🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,626 in Harstad versus $3,009 in Trondheim.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,908 in Harstad versus $4,335 in Trondheim.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,189 in Harstad versus $5,661 in Trondheim.
🌍Living in Harstad costs roughly 13% less than in Trondheim, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Harstad92% above, Trondheim120% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Harstad
Trondheim
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.17NOK 134
$20.98NOK 198
-32.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$109NOK 1,027
$110NOK 1,036
-0.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.17NOK 152
$15.84NOK 149
2.08%
Cappuccino
$6.56NOK 61.9
$5.62NOK 52.9
16.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84NOK 36.18
$5.77NOK 54.4
-33.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18NOK 29.98
$4.37NOK 41.15
-27.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.72NOK 120
$13.62NOK 128
-6.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$13.91NOK 131
$13.21NOK 124
5.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Harstad
Trondheim
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.58NOK 24.32
$2.59NOK 24.38
-0.39%
White Bread(500g)
$3.48NOK 32.77
$3.55NOK 33.49
-1.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.30NOK 31.06
$3.90NOK 36.79
-15.38%
Eggs
$4.58NOK 43.18
$4.88NOK 46.01
-6.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.19NOK 105
$13.49NOK 127
-17.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.09NOK 142
$16.46NOK 155
-8.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$42.47NOK 400
$32.40NOK 305
31.08%
Apples(1kg)
$4.24NOK 39.94
$3.89NOK 36.66
9.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.94NOK 27.73
$2.94NOK 27.67
-
Oranges(1kg)
$3.82NOK 35.95
$4.00NOK 37.69
-4.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.79NOK 45.12
$5.77NOK 54.3
-16.98%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16NOK 20.37
$2.89NOK 27.23
-25.26%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17NOK 20.48
$3.14NOK 29.57
-30.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.02NOK 28.50
$2.87NOK 27.07
5.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.41NOK 22.71
$2.25NOK 21.23
7.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$16.82NOK 158
$18.01NOK 170
-6.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.81NOK 149
$19.22NOK 181
-17.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.04NOK 38.03
$3.54NOK 33.33
14.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.98NOK 46.97
$4.69NOK 44.19
6.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Harstad
Trondheim
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$6.22NOK 58.6
$4.88NOK 46.00
27.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$84.4NOK 796
$102NOK 963
-17.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$16.02NOK 151
$9.49NOK 89.4
68.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.84NOK 17.32
$1.61NOK 15.15
14.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$56.9NOK 536
$61.3NOK 577
-7.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25NOK 21.20
$2.38NOK 22.41
-5.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.6KNOK 354.3K
$47.1KNOK 444.0K
-20.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.0KNOK 301.4K
$46.4KNOK 437.1K
-31.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Harstad
Trondheim
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$168NOK 1,582
$282NOK 2,655
-40.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.80NOK 328
$36.46NOK 344
-4.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$81.9NOK 771
$83.6NOK 787
-2.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Harstad
Trondheim
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.1NOK 482
$44.16NOK 416
15.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.78NOK 356
$41.28NOK 389
-8.48%
Cinema Ticket
$17.55NOK 165
$21.08NOK 199
-16.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Harstad
Trondheim
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$246NOK 2,319
$304NOK 2,861
-18.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,377NOK 50.7K
$4,455NOK 42.0K
20.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Harstad
Trondheim
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.7NOK 647
$110NOK 1,040
-37.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.02NOK 339
$52.7NOK 496
-31.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124NOK 1,170
$124NOK 1,172
-0.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$168NOK 1,580
$158NOK 1,485
6.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Harstad
Trondheim
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,387NOK 13.1K
$1,496NOK 14.1K
-7.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,092NOK 10.3K
$1,236NOK 11.6K
-11.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,321NOK 21.9K
$2,253NOK 21.2K
3.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,530NOK 14.4K
$1,690NOK 15.9K
-9.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,192NOK 58.3K
$6,555NOK 61.8K
-5.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,126NOK 38.9K
$5,105NOK 48.1K
-19.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Harstad
Trondheim
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,607NOK 34.0K
$4,338NOK 40.9K
-16.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
5.32
-6.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Harstad: September 13, 2026
Last update for Trondheim: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,387 in Harstad and $1,496 in Trondheim. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Trondheim pays 20% 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: $109 in Harstad vs $110 in Trondheim. Groceries flip the comparison at $520 vs $517, with Trondheim 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
Harstad vs Trondheim: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Trondheim cheaper than Harstad?
Harstad is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Harstad or Trondheim?
On paper, salaries run 20% lower in Trondheim. 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 Harstad and Trondheim?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,387 in Harstad versus $1,496 in Trondheim. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Harstad and in Trondheim?
Shoppers in Trondheim pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Harstad or in Trondheim?
Dining out is cheaper in Harstad – a meal for two runs $109 versus $110 in Trondheim. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Harstad or in Trondheim?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Harstad is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Harstad or Trondheim more family-friendly?
For families, Harstad is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Trondheim, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Harstad or Trondheim?
Safety-wise, Harstad and Trondheim are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Harstad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Trondheim. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.