😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,907 in Marietta, GA versus $2,777 in Arendal.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,395 in Marietta, GA versus $3,905 in Arendal.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,882 in Marietta, GA versus $5,034 in Arendal.
🌍Living in Marietta, GA is roughly 5% more expensive than in Arendal, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Marietta, GA112% above, Arendal102% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Marietta, GA
Arendal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.60$19.60
$20.31NOK 189
-3.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$96.0$96.0
$67.5NOK 629
42.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.01$12.01
$15.90NOK 148
-24.47%
Cappuccino
$5.43$5.43
$5.55NOK 51.7
-2.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87$2.87
$3.60NOK 33.54
-20.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10$2.10
$3.41NOK 31.80
-38.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.91$6.91
$11.90NOK 111
-41.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92$7.92
$12.15NOK 113
-34.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Marietta, GA
Arendal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.95$0.95
$2.40NOK 22.33
-60.42%
White Bread(500g)
$3.52$3.52
$3.60NOK 33.58
-2.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.72$3.72
$3.95NOK 36.78
-5.82%
Eggs
$3.92$3.92
$5.04NOK 46.95
-22.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.26$15.26
$14.87NOK 139
2.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.53$15.53
$15.26NOK 142
1.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.61$21.61
$34.60NOK 322
-37.54%
Apples(1kg)
$5.94$5.94
$3.61NOK 33.60
64.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54$1.54
$2.83NOK 26.36
-45.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.83$5.83
$3.64NOK 33.90
60.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.00$6.00
$4.95NOK 46.14
21.21%
Potato(1kg)
$3.55$3.55
$2.60NOK 24.26
36.54%
Onion(1kg)
$2.61$2.61
$3.15NOK 29.32
-17.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.50$2.50
$2.78NOK 25.93
-10.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.74$2.74
$2.35NOK 21.85
16.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.78$7.78
$17.77NOK 166
-56.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.87$14.87
$14.84NOK 138
0.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70$1.70
$3.85NOK 35.86
-55.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47$3.47
$4.43NOK 41.27
-21.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Marietta, GA
Arendal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.48$2.48
$3.81NOK 35.49
-34.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$85.0$85.0
$90.9NOK 847
-6.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.48$3.48
$6.40NOK 59.6
-45.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.50$1.50
$1.75NOK 16.35
-14.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.97$17.97
$104NOK 972
-82.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95$0.95
$2.33NOK 21.69
-59.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K$36.5K
$48.4KNOK 450.8K
-24.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K$25.1K
$42.5KNOK 395.8K
-40.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marietta, GA
Arendal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$192$192
$251NOK 2,337
-23.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$70.6$70.6
$35.15NOK 327
100.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.2$74.2
$80.5NOK 750
-7.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Marietta, GA
Arendal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$114$114
$37.73NOK 352
201.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.19$23.19
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.92$14.92
$15.95NOK 149
-6.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Marietta, GA
Arendal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,715$1,715
$324NOK 3,021
428.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.2K$10.2K
$14.4KNOK 134.4K
-29.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Marietta, GA
Arendal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8$53.8
$130NOK 1,210
-58.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38$44.38
$44.60NOK 416
-0.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.3$88.3
$129NOK 1,206
-31.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107$107
$205NOK 1,912
-47.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Marietta, GA
Arendal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,705$1,705
$1,141NOK 10.6K
49.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,359$1,359
$1,074NOK 10.0K
26.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,612$2,612
$1,623NOK 15.1K
60.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,401$2,401
$1,489NOK 13.9K
61.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,917$2,917
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,008$2,008
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Marietta, GA
Arendal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,956$3,956
$4,115NOK 38.3K
-3.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.16
4.68
31.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Marietta, GA: August 30, 2026
Last update for Arendal: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,705 in Marietta, GA and $1,141 in Arendal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Arendal pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $96.0 in Marietta, GA vs $67.0 in Arendal. Groceries flip the comparison at $460 vs $506, with Marietta, GA 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
Marietta, GA vs Arendal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Marietta, GA and in Arendal?
Marietta, GA and Arendal differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($2,907 vs $2,777 including rent). Arendal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 4% lower in Arendal. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Marietta, GA and in Arendal?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,705 in Marietta, GA versus $1,141 in Arendal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Marietta, GA and Arendal?
Childcare runs $1,715 in Marietta, GA versus $324 in Arendal. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Marietta, GA pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,777 in Arendal versus $2,907 in Marietta, GA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Arendal but tight or insufficient in Marietta, GA. The gap between the two cities makes Arendal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Marietta, GA and Arendal?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Marietta, GA or Arendal safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Marietta, GA and Arendal are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Marietta, GA or Arendal?
Expats usually find Arendal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Marietta, GA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Marietta, GA vs other spots: cost of living compared