😐A single person spends $2,794 per month in Locarno vs $2,780 in Trondheim, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,503 per month in Locarno vs $4,125 in Trondheim, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $6,213 per month in Locarno vs $5,471 in Trondheim, rent included.
😐Locarno and Trondheim have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.
📊Both Locarno and Trondheim sit above the global median – Locarno by 109%, Trondheim by 108%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Locarno
Trondheim
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.33CHF 22.06
$22.76NOK 219
20.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$146CHF 118
$120NOK 1,151
22.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.79CHF 13.55
$14.31NOK 138
17.33%
Cappuccino
$4.74CHF 3.82
$4.67NOK 45.01
1.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.03CHF 4.06
$3.54NOK 34.11
42.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59CHF 3.70
$3.00NOK 28.85
53.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.25CHF 5.85
$10.77NOK 104
-32.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.03CHF 5.67
$11.45NOK 110
-38.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Locarno
Trondheim
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80CHF 1.45
$2.65NOK 25.56
-32.08%
White Bread(500g)
$2.69CHF 2.17
$3.59NOK 34.57
-25.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.43CHF 1.96
$3.81NOK 36.71
-36.22%
Eggs
$6.04CHF 4.87
$4.42NOK 42.55
36.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$27.22CHF 21.96
$12.33NOK 119
120.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.72CHF 11.88
$14.88NOK 143
-1.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$37.24CHF 30.05
$27.83NOK 268
33.81%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65CHF 2.14
$3.77NOK 36.27
-29.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.90CHF 1.53
$2.89NOK 27.81
-34.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.81CHF 1.46
$2.69NOK 25.88
-32.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.15CHF 2.54
$5.28NOK 50.8
-40.34%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39CHF 1.12
$2.91NOK 28.01
-52.23%
Onion(1kg)
$1.84CHF 1.48
$3.21NOK 30.90
-42.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.83CHF 1.48
$3.24NOK 31.21
-43.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71CHF 0.57
$2.52NOK 24.31
-71.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.65CHF 8.59
$15.47NOK 149
-31.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.00CHF 10.49
$18.24NOK 176
-28.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28CHF 1.84
$3.77NOK 36.36
-39.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35CHF 1.90
$4.67NOK 45.01
-49.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Locarno
Trondheim
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.72CHF 2.20
$4.54NOK 43.77
-40.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$98.4CHF 79.4
$94.6NOK 911
4.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.72CHF 5.42
$15.38NOK 148
-56.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.28CHF 3.45
$2.24NOK 21.59
91.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$80.3CHF 64.8
$89.4NOK 861
-10.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.19CHF 1.76
$2.21NOK 21.33
-0.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4KCHF 27.8K
$31.4KNOK 302.8K
9.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.9KCHF 33.0K
$43.3KNOK 417.5K
-5.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Locarno
Trondheim
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$331CHF 267
$326NOK 3,142
1.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.38CHF 19.67
$43.18NOK 416
-43.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.33CHF 37.38
$76.6NOK 738
-39.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Locarno
Trondheim
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$73.9CHF 59.6
$42.89NOK 413
72.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.20CHF 25.17
$46.70NOK 450
-33.19%
Cinema Ticket
$20.67CHF 16.68
$17.51NOK 169
18.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Locarno
Trondheim
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,449CHF 1,169
$330NOK 3,175
339.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.8KCHF 16.0K
$8,333NOK 80.3K
138.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Locarno
Trondheim
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$114CHF 91.6
$110NOK 1,062
2.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.7CHF 46.58
$47.54NOK 458
21.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120CHF 96.5
$126NOK 1,211
-4.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119CHF 96.2
$129NOK 1,246
-7.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Locarno
Trondheim
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,061CHF 856
$1,378NOK 13.3K
-23.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,067CHF 861
$1,060NOK 10.2K
0.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,474CHF 1,997
$2,251NOK 21.7K
9.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,277CHF 1,838
$1,660NOK 16.0K
37.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,226CHF 6,637
$6,307NOK 60.8K
30.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,258CHF 5,049
$4,811NOK 46.3K
30.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Locarno
Trondheim
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,928CHF 5,590
$4,102NOK 39.5K
68.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.17
4.32
-49.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Locarno: July 11, 2026
Last update for Trondheim: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,061 in Locarno versus $1,378 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 69% higher in Locarno. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $146 in Locarno versus $120 in Trondheim. Groceries tell a different story – $459 in Locarno vs $487 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
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,191 per month in Locarno and $4,170 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 Trondheim, 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 Locarno or in Trondheim?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $146 in Locarno and $120 in Trondheim. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 4% less in Trondheim. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Locarno or in Trondheim?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Trondheim, where all-in costs run around $2,780, than in Locarno at $2,794. In Trondheim it covers expenses comfortably, while in Locarno it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Locarno or Trondheim more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Trondheim – 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 Trondheim. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Locarno makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.