🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,417 in Hamar versus $4,154 in Redmond, WA.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,870 in Hamar versus $5,448 in Redmond, WA.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,324 in Hamar versus $6,742 in Redmond, WA.
🌍Living in Hamar costs roughly 42% less than in Redmond, WA, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hamar77% above, Redmond, WA204% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.27NOK 200
$20.05$20.05
6.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$130NOK 1,221
$81.1$81.1
59.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.05NOK 151
$11.03$11.03
45.51%
Cappuccino
$6.13NOK 57.7
$4.97$4.97
23.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.14NOK 39.05
$2.44$2.44
69.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35NOK 31.56
$2.14$2.14
56.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.03NOK 113
$7.03$7.03
71.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.43NOK 79.4
$7.86$7.86
7.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.51NOK 23.66
$1.21$1.21
107.44%
White Bread(500g)
$3.03NOK 28.54
$4.81$4.81
-37.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.13NOK 20.04
$3.36$3.36
-36.61%
Eggs
$5.90NOK 55.6
$5.20$5.20
13.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.32NOK 107
$18.17$18.17
-37.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.64NOK 119
$13.85$13.85
-8.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$29.76NOK 280
$23.32$23.32
27.62%
Apples(1kg)
$3.40NOK 32.05
$5.75$5.75
-40.87%
Banana(1kg)
$2.66NOK 25.06
$1.87$1.87
42.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.18NOK 29.97
$4.07$4.07
-21.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.98NOK 56.3
$4.53$4.53
32.01%
Potato(1kg)
$2.51NOK 23.69
$2.60$2.60
-3.46%
Onion(1kg)
$2.54NOK 23.94
$2.38$2.38
6.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.13NOK 20.03
$2.42$2.42
-11.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.02NOK 19.06
$2.59$2.59
-22.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.26NOK 181
$12.25$12.25
57.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.86NOK 159
$15.03$15.03
12.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.61NOK 34.01
$1.69$1.69
113.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37NOK 41.22
$3.31$3.31
32.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.68NOK 44.10
$3.19$3.19
46.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$69.9NOK 658
$90.8$90.8
-23.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.00NOK 113
$2.66$2.66
351.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.86NOK 17.52
$1.67$1.67
11.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$71.9NOK 677
$30.01$30.01
139.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.36NOK 22.25
$1.37$1.37
72.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.5KNOK 457.0K
$36.4K$36.4K
33.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.2KNOK 434.9K
$25.5K$25.5K
81.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$227NOK 2,137
$310$310
-26.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.60NOK 307
$69.4$69.4
-53.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.7NOK 534
$90.2$90.2
-37.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.8NOK 544
$84.5$84.5
-31.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.57NOK 288
$40.38$40.38
-24.29%
Cinema Ticket
$19.33NOK 182
$17.81$17.81
8.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$217NOK 2,044
$2,762$2,762
-92.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0KNOK 150.5K
$31.1K$31.1K
-48.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101NOK 950
$69.3$69.3
45.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.8NOK 572
$55.1$55.1
10.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$133NOK 1,254
$101$101
32.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105NOK 991
$163$163
-35.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,235NOK 11.6K
$2,933$2,933
-57.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$882NOK 8,309
$2,483$2,483
-64.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,635NOK 15.4K
$3,948$3,948
-58.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,540NOK 14.5K
$3,137$3,137
-50.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,449NOK 41.9K
$7,208$7,208
-38.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,468NOK 32.7K
$6,959$6,959
-50.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,256NOK 40.1K
$8,873$8,873
-52.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.98
6.27
-20.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hamar: September 13, 2026
Last update for Redmond, WA: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,235 in Hamar and $2,933 in Redmond, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Redmond, WA pays 109% 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: $130 in Hamar vs $81.0 in Redmond, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $455 vs $465, 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 in Redmond, WA?
Hamar and Redmond, WA differ by about 72% in total monthly costs ($2,417 vs $4,154 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, salaries run 109% lower in Redmond, WA. 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 in Redmond, WA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,235 in Hamar versus $2,933 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 2% 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 $130 versus $81.0 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 $2,417 in Hamar versus $4,154 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 72% less than in Redmond, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.