🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,472 in Lillestrom versus $4,398 in Cambridge, MA.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,909 in Lillestrom versus $5,738 in Cambridge, MA.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,345 in Lillestrom versus $7,078 in Cambridge, MA.
🙂Living in Lillestrom costs roughly 44% less than in Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lillestrom84% above, Cambridge, MA227% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lillestrom
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.49NOK 194
$16.84$16.84
21.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102NOK 971
$98.3$98.3
4.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.08NOK 105
$12.15$12.15
-8.81%
Cappuccino
$4.82NOK 45.72
$5.54$5.54
-13.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52NOK 23.94
$3.00$3.00
-16.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22NOK 21.03
$2.45$2.45
-9.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.96NOK 85.0
$7.99$7.99
12.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.18NOK 96.6
$7.83$7.83
30.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lillestrom
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18NOK 20.71
$1.13$1.13
92.92%
White Bread(500g)
$3.43NOK 32.55
$3.91$3.91
-12.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.20NOK 30.36
$6.65$6.65
-51.88%
Eggs
$4.14NOK 39.28
$4.82$4.82
-14.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.46NOK 109
$15.20$15.20
-24.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.90NOK 132
$13.37$13.37
3.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$24.59NOK 233
$20.90$20.90
17.66%
Apples(1kg)
$3.15NOK 29.89
$6.69$6.69
-52.91%
Banana(1kg)
$2.24NOK 21.23
$1.85$1.85
21.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.41NOK 32.37
$6.31$6.31
-45.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.99NOK 37.86
$6.26$6.26
-36.26%
Potato(1kg)
$2.30NOK 21.85
$3.35$3.35
-31.34%
Onion(1kg)
$2.13NOK 20.24
$3.53$3.53
-39.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98NOK 18.81
$2.49$2.49
-20.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.82NOK 17.28
$2.61$2.61
-30.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.08NOK 134
$13.61$13.61
3.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.03NOK 162
$16.20$16.20
5.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.21NOK 30.47
$1.74$1.74
84.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87NOK 36.77
$5.46$5.46
-29.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Lillestrom
Cambridge, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.24NOK 40.20
$2.47$2.47
71.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$72.4NOK 687
$91.0$91.0
-20.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.00NOK 47.44
$2.63$2.63
90.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.45NOK 13.75
$1.70$1.70
-14.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.0NOK 579
$28.06$28.06
117.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09NOK 19.85
$0.85$0.85
145.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4KNOK 326.6K
$29.5K$29.5K
16.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9KNOK 293.8K
$25.1K$25.1K
23.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lillestrom
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$60.9NOK 578
$161$161
-62.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.99NOK 418
$52.2$52.2
-15.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.96NOK 360
$56.8$56.8
-33.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lillestrom
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$70.2NOK 666
$99.0$99.0
-29.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.53NOK 166
$30.42$30.42
-42.37%
Cinema Ticket
$14.60NOK 139
$15.42$15.42
-5.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lillestrom
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$234NOK 2,221
$2,823$2,823
-91.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,195NOK 39.8K
$27.1K$27.1K
-84.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lillestrom
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.0NOK 902
$66.4$66.4
43.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.87NOK 454
$45.47$45.47
5.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101NOK 961
$103$103
-1.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$175NOK 1,662
$149$149
17.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lillestrom
Cambridge, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,233NOK 11.7K
$2,835$2,835
-56.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233NOK 11.7K
$2,827$2,827
-56.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,486NOK 23.6K
$5,039$5,039
-50.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,234NOK 21.2K
$3,500$3,500
-36.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,932NOK 65.8K
$4,924$4,924
40.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,024NOK 38.2K
$5,081$5,081
-20.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lillestrom
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,793NOK 36.0K
$6,226$6,226
-39.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.38
6.43
-31.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lillestrom: June 7, 2026
Last update for Cambridge, MA: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,233 in Lillestrom and $2,835 in Cambridge, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cambridge, MA pays 64% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $102 in Lillestrom vs $98.0 in Cambridge, MA. Groceries flip the comparison at $425 vs $483, with Lillestrom cheaper for home cooking.
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
Lillestrom vs Cambridge, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lillestrom or Cambridge, MA?
Lillestrom wins on cost – living expenses run 78% lower than in Cambridge, MA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lillestrom the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lillestrom or Cambridge, MA?
On paper, Cambridge, MA earns 64% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lillestrom vs Cambridge, MA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,233 in Lillestrom versus $2,835 in Cambridge, MA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Lillestrom or Cambridge, MA?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Cambridge, MA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Lillestrom vs Cambridge, MA?
Dining out is cheaper in Lillestrom – a meal for two runs $102 versus $98.0 in Cambridge, MA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lillestrom or Cambridge, MA?
At $2,472 in Lillestrom versus $4,398 in Cambridge, MA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lillestrom but tight or insufficient in Cambridge, MA. The gap between the two cities makes Lillestrom the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lillestrom or Cambridge, MA?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lillestrom delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,472 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lillestrom hard to pass up.
How safe is Lillestrom compared to Cambridge, MA?
Safety-wise, Lillestrom and Cambridge, MA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lillestrom gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Cambridge, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Lillestrom vs other spots: cost of living compared