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