Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Iqaluit, NU and Baerum

For one person, living is cheaper in Iqaluit, NU: $2,934 a month against $3,124 in Baerum, rent and utilities included – about $2,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Iqaluit, NU
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,934
/mo nomad
Baerum
🇳🇴 Norway
$3,124
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Iqaluit, NU and in Baerum

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Iqaluit, NU and in Baerum actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,934 per month in Iqaluit, NU vs $3,124 in Baerum, rent included.

  • Iqaluit, NU $2,934
  • Baerum $3,124

A couple spends around $4,585 per month in Iqaluit, NU vs $4,846 in Baerum, rent included.

  • Iqaluit, NU $4,585
  • Baerum $4,846

A family of three spends $6,236 per month in Iqaluit, NU vs $6,568 in Baerum, rent included.

  • Iqaluit, NU $6,236
  • Baerum $6,568

Iqaluit, NU is about 6% cheaper than Baerum, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Iqaluit, NU and Baerum sit above the global median – Iqaluit, NU by 117%, Baerum by 131%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iqaluit, NU
Baerum
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.82 CA$37.92
$21.23 NOK 200
26.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4 CA$89.6
$127 NOK 1,192
-49.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.91 CA$18.25
$15.70 NOK 148
-17.77%
Cappuccino
$7.02 CA$9.92
$6.06 NOK 57.1
15.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 CA$5.25
$4.34 NOK 40.82
-14.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 CA$2.29
$3.44 NOK 32.42
-52.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.73 CA$9.51
$11.46 NOK 108
-41.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.45 CA$7.70
$12.59 NOK 119
-56.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iqaluit, NU
Baerum
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.44 CA$3.45
$2.42 NOK 22.74
0.83%
White Bread (500g)
$2.55 CA$3.60
$3.62 NOK 34.04
-29.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.18 CA$4.50
$4.60 NOK 43.27
-30.87%
Eggs
$3.41 CA$4.82
$5.59 NOK 52.7
-39.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.71 CA$13.73
$10.29 NOK 96.9
-5.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.07 CA$18.48
$15.50 NOK 146
-15.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.48 CA$20.47
$31.54 NOK 297
-54.09%
Apples (1kg)
$3.70 CA$5.23
$2.59 NOK 24.37
42.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.33 CA$1.89
$2.03 NOK 19.15
-34.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.58 CA$5.06
$2.14 NOK 20.12
67.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.80 CA$5.38
$4.07 NOK 38.35
-6.63%
Potato (1kg)
$2.41 CA$3.40
$1.65 NOK 15.50
46.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.16 CA$3.06
$2.81 NOK 26.49
-23.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.37 CA$3.35
$3.02 NOK 28.44
-21.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 CA$2.24
$2.43 NOK 22.87
-34.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.88 CA$19.62
$19.05 NOK 179
-27.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.82 CA$18.12
$16.33 NOK 154
-21.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.54 CA$3.60
$3.41 NOK 32.06
-25.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 CA$4.24
$4.13 NOK 38.85
-27.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Iqaluit, NU
Baerum
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.23 CA$3.15
$4.33 NOK 40.76
-48.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$61.5 CA$87.0
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.57 CA$9.28
$11.97 NOK 113
-45.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 CA$1.95
$1.88 NOK 17.72
-26.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.20 CA$28.56
$69.2 NOK 651
-70.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 CA$1.61
$2.21 NOK 20.79
-48.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.0K CA$53.7K
$28.3K NOK 266.8K
34.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1K CA$42.5K
$24.7K NOK 232.1K
22.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iqaluit, NU
Baerum
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$114 CA$161
$335 NOK 3,149
-65.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.71 CA$54.7
$33.08 NOK 311
17.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 CA$75.8
$52.5 NOK 495
2.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iqaluit, NU
Baerum
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.57 CA$57.4
$51.4 NOK 484
-21.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.61 CA$24.90
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.09 CA$11.44
$15.97 NOK 150
-49.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iqaluit, NU
Baerum
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$755 CA$1,067
$233 NOK 2,194
223.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.1K CA$18.5K
$15.4K NOK 144.8K
-15.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iqaluit, NU
Baerum
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.7 CA$74.5
$98.5 NOK 927
-46.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.18 CA$54.0
$58.6 NOK 551
-34.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.7 CA$121
$133 NOK 1,248
-35.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 CA$145
$154 NOK 1,450
-33.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iqaluit, NU
Baerum
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,751 CA$2,475
$1,742 NOK 16.4K
0.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,700 CA$2,404
$1,511 NOK 14.2K
12.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,877 CA$4,068
$3,459 NOK 32.6K
-16.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,448 CA$4,874
$2,913 NOK 27.4K
18.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,252 CA$6,011
$10.8K NOK 101.5K
-60.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,525 CA$4,983
$9,916 NOK 93.3K
-64.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iqaluit, NU
Baerum
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,135 CA$5,845
$5,319 NOK 50.1K
-22.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.32
4.6
15.65%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Iqaluit, NU: October 10, 2026

Last update for Baerum: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Iqaluit, NU
$1.7K
Baerum
$1.5K 11.1% $189
Eating Out
Iqaluit, NU
$403
Baerum
$403 0% $0.1
Groceries & Markets
Iqaluit, NU
$358
Baerum
$468 30.5% $109
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iqaluit, NU
$206
Baerum
$420 104% $214
Clothing & Footwear
Iqaluit, NU
$125
Baerum
$200 59.1% $74
Getting Around
Iqaluit, NU
$84
Baerum
$39 * 53.9% $45
Sport & Entertainment
Iqaluit, NU
$57
Baerum
$83 46.8% $27

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,751 in Iqaluit, NU versus $1,742 in Baerum. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 29% higher in Baerum, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Iqaluit, NU versus $127 in Baerum. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $358 vs $468 – making Iqaluit, NU the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Iqaluit, NU
🇳🇴 Baerum
🕒 Local time
08:39 8:39 AM
14:39 2:39 PM
6 h ahead of Iqaluit, NU
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,000
131,136
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

NOK, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

Norwegian Krone exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 9.41 NOK (1 NOK = 0.106 USD). 1 EUR = 10.58 NOK (100 NOK = 9.45 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Iqaluit, NU Baerum 3,900 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Iqaluit, NU
  • Baerum

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Iqaluit, NU vs Baerum: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Baerum cheaper than Iqaluit, NU?
Yes – Baerum is pricier by about 6%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,401 per month in Iqaluit, NU and $4,686 in Baerum. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Iqaluit, NU, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Iqaluit, NU and in Baerum?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,934 in Iqaluit, NU and $3,124 in Baerum. That's a gap of about 6%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $755 per month in Iqaluit, NU and $233 in Baerum. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Iqaluit, NU or in Baerum?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,934 in Iqaluit, NU and $3,124 in Baerum. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Iqaluit, NU or Baerum more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Iqaluit, NU – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Iqaluit, NU or Baerum?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Iqaluit, NU. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Baerum makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Iqaluit, NU vs other spots: cost of living compared

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