🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,370 in Hamar versus $3,781 in Redmond, WA.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,691 in Hamar versus $5,270 in Redmond, WA.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,011 in Hamar versus $6,759 in Redmond, WA.
🙂Living in Hamar costs roughly 37% less than in Redmond, WA, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hamar77% above, Redmond, WA182% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.45NOK 237
$20.21$20.21
25.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121NOK 1,128
$69.4$69.4
74.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.88NOK 139
$12.18$12.18
22.17%
Cappuccino
$5.05NOK 47.02
$5.75$5.75
-12.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.10NOK 38.25
$2.57$2.57
59.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18NOK 29.62
$2.32$2.32
37.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.08NOK 113
$7.96$7.96
51.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.94NOK 74.0
$7.94$7.94
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.07NOK 19.32
$1.33$1.33
55.64%
White Bread(500g)
$2.87NOK 26.79
$4.92$4.92
-41.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07NOK 19.30
$4.34$4.34
-52.30%
Eggs
$4.97NOK 46.29
$4.21$4.21
18.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.69NOK 99.6
$17.69$17.69
-39.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.99NOK 112
$10.48$10.48
14.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$31.44NOK 293
$16.72$16.72
88.04%
Apples(1kg)
$3.48NOK 32.45
$8.37$8.37
-58.42%
Banana(1kg)
$2.61NOK 24.32
$2.77$2.77
-5.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.88NOK 26.81
$4.35$4.35
-33.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.16NOK 48.05
$5.32$5.32
-3.01%
Potato(1kg)
$2.39NOK 22.24
$2.99$2.99
-20.07%
Onion(1kg)
$2.45NOK 22.84
$2.87$2.87
-14.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.01NOK 18.73
$2.56$2.56
-21.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94NOK 18.10
$3.14$3.14
-38.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$16.88NOK 157
$11.38$11.38
48.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.77NOK 175
$20.31$20.31
-7.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.40NOK 31.68
$1.98$1.98
71.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16NOK 38.80
$4.20$4.20
-0.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.48NOK 41.76
$3.33$3.33
34.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.2NOK 607
$88.9$88.9
-26.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.20NOK 95.1
$2.61$2.61
290.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.40NOK 13.07
$1.73$1.73
-19.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.35NOK 395
$30.34$30.34
39.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.10NOK 19.60
$1.17$1.17
79.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9KNOK 344.0K
$33.3K$33.3K
10.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.4KNOK 404.4K
$26.2K$26.2K
65.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$215NOK 2,007
$267$267
-19.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.45NOK 293
$60.7$60.7
-48.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.0NOK 521
$76.7$76.7
-27.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9NOK 521
$68.3$68.3
-18.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.85NOK 260
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.91NOK 167
$16.15$16.15
10.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$199NOK 1,856
$2,215$2,215
-91.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9KNOK 138.5K
$29.1K$29.1K
-49.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105NOK 982
$53.4$53.4
97.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.6NOK 574
$53.4$53.4
15.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124NOK 1,157
$88.4$88.4
40.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.8NOK 930
$144$144
-30.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,168NOK 10.9K
$2,275$2,275
-48.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$847NOK 7,898
$2,237$2,237
-62.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,489NOK 13.9K
$3,819$3,819
-60.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,435NOK 13.4K
$3,537$3,537
-59.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,391NOK 40.9K
$7,316$7,316
-39.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,528NOK 32.9K
$7,012$7,012
-49.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,348NOK 40.5K
$9,695$9,695
-55.15%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Redmond, WA: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,168 in Hamar and $2,275 in Redmond, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Redmond, WA pays 123% 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: $121 in Hamar vs $69.0 in Redmond, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $441 vs $477, 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 ($2,370 vs $3,781 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 123% 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: $1,168 in Hamar versus $2,275 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 $121 versus $69.0 in Redmond, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Hamar is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
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.