🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,374 in Hamar versus $3,808 in Redmond, WA.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,743 in Hamar versus $5,365 in Redmond, WA.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,112 in Hamar versus $6,922 in Redmond, WA.
🙂Living in Hamar costs roughly 38% less than in Redmond, WA, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hamar77% above, Redmond, WA183% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.11NOK 238
$20.30$20.30
23.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$123NOK 1,165
$69.4$69.4
76.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.06NOK 143
$11.97$11.97
25.81%
Cappuccino
$5.01NOK 47.54
$5.76$5.76
-13.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22NOK 40.03
$2.52$2.52
67.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25NOK 30.86
$2.40$2.40
35.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.22NOK 116
$7.77$7.77
57.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.22NOK 78.1
$7.90$7.90
4.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.10NOK 19.95
$1.35$1.35
55.56%
White Bread(500g)
$2.99NOK 28.38
$5.04$5.04
-40.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.04NOK 19.36
$4.49$4.49
-54.57%
Eggs
$4.95NOK 46.99
$4.37$4.37
13.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.38NOK 98.5
$17.49$17.49
-40.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.90NOK 113
$10.26$10.26
15.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$30.60NOK 290
$16.59$16.59
84.45%
Apples(1kg)
$3.58NOK 33.97
$8.20$8.20
-56.34%
Banana(1kg)
$2.53NOK 23.97
$2.88$2.88
-12.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.90NOK 27.50
$4.27$4.27
-32.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.08NOK 48.27
$5.29$5.29
-3.97%
Potato(1kg)
$2.37NOK 22.46
$3.02$3.02
-21.52%
Onion(1kg)
$2.36NOK 22.38
$2.92$2.92
-19.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.03NOK 19.31
$2.54$2.54
-20.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95NOK 18.54
$3.03$3.03
-35.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.52NOK 166
$11.56$11.56
51.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.70NOK 177
$20.04$20.04
-6.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.48NOK 33.02
$1.88$1.88
85.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.18NOK 39.66
$4.36$4.36
-4.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.56NOK 43.25
$3.29$3.29
38.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.1NOK 609
$89.8$89.8
-28.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.94NOK 94.3
$2.72$2.72
265.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.39NOK 13.16
$1.70$1.70
-18.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.55NOK 404
$29.68$29.68
43.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.12NOK 20.16
$1.12$1.12
89.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3KNOK 344.7K
$33.2K$33.2K
9.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.7KNOK 405.3K
$26.1K$26.1K
63.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$217NOK 2,063
$266$266
-18.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.76NOK 292
$61.0$61.0
-49.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.4NOK 536
$74.3$74.3
-23.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.5NOK 536
$70.2$70.2
-19.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.99NOK 266
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$18.07NOK 172
$16.26$16.26
11.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$206NOK 1,960
$2,257$2,257
-90.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8KNOK 140.2K
$28.9K$28.9K
-48.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104NOK 985
$52.3$52.3
98.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.2NOK 572
$53.6$53.6
12.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$125NOK 1,185
$88.2$88.2
41.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.8NOK 947
$139$139
-28.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,171NOK 11.1K
$2,293$2,293
-48.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$820NOK 7,783
$2,229$2,229
-63.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,528NOK 14.5K
$3,807$3,807
-59.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,423NOK 13.5K
$3,487$3,487
-59.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,022NOK 57.2K
$7,133$7,133
-15.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,514NOK 42.8K
$7,016$7,016
-35.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,257NOK 40.4K
$9,738$9,738
-56.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.08
6.54
-22.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hamar: June 9, 2026
Last update for Redmond, WA: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,171 in Hamar and $2,293 in Redmond, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Redmond, WA pays 129% 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: $123 in Hamar vs $69.0 in Redmond, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $438 vs $474, with Hamar 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
Hamar vs Redmond, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Hamar and Redmond, WA?
Hamar and Redmond, WA differ by about 60% in total monthly costs ($2,374 vs $3,808 including rent). Hamar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Redmond, WA earns 129% less. 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 Hamar and Redmond, WA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,171 in Hamar versus $2,293 in Redmond, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Redmond, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Hamar – a meal for two runs $123 versus $69.0 in Redmond, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,374 in Hamar versus $3,808 in Redmond, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Hamar but tight or insufficient in Redmond, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Hamar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Hamar 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 Hamar or Redmond, WA safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Hamar 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: Hamar or Redmond, WA?
Expats usually find Hamar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Redmond, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.