🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,379 in Hamar versus $3,880 in Redmond, WA.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,737 in Hamar versus $5,377 in Redmond, WA.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,095 in Hamar versus $6,875 in Redmond, WA.
🌍Living in Hamar costs roughly 39% less than in Redmond, WA, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hamar79% above, Redmond, WA192% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.39NOK 240
$19.64$19.64
29.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122NOK 1,154
$68.9$68.9
77.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.27NOK 145
$12.21$12.21
25.06%
Cappuccino
$5.07NOK 47.93
$5.84$5.84
-13.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.21NOK 39.84
$2.47$2.47
70.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18NOK 30.06
$2.31$2.31
37.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.96NOK 113
$7.69$7.69
55.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.19NOK 77.5
$8.13$8.13
0.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.10NOK 19.89
$1.34$1.34
56.72%
White Bread(500g)
$2.84NOK 26.92
$5.02$5.02
-43.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.05NOK 19.36
$4.40$4.40
-53.41%
Eggs
$5.20NOK 49.17
$4.18$4.18
24.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.42NOK 98.6
$17.64$17.64
-40.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.20NOK 115
$10.50$10.50
16.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$31.13NOK 295
$16.92$16.92
83.98%
Apples(1kg)
$3.44NOK 32.60
$8.44$8.44
-59.24%
Banana(1kg)
$2.50NOK 23.64
$2.73$2.73
-8.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.89NOK 27.31
$4.31$4.31
-32.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.08NOK 48.11
$5.21$5.21
-2.50%
Potato(1kg)
$2.38NOK 22.50
$2.91$2.91
-18.21%
Onion(1kg)
$2.39NOK 22.64
$2.90$2.90
-17.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.00NOK 18.92
$2.48$2.48
-19.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.89NOK 17.88
$3.10$3.10
-39.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.40NOK 165
$11.39$11.39
52.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.04NOK 171
$15.24$15.24
18.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.52NOK 33.30
$1.90$1.90
85.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25NOK 40.25
$4.23$4.23
0.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.48NOK 42.44
$3.20$3.20
40.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.5NOK 610
$90.8$90.8
-28.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.97NOK 94.4
$2.61$2.61
281.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.38NOK 13.09
$1.63$1.63
-15.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.66NOK 404
$29.51$29.51
44.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11NOK 19.93
$1.17$1.17
80.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9KNOK 339.7K
$32.9K$32.9K
9.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.2KNOK 409.0K
$25.7K$25.7K
67.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$218NOK 2,067
$263$263
-16.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.47NOK 298
$60.7$60.7
-48.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.2NOK 532
$74.4$74.4
-24.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.7NOK 527
$68.7$68.7
-18.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.97NOK 265
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$18.02NOK 171
$16.19$16.19
11.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$203NOK 1,917
$2,270$2,270
-91.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6KNOK 138.3K
$29.0K$29.0K
-49.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106NOK 1,000
$51.8$51.8
103.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.4NOK 572
$52.9$52.9
14.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121NOK 1,146
$88.7$88.7
36.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103NOK 974
$143$143
-27.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,160NOK 11.0K
$2,259$2,259
-48.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$824NOK 7,795
$2,240$2,240
-63.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,496NOK 14.2K
$3,791$3,791
-60.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,445NOK 13.7K
$3,487$3,487
-58.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,211NOK 39.8K
$7,174$7,174
-41.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,448NOK 32.6K
$6,884$6,884
-49.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamar
Redmond, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,111NOK 38.9K
$9,103$9,103
-54.84%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Redmond, WA: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,160 in Hamar and $2,259 in Redmond, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Redmond, WA pays 121% 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: $122 in Hamar vs $69.0 in Redmond, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $438 vs $466, 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 63% in total monthly costs ($2,379 vs $3,880 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 121% 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: $1,160 in Hamar versus $2,259 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 6% 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 $122 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 63% less than in Redmond, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.