Cost of Living Comparison Between Norway and Australia Cost of Living Comparison Between Norway and Australia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,690 per month in Norway vs $2,509 in Australia, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,039 per month in Norway vs $3,641 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,388 per month in Norway vs $4,772 in Australia, rent included.

The cost of living in Norway is about 7% higher than in Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Norway and Australia are pricier than the global median – Norway by 97%, Australia by 83%.

Cost ranges are similar: Norway spans $1,504$3,393, Australia $1,174$3,292. City choice affects budget similarly in either country.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Norway
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.04 NOK 225
$18.16 A$25.48
32.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$108 NOK 1,005
$85.9 A$120
25.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.14 NOK 151
$10.87 A$15.25
48.48%
Cappuccino
$5.78 NOK 54.0
$4.11 A$5.77
40.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22 NOK 39.45
$3.04 A$4.27
38.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 NOK 29.88
$2.47 A$3.46
29.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.74 NOK 110
$7.87 A$11.04
49.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.04 NOK 103
$7.98 A$11.19
38.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Norway
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.53 NOK 23.62
$1.73 A$2.42
46.24%
White Bread (500g)
$3.82 NOK 35.71
$2.78 A$3.90
37.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.84 NOK 35.89
$2.38 A$3.34
61.34%
Eggs
$5.23 NOK 48.93
$5.08 A$7.13
2.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.81 NOK 129
$9.98 A$14.00
38.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.49 NOK 154
$9.24 A$12.96
78.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$31.78 NOK 297
$15.49 A$21.73
105.16%
Apples (1kg)
$3.87 NOK 36.13
$3.73 A$5.23
3.75%
Banana (1kg)
$2.80 NOK 26.16
$3.02 A$4.24
-7.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.64 NOK 33.98
$3.23 A$4.53
12.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.25 NOK 49.03
$4.88 A$6.85
7.58%
Potato (1kg)
$2.69 NOK 25.11
$2.87 A$4.03
-6.27%
Onion (1kg)
$3.13 NOK 29.21
$2.36 A$3.31
32.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 NOK 28.66
$2.49 A$3.49
23.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.32 NOK 21.68
$1.68 A$2.35
38.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.02 NOK 168
$38.51 A$54.0
-53.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 NOK 171
$14.25 A$19.99
28.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.71 NOK 34.68
$5.07 A$7.11
-26.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 NOK 40.89
$5.19 A$7.28
-15.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Norway
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.69 NOK 43.81
$2.78 A$3.90
68.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$84.2 NOK 787
$94.8 A$133
-11.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$12.18 NOK 114
$3.52 A$4.94
246.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 NOK 18.04
$1.60 A$2.24
20.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$70.1 NOK 656
$40.42 A$56.7
73.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.30 NOK 21.45
$1.27 A$1.79
81.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.2K NOK 469.5K
$28.3K A$39.8K
77.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.3K NOK 423.0K
$28.6K A$40.2K
58.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Norway
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$282 NOK 2,638
$202 A$283
39.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.97 NOK 364
$29.08 A$40.80
34.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.9 NOK 690
$59.6 A$83.6
23.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Norway
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 NOK 494
$59.3 A$83.2
-10.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.70 NOK 352
$20.13 A$28.23
87.28%
Cinema Ticket
$18.51 NOK 173
$15.75 A$22.09
17.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Norway
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$301 NOK 2,817
$2,197 A$3,083
-86.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,088 NOK 75.6K
$18.2K A$25.6K
-55.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Norway
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$109 NOK 1,019
$79.3 A$111
37.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.4 NOK 546
$57.2 A$80.3
2.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 NOK 1,152
$114 A$160
7.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$170 NOK 1,586
$125 A$175
36.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Norway
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,404 NOK 13.1K
$1,581 A$2,217
-11.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,109 NOK 10.4K
$1,291 A$1,811
-14.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,198 NOK 20.5K
$2,530 A$3,549
-13.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,735 NOK 16.2K
$1,982 A$2,780
-12.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,816 NOK 63.7K
$8,571 A$12.0K
-20.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,059 NOK 47.3K
$6,120 A$8,585
-17.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Norway
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,228 NOK 39.5K
$3,979 A$5,583
6.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.01
5.93
-15.51%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Norway: September 13, 2026

Last update for Australia: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,246 in Norway vs $1,387 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,026 in Oslo and $1,829 in Canberra.

Average salary: $4,014 in Norway vs $3,903 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 11% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 25% more in Norway.

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
Norway vs Australia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Norway?
Australia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 10% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Norway, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Norway consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Australia, contributing to the overall 10% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Australia or in Norway?
$2,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Australia, but in Norway it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or to Norway?
Australia is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

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