4.11%
Cappuccino
$4.87 NOK 45.25
$5.84 NOK 54.3
-16.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.20 NOK 38.99
$4.38 NOK 40.67
-4.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41 NOK 31.65
$3.35 NOK 31.10
1.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.76 NOK 109
$11.65 NOK 108
0.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.54 NOK 97.9
$12.81 NOK 119
-17.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Grimstad
Oslo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.65 NOK 24.59
$2.61 NOK 24.27
1.53%
White Bread (500g)
$3.74 NOK 34.70
$4.38 NOK 40.73
-14.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.24 NOK 30.07
$4.70 NOK 43.68
-31.06%
Eggs
$3.60 NOK 33.41
$6.25 NOK 58.1
-42.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.94 NOK 120
$15.48 NOK 144
-16.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.43 NOK 134
$15.84 NOK 147
-8.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$24.57 NOK 228
$32.30 NOK 300
-23.93%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 NOK 20.19
$3.36 NOK 31.17
-35.42%
Banana (1kg)
$2.47 NOK 22.93
$2.72 NOK 25.31
-9.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.57 NOK 33.20
$3.65 NOK 33.92
-2.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.38 NOK 40.72
$5.96 NOK 55.4
-26.51%
Potato (1kg)
$2.73 NOK 25.37
$2.69 NOK 25.03
1.49%
Onion (1kg)
$2.92 NOK 27.12
$2.85 NOK 26.48
2.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.25 NOK 30.18
$3.26 NOK 30.30
-0.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 NOK 17.25
$2.50 NOK 23.22
-25.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.23 NOK 179
$19.21 NOK 178
0.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.29 NOK 151
$16.64 NOK 155
-2.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.52 NOK 32.71
$3.60 NOK 33.45
-2.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28 NOK 39.77
$4.23 NOK 39.25
1.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Grimstad
Oslo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.27 NOK 48.95
$5.02 NOK 46.65
4.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$92.6 NOK 860
$83.5 NOK 775
10.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$12.16 NOK 113
$12.39 NOK 115
-1.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 NOK 17.09
$1.84 NOK 17.12
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$72.4 NOK 673
$70.8 NOK 658
2.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.36 NOK 21.89
$2.48 NOK 23.05
-4.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.2K NOK 466.2K
$49.9K NOK 463.6K
0.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.0K NOK 418.5K
$44.7K NOK 415.1K
0.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grimstad
Oslo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$314 NOK 2,913
$433 NOK 4,027
-27.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.50 NOK 321
$34.50 NOK 321
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.8 NOK 518
$55.7 NOK 517
0.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Grimstad
Oslo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.72 NOK 406
$58.1 NOK 540
-24.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.79 NOK 277
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.41 NOK 152
$20.78 NOK 193
-21.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Grimstad
Oslo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$242 NOK 2,251
$240 NOK 2,226
1.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K NOK 148.1K
$16.2K NOK 150.2K
-1.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Grimstad
Oslo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.8 NOK 881
$104 NOK 969
-9.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1 NOK 494
$61.8 NOK 574
-13.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 NOK 985
$135 NOK 1,253
-21.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$163 NOK 1,510
$160 NOK 1,487
1.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Grimstad
Oslo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$902 NOK 8,382
$2,133 NOK 19.8K
-57.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$545 NOK 5,062
$1,645 NOK 15.3K
-66.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,988 NOK 18.5K
$3,270 NOK 30.4K
-39.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,825 NOK 17.0K
$2,466 NOK 22.9K
-25.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,724 NOK 43.9K
$12.4K NOK 114.9K
-61.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,502 NOK 32.5K
$7,462 NOK 69.3K
-53.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Grimstad
Oslo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,577 NOK 42.5K
$4,703 NOK 43.7K
-2.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.9
4.94
-0.81%

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

Last update for Grimstad: October 26, 2026

Last update for Oslo: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Grimstad
$545
Oslo
$1.6K 202% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Grimstad
$446
Oslo
$530 19% $85
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grimstad
$404
Oslo
$524 29.7% $120
Eating Out
Grimstad
$385
Oslo
$407 5.7% $22
Clothing & Footwear
Grimstad
$187
Oslo
$207 10.7% $20
Getting Around
Grimstad
$135
Oslo
$125 7.3% $9.9
Sport & Entertainment
Grimstad
$77
Oslo
$100 30.2% $23

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $902 in Grimstad and $2,133 in Oslo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Oslo pays 3% 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: $79 in Grimstad vs $130 in Oslo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $446 vs $530 per month, with Grimstad cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇳🇴 Grimstad
🇳🇴 Oslo
🕒 Local time
03:12 3:12 AM
03:12 3:12 AM
Same time as Grimstad
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
25,093
1,098,061 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to NOK – Norwegian Krone Converter

Norwegian Krone exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 9.29 NOK (1 NOK = 0.108 USD). 1 EUR = 10.34 NOK (100 NOK = 9.67 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Grimstad Oslo 210 km
From you
  • Grimstad
  • Oslo

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
Grimstad vs Oslo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Grimstad cheaper than Oslo?
Grimstad is about 38% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, leisure, and eating out. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Grimstad or Oslo?
On paper, salaries run 3% lower in Grimstad. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Grimstad and Oslo?
Rent for a central apartment: $902 in Grimstad versus $2,133 in Oslo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Grimstad and in Oslo?
All in, you’ll spend $2,179 per month in Grimstad versus $3,538 in Oslo – Grimstad is about 38% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Oslo runs roughly 10% less than in Grimstad. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Grimstad or in Oslo?
At $2,179 in Grimstad versus $3,538 in Oslo, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Grimstad but tight or insufficient in Oslo. The gap between the two cities makes Grimstad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Grimstad or in Oslo?
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.
Which city is safer, Grimstad or Oslo?
Safety-wise, Grimstad and Oslo are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Grimstad wins on affordability, Oslo on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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