Cost of Living Comparison Between Lillestrom and Cambridge, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between Lillestrom and Cambridge, MA

Monthly Cost of Living

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: Lillestrom 84% above, Cambridge, MA 227% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lillestrom
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.49 NOK 194
$16.84 $16.84
21.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 NOK 971
$98.3 $98.3
4.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.08 NOK 105
$12.15 $12.15
-8.81%
Cappuccino
$4.82 NOK 45.72
$5.54 $5.54
-13.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 NOK 23.94
$3.00 $3.00
-16.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 NOK 21.03
$2.45 $2.45
-9.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.96 NOK 85.0
$7.99 $7.99
12.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.18 NOK 96.6
$7.83 $7.83
30.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lillestrom
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 NOK 20.71
$1.13 $1.13
92.92%
White Bread (500g)
$3.43 NOK 32.55
$3.91 $3.91
-12.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.20 NOK 30.36
$6.65 $6.65
-51.88%
Eggs
$4.14 NOK 39.28
$4.82 $4.82
-14.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.46 NOK 109
$15.20 $15.20
-24.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.90 NOK 132
$13.37 $13.37
3.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$24.59 NOK 233
$20.90 $20.90
17.66%
Apples (1kg)
$3.15 NOK 29.89
$6.69 $6.69
-52.91%
Banana (1kg)
$2.24 NOK 21.23
$1.85 $1.85
21.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.41 NOK 32.37
$6.31 $6.31
-45.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.99 NOK 37.86
$6.26 $6.26
-36.26%
Potato (1kg)
$2.30 NOK 21.85
$3.35 $3.35
-31.34%
Onion (1kg)
$2.13 NOK 20.24
$3.53 $3.53
-39.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 NOK 18.81
$2.49 $2.49
-20.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 NOK 17.28
$2.61 $2.61
-30.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.08 NOK 134
$13.61 $13.61
3.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.03 NOK 162
$16.20 $16.20
5.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.21 NOK 30.47
$1.74 $1.74
84.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87 NOK 36.77
$5.46 $5.46
-29.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Lillestrom
Cambridge, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.24 NOK 40.20
$2.47 $2.47
71.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.4 NOK 687
$91.0 $91.0
-20.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.00 NOK 47.44
$2.63 $2.63
90.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.45 NOK 13.75
$1.70 $1.70
-14.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$61.0 NOK 579
$28.06 $28.06
117.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 NOK 19.85
$0.85 $0.85
145.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K NOK 326.6K
$29.5K $29.5K
16.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9K NOK 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)
$60.9 NOK 578
$161 $161
-62.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.99 NOK 418
$52.2 $52.2
-15.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.96 NOK 360
$56.8 $56.8
-33.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lillestrom
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$70.2 NOK 666
$99.0 $99.0
-29.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.53 NOK 166
$30.42 $30.42
-42.37%
Cinema Ticket
$14.60 NOK 139
$15.42 $15.42
-5.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lillestrom
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$234 NOK 2,221
$2,823 $2,823
-91.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,195 NOK 39.8K
$27.1K $27.1K
-84.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lillestrom
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.0 NOK 902
$66.4 $66.4
43.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.87 NOK 454
$45.47 $45.47
5.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 NOK 961
$103 $103
-1.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$175 NOK 1,662
$149 $149
17.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lillestrom
Cambridge, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,233 NOK 11.7K
$2,835 $2,835
-56.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,233 NOK 11.7K
$2,827 $2,827
-56.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,486 NOK 23.6K
$5,039 $5,039
-50.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,234 NOK 21.2K
$3,500 $3,500
-36.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,932 NOK 65.8K
$4,924 $4,924
40.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,024 NOK 38.2K
$5,081 $5,081
-20.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lillestrom
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,793 NOK 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

Similar cities