Cost of Living Comparison Between Iqaluit, NU and Baerum Cost of Living Comparison Between Iqaluit, NU and Baerum

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,041 per month in Iqaluit, NU vs $2,557 in Baerum, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,109 per month in Iqaluit, NU vs $3,928 in Baerum, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,176 per month in Iqaluit, NU vs $5,298 in Baerum, rent included.

Iqaluit, NU costs about 19% more than Baerum, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Iqaluit, NU and Baerum sit above the global median – Iqaluit, NU by 128%, Baerum by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.86 CA$44.67

$25.61 NOK 247

24.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.5 CA$94.6

$102 NOK 983

-33.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 CA$18.49

$13.15 NOK 127

0.30%

Cappuccino

$6.80 CA$9.53

$4.98 NOK 47.93

36.55%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.93 CA$5.51

$2.52 NOK 24.29

55.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 CA$2.35

$2.16 NOK 20.84

-22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.69 CA$9.38

$8.84 NOK 85.2

-24.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 CA$8.05

$9.47 NOK 91.2

-39.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.44 CA$3.43

$2.29 NOK 22.01

6.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.70 CA$3.78

$3.58 NOK 34.48

-24.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.89 CA$4.06

$3.21 NOK 30.89

-9.97%

Eggs

$4.48 CA$6.28

$4.97 NOK 47.90

-9.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.15 CA$17.03

$11.42 NOK 110

6.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.61 CA$19.09

$16.31 NOK 157

-16.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.53 CA$35.80

$31.23 NOK 301

-18.25%

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 CA$2.75

$3.56 NOK 34.26

-44.94%

Banana (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.14

$2.33 NOK 22.42

26.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 CA$2.78

$3.27 NOK 31.51

-39.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 CA$2.83

$3.98 NOK 38.38

-49.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 CA$4.12

$2.21 NOK 21.26

33.03%

Onion (1kg)

$4.04 CA$5.67

$2.14 NOK 20.66

88.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.03 CA$4.25

$2.83 NOK 27.27

7.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.60 CA$5.05

$1.83 NOK 17.58

96.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.96 CA$19.57

$14.10 NOK 136

-0.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.07 CA$16.92

$18.21 NOK 175

-33.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 CA$2.11

$3.49 NOK 33.58

-56.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 CA$3.12

$4.01 NOK 38.66

-44.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.30 CA$3.22

$4.15 NOK 39.95

-44.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$145 CA$203

$72.7 NOK 701

99.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.47 CA$9.07

$10.29 NOK 99.1

-37.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 CA$1.01

$1.41 NOK 13.54

-48.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.24 CA$36.78

$42.77 NOK 412

-38.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 CA$1.84

$2.12 NOK 20.41

-38.21%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$49.4K CA$69.2K

$26.8K NOK 258.3K

84.17%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$45.7K CA$64.1K

$24.3K NOK 233.9K

88.22%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$118 CA$166

$306 NOK 2,949

-61.33%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$56.1 CA$78.7

$40.10 NOK 386

40.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.8 CA$78.2

$38.04 NOK 366

46.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.48 CA$58.2

$50.3 NOK 485

-17.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.06 CA$30.92

$35.74 NOK 344

-38.28%

Cinema Ticket

$8.50 CA$11.91

$15.21 NOK 146

-44.12%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$989 CA$1,387

$272 NOK 2,622

263.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,940 CA$5,525

$14.6K NOK 140.9K

-73.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.5 CA$87.6

$105 NOK 1,014

-40.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.72 CA$51.5

$46.64 NOK 449

-21.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 CA$142

$99.4 NOK 958

1.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 CA$171

$152 NOK 1,465

-19.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,709 CA$2,396

$1,232 NOK 11.9K

38.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,615 CA$2,264

$909 NOK 8,758

77.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,034 CA$4,254

$2,148 NOK 20.7K

41.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,786 CA$2,505

$1,608 NOK 15.5K

11.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,270 CA$5,986

$5,734 NOK 55.2K

-25.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,563 CA$4,996

$3,915 NOK 37.7K

-8.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,212 CA$5,906

$5,193 NOK 50.0K

-18.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.1

4.38

84.93%

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

Last update for Iqaluit, NU: July 13, 2026

Last update for Baerum: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,709 in Iqaluit, NU versus $1,232 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 23% higher in Baerum, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Iqaluit, NU versus $102 in Baerum. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $416 vs $472 – making Iqaluit, NU the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Yes – Iqaluit, NU is pricier by about 19%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,561 per month in Iqaluit, NU and $3,836 in Baerum. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Baerum, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,041 in Iqaluit, NU and $2,557 in Baerum. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 99% less in Baerum. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Baerum, where all-in costs run around $2,557, than in Iqaluit, NU at $3,041. In Baerum it covers expenses comfortably, while in Iqaluit, NU it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Baerum – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Baerum. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Iqaluit, NU makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.