Cost of Living Comparison Between Kirkenes and Trondheim Cost of Living Comparison Between Kirkenes and Trondheim

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,409 per month in Kirkenes vs $2,748 in Trondheim, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,726 per month in Kirkenes vs $4,158 in Trondheim, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,042 per month in Kirkenes vs $5,569 in Trondheim, rent included.

Kirkenes is about 12% cheaper than Trondheim, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Kirkenes and Trondheim sit above the global median – Kirkenes by 80%, Trondheim by 105%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kirkenes
Trondheim
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.84 NOK 231
$22.17 NOK 206
12.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 NOK 949
$122 NOK 1,137
-16.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.50 NOK 125
$14.43 NOK 134
-6.44%
Cappuccino
$4.85 NOK 45.08
$4.84 NOK 45.00
0.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 NOK 30.07
$3.58 NOK 33.30
-9.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 NOK 26.48
$2.91 NOK 27.02
-2.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.94 NOK 92.3
$10.67 NOK 99.2
-6.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.64 NOK 89.6
$11.42 NOK 106
-15.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kirkenes
Trondheim
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.28 NOK 21.21
$2.60 NOK 24.19
-12.31%
White Bread (500g)
$3.30 NOK 30.65
$3.50 NOK 32.48
-5.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.22 NOK 29.88
$3.84 NOK 35.70
-16.15%
Eggs
$4.45 NOK 41.38
$4.43 NOK 41.15
0.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.96 NOK 111
$12.20 NOK 113
-1.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.74 NOK 137
$14.90 NOK 138
-1.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$27.36 NOK 254
$28.82 NOK 268
-5.07%
Apples (1kg)
$3.54 NOK 32.92
$3.85 NOK 35.80
-8.05%
Banana (1kg)
$2.47 NOK 22.95
$2.95 NOK 27.37
-16.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.40 NOK 31.55
$2.64 NOK 24.49
28.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.58 NOK 42.51
$5.18 NOK 48.10
-11.58%
Potato (1kg)
$2.44 NOK 22.68
$2.89 NOK 26.87
-15.57%
Onion (1kg)
$2.46 NOK 22.81
$3.28 NOK 30.49
-25.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.87 NOK 26.65
$3.17 NOK 29.41
-9.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 NOK 17.49
$2.39 NOK 22.18
-21.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.42 NOK 143
$15.01 NOK 139
2.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.55 NOK 191
$18.82 NOK 175
9.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.29 NOK 30.55
$3.84 NOK 35.65
-14.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04 NOK 37.49
$4.67 NOK 43.37
-13.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Kirkenes
Trondheim
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.14 NOK 38.45
$4.65 NOK 43.20
-10.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.0 NOK 688
$91.3 NOK 848
-18.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.01 NOK 93.0
$15.44 NOK 143
-35.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 NOK 13.30
$2.28 NOK 21.15
-37.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$46.12 NOK 428
$87.6 NOK 814
-47.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.18 NOK 20.25
$2.17 NOK 20.14
0.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K NOK 328.3K
$32.0K NOK 297.3K
10.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.0K NOK 352.8K
$41.8K NOK 388.2K
-9.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kirkenes
Trondheim
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$240 NOK 2,228
$317 NOK 2,948
-24.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.73 NOK 351
$43.17 NOK 401
-12.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.2 NOK 522
$75.4 NOK 700
-25.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kirkenes
Trondheim
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.96 NOK 455
$42.29 NOK 393
15.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.78 NOK 332
$46.17 NOK 429
-22.50%
Cinema Ticket
$10.95 NOK 102
$17.30 NOK 161
-36.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kirkenes
Trondheim
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$282 NOK 2,623
$326 NOK 3,030
-13.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.1K NOK 94.1K
$8,458 NOK 78.6K
19.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kirkenes
Trondheim
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.7 NOK 889
$113 NOK 1,051
-15.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.1 NOK 484
$48.03 NOK 446
8.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 NOK 1,023
$130 NOK 1,206
-15.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 NOK 1,396
$132 NOK 1,229
13.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kirkenes
Trondheim
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,213 NOK 11.3K
$1,407 NOK 13.1K
-13.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$904 NOK 8,395
$1,080 NOK 10.0K
-16.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,824 NOK 16.9K
$2,208 NOK 20.5K
-17.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,513 NOK 14.1K
$1,702 NOK 15.8K
-11.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,117 NOK 56.8K
$6,371 NOK 59.2K
-3.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,429 NOK 41.1K
$5,083 NOK 47.2K
-12.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kirkenes
Trondheim
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,353 NOK 49.7K
$4,336 NOK 40.3K
23.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.38
4.32
1.39%

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

Last update for Kirkenes: May 31, 2026

Last update for Trondheim: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,213 in Kirkenes versus $1,407 in Trondheim. 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 Kirkenes, 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 $102 in Kirkenes versus $122 in Trondheim. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $459 vs $488 – making Kirkenes 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
Kirkenes vs Trondheim: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Trondheim cheaper than Kirkenes?
Yes – Trondheim is pricier by about 14%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,614 per month in Kirkenes and $4,122 in Trondheim. 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 Kirkenes, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Kirkenes or Trondheim?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Kirkenes and $122 in Trondheim. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Kirkenes vs Trondheim?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,409 in Kirkenes and $2,748 in Trondheim. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Kirkenes or Trondheim?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,409 in Kirkenes and $2,748 in Trondheim. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Kirkenes or Trondheim more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kirkenes – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Kirkenes or Trondheim?
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 Kirkenes. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Trondheim makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Kirkenes vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities