🙂A single person spends $2,674 per month in Kirkenes vs $2,990 in Trondheim, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $4,089 per month in Kirkenes vs $4,295 in Trondheim, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $5,504 per month in Kirkenes vs $5,599 in Trondheim, rent included.
🙂Kirkenes is about 11% cheaper than Trondheim, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Kirkenes and Trondheim sit above the global median – Kirkenes by 95%, Trondheim by 118%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kirkenes
Trondheim
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.72NOK 192
$21.21NOK 197
-2.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$110NOK 1,019
$108NOK 1,004
1.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$17.30NOK 161
$16.17NOK 150
6.99%
Cappuccino
$5.15NOK 47.83
$5.58NOK 51.8
-7.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46NOK 41.45
$5.81NOK 54.0
-23.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32NOK 30.79
$4.33NOK 40.19
-23.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.14NOK 122
$13.61NOK 126
-3.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.30NOK 95.7
$13.10NOK 122
-21.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kirkenes
Trondheim
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.16NOK 20.02
$2.60NOK 24.15
-16.92%
White Bread(500g)
$3.59NOK 33.36
$3.59NOK 33.37
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.94NOK 36.61
$3.83NOK 35.57
2.87%
Eggs
$5.53NOK 51.4
$5.06NOK 47.00
9.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.41NOK 134
$13.32NOK 124
8.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.37NOK 124
$16.56NOK 154
-19.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.87NOK 268
$32.75NOK 304
-11.85%
Apples(1kg)
$3.33NOK 30.96
$3.97NOK 36.87
-16.12%
Banana(1kg)
$2.53NOK 23.53
$3.03NOK 28.13
-16.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.10NOK 28.81
$3.92NOK 36.38
-20.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.10NOK 47.37
$5.64NOK 52.4
-9.57%
Potato(1kg)
$2.60NOK 24.10
$2.88NOK 26.76
-9.72%
Onion(1kg)
$3.01NOK 27.91
$3.10NOK 28.82
-2.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.90NOK 26.93
$2.99NOK 27.77
-3.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.72NOK 25.22
$2.35NOK 21.81
15.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.44NOK 171
$17.92NOK 166
2.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.71NOK 164
$19.02NOK 177
-6.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.54NOK 32.84
$3.73NOK 34.60
-5.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84NOK 35.64
$4.52NOK 41.99
-15.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Kirkenes
Trondheim
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$5.03NOK 46.66
$4.76NOK 44.21
5.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$86.1NOK 799
$102NOK 952
-16.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.27NOK 114
$9.75NOK 90.5
25.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05NOK 19.02
$1.65NOK 15.31
24.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$68.8NOK 639
$59.9NOK 556
14.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.38NOK 22.06
$2.30NOK 21.35
3.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.1KNOK 400.5K
$45.8KNOK 425.2K
-5.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$47.1KNOK 437.5K
$46.7KNOK 433.7K
0.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kirkenes
Trondheim
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$317NOK 2,946
$276NOK 2,564
14.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.43NOK 273
$36.40NOK 338
-19.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.2NOK 577
$83.3NOK 773
-25.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kirkenes
Trondheim
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.0NOK 492
$43.49NOK 404
21.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.01NOK 344
$41.47NOK 385
-10.75%
Cinema Ticket
$18.07NOK 168
$21.11NOK 196
-14.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kirkenes
Trondheim
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$223NOK 2,067
$303NOK 2,812
-26.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.1KNOK 112.0K
$4,410NOK 40.9K
173.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kirkenes
Trondheim
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101NOK 939
$110NOK 1,021
-8.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.0NOK 492
$51.5NOK 478
2.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$144NOK 1,338
$125NOK 1,158
15.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$174NOK 1,616
$158NOK 1,462
10.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kirkenes
Trondheim
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,327NOK 12.3K
$1,508NOK 14.0K
-12.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,190NOK 11.0K
$1,209NOK 11.2K
-1.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,315NOK 21.5K
$2,241NOK 20.8K
3.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,905NOK 17.7K
$1,685NOK 15.6K
13.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,320NOK 58.7K
$6,577NOK 61.1K
-3.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,304NOK 40.0K
$5,047NOK 46.9K
-14.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kirkenes
Trondheim
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,411NOK 50.2K
$4,203NOK 39.0K
28.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.96
5.32
-6.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kirkenes: August 30, 2026
Last update for Trondheim: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,327 in Kirkenes versus $1,508 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 29% 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 $110 in Kirkenes versus $108 in Trondheim. Groceries tell a different story – $481 in Kirkenes vs $521 in Trondheim – so Kirkenes wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 12%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $4,012 per month in Kirkenes and $4,486 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 in Trondheim?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $110 in Kirkenes and $108 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 and in Trondheim?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,674 in Kirkenes and $2,990 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 in Trondheim?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,674 in Kirkenes and $2,990 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.