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 $3,053 per month in Iqaluit, NU vs $2,560 in Baerum, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,047 per month in Iqaluit, NU vs $3,853 in Baerum, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,042 per month in Iqaluit, NU vs $5,146 in Baerum, rent included.

Iqaluit, NU costs about 19% more than Baerum, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.29 CA$43.33

$25.44 NOK 236

23.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.7 CA$91.0

$103 NOK 959

-36.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.97 CA$17.96

$13.54 NOK 126

-4.21%

Cappuccino

$6.69 CA$9.26

$5.07 NOK 47.08

31.95%

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

$3.99 CA$5.53

$2.52 NOK 23.37

58.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 CA$2.33

$2.13 NOK 19.75

-21.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.89 CA$9.53

$8.96 NOK 83.2

-23.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.99 CA$8.30

$9.87 NOK 91.7

-39.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.44 CA$3.37

$2.29 NOK 21.27

6.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 CA$3.72

$3.56 NOK 33.07

-24.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.00 CA$4.16

$3.16 NOK 29.35

-5.06%

Eggs

$4.41 CA$6.11

$5.03 NOK 46.70

-12.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.17 CA$16.85

$11.44 NOK 106

6.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.62 CA$18.86

$15.92 NOK 148

-14.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.77 CA$34.30

$31.04 NOK 288

-20.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 CA$2.82

$3.57 NOK 33.14

-43.14%

Banana (1kg)

$2.98 CA$4.12

$2.32 NOK 21.51

28.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.97 CA$2.72

$3.32 NOK 30.83

-40.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 CA$2.81

$4.19 NOK 38.89

-51.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.96 CA$4.10

$2.30 NOK 21.33

28.70%

Onion (1kg)

$3.90 CA$5.41

$2.23 NOK 20.68

74.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.99 CA$4.14

$2.85 NOK 26.50

4.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.55 CA$4.92

$1.82 NOK 16.90

95.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.43 CA$19.98

$14.05 NOK 131

2.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.80 CA$17.73

$19.53 NOK 181

-34.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$3.47 NOK 32.22

-57.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 CA$3.03

$4.03 NOK 37.45

-45.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.35 CA$3.25

$4.13 NOK 38.41

-43.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$144 CA$200

$73.5 NOK 683

96.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.82 CA$9.44

$9.95 NOK 92.4

-31.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 CA$0.98

$1.44 NOK 13.42

-50.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.47 CA$35.26

$42.95 NOK 399

-40.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 CA$1.76

$2.13 NOK 19.75

-40.38%

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

$50.5K CA$70.0K

$27.9K NOK 258.8K

81.43%

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

$45.7K CA$63.3K

$24.6K NOK 228.9K

85.47%

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

$119 CA$164

$305 NOK 2,829

-60.99%

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

$54.3 CA$75.2

$41.01 NOK 381

32.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.3 CA$77.9

$37.37 NOK 347

50.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.07 CA$58.3

$50.5 NOK 469

-16.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.02 CA$30.49

$35.85 NOK 333

-38.58%

Cinema Ticket

$8.50 CA$11.77

$15.44 NOK 143

-44.95%

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

$1,019 CA$1,411

$268 NOK 2,488

280.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,997 CA$5,534

$14.9K NOK 138.5K

-73.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.9 CA$87.0

$105 NOK 977

-40.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.88 CA$51.1

$47.13 NOK 438

-21.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$143

$99.7 NOK 926

3.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 CA$167

$152 NOK 1,410

-20.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 CA$2,336

$1,216 NOK 11.3K

38.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,567 CA$2,169

$908 NOK 8,438

72.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,136 CA$4,342

$2,140 NOK 19.9K

46.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,838 CA$2,545

$1,613 NOK 15.0K

13.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,603 CA$6,373

$6,036 NOK 56.1K

-23.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,811 CA$5,277

$4,455 NOK 41.4K

-14.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,299 CA$5,952

$5,515 NOK 51.2K

-22.06%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Baerum: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,687 in Iqaluit, NU versus $1,216 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 28% 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 $66.0 in Iqaluit, NU versus $103 in Baerum. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $414 vs $473 – 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 Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,580 per month in Iqaluit, NU and $3,840 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 $3,053 in Iqaluit, NU and $2,560 in Baerum. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 96% 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 $2,560, than in Iqaluit, NU at $3,053. 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.