🙂A single person spends $2,941 per month in Locarno vs $2,990 in Trondheim, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,751 per month in Locarno vs $4,295 in Trondheim, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $6,561 per month in Locarno vs $5,599 in Trondheim, rent included.
🙂Locarno is about 2% cheaper than Trondheim, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Locarno and Trondheim sit above the global median – Locarno by 114%, Trondheim by 118%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Locarno
Trondheim
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.27CHF 22.95
$21.21NOK 198
33.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$125CHF 101
$108NOK 1,009
15.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.76CHF 15.24
$16.17NOK 151
16.02%
Cappuccino
$5.34CHF 4.34
$5.58NOK 52.1
-4.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.37CHF 4.36
$5.81NOK 54.2
-7.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25CHF 3.45
$4.33NOK 40.39
-1.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.56CHF 6.95
$13.61NOK 127
-37.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.26CHF 5.08
$13.10NOK 122
-52.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Locarno
Trondheim
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19CHF 1.78
$2.60NOK 24.27
-15.77%
White Bread(500g)
$4.00CHF 3.24
$3.59NOK 33.54
11.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.16CHF 2.57
$3.83NOK 35.75
-17.49%
Eggs
$7.63CHF 6.20
$5.06NOK 47.23
50.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$27.43CHF 22.27
$13.32NOK 124
105.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.57CHF 13.45
$16.56NOK 155
0.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$37.51CHF 30.46
$32.75NOK 306
14.53%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01CHF 2.44
$3.97NOK 37.05
-24.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69CHF 1.37
$3.03NOK 28.27
-44.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22CHF 1.80
$3.92NOK 36.56
-43.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.64CHF 2.95
$5.64NOK 52.7
-35.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32CHF 1.07
$2.88NOK 26.90
-54.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89CHF 1.53
$3.10NOK 28.96
-39.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93CHF 1.56
$2.99NOK 27.91
-35.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25CHF 1.01
$2.35NOK 21.92
-46.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.92CHF 8.86
$17.92NOK 167
-39.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.19CHF 10.71
$19.02NOK 177
-30.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.15CHF 2.56
$3.73NOK 34.77
-15.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18CHF 2.58
$4.52NOK 42.20
-29.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Locarno
Trondheim
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.71CHF 2.20
$4.76NOK 44.43
-43.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$99.4CHF 80.7
$102NOK 956
-3.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.18CHF 9.89
$9.75NOK 91.0
24.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.45CHF 1.99
$1.65NOK 15.38
48.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.7CHF 50.1
$59.9NOK 559
3.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.30CHF 1.86
$2.30NOK 21.46
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0KCHF 31.6K
$45.8KNOK 427.3K
-14.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.8KCHF 33.2K
$46.7KNOK 435.8K
-12.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Locarno
Trondheim
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$492CHF 400
$276NOK 2,577
78.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.53CHF 22.35
$36.40NOK 340
-24.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.0CHF 47.86
$83.3NOK 777
-29.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Locarno
Trondheim
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$74.4CHF 60.4
$43.49NOK 406
70.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.20CHF 25.33
$41.47NOK 387
-24.76%
Cinema Ticket
$20.44CHF 16.59
$21.11NOK 197
-3.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Locarno
Trondheim
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,494CHF 1,213
$303NOK 2,826
393.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.9KCHF 16.1K
$4,410NOK 41.1K
350.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Locarno
Trondheim
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101CHF 81.7
$110NOK 1,026
-8.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.6CHF 46.78
$51.5NOK 481
11.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.3CHF 79.0
$125NOK 1,164
-22.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119CHF 96.6
$158NOK 1,470
-24.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Locarno
Trondheim
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,059CHF 860
$1,508NOK 14.1K
-29.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,061CHF 861
$1,209NOK 11.3K
-12.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,428CHF 1,971
$2,241NOK 20.9K
8.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,300CHF 1,868
$1,685NOK 15.7K
36.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,229CHF 6,681
$6,577NOK 61.4K
25.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,129CHF 4,976
$5,047NOK 47.1K
21.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Locarno
Trondheim
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,960CHF 5,651
$4,203NOK 39.2K
65.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.93
5.32
-63.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Locarno: August 31, 2026
Last update for Trondheim: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,059 in Locarno 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 66% higher in Locarno, 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 $125 in Locarno versus $108 in Trondheim. Groceries tell a different story – $514 in Locarno vs $521 in Trondheim – so Locarno 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
Locarno vs Trondheim: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Trondheim cheaper than Locarno?
Yes – Trondheim is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $4,411 per month in Locarno 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 Locarno, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 3% less in Locarno. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,494 per month in Locarno and $303 in Trondheim. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Locarno or in Trondheim?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Locarno, where all-in costs run around $2,941, than in Trondheim at $2,990. In Locarno it covers expenses comfortably, while in Trondheim it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Locarno or Trondheim more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Locarno – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Locarno 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 Locarno. 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.