Cost of Living Comparison Between Norway and Canada Cost of Living Comparison Between Norway and Canada

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,690 per month in Norway vs $2,215 in Canada, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,039 per month in Norway vs $3,237 in Canada, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,388 per month in Norway vs $4,258 in Canada, rent included.

The cost of living in Norway is about 21% higher than in Canada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Norway and Canada are pricier than the global median – Norway by 97%, Canada by 62%.

The regional cost range is wider in Canada ($906$3,718) than in Norway ($1,504$3,393), so city choice matters more there.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Norway
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.04 NOK 225
$17.71 CA$24.66
35.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$108 NOK 1,005
$71.1 CA$98.9
51.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.14 NOK 151
$10.90 CA$15.18
48.07%
Cappuccino
$5.78 NOK 54.0
$3.82 CA$5.32
51.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22 NOK 39.45
$2.12 CA$2.95
99.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 NOK 29.88
$1.75 CA$2.44
82.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.74 NOK 110
$5.77 CA$8.04
103.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.04 NOK 103
$5.72 CA$7.96
93.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Norway
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.53 NOK 23.62
$2.27 CA$3.16
11.45%
White Bread (500g)
$3.82 NOK 35.71
$2.60 CA$3.62
46.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.84 NOK 35.89
$3.57 CA$4.97
7.56%
Eggs
$5.23 NOK 48.93
$3.64 CA$5.06
43.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.81 NOK 129
$11.03 CA$15.36
25.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.49 NOK 154
$12.02 CA$16.74
37.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$31.78 NOK 297
$15.70 CA$21.87
102.42%
Apples (1kg)
$3.87 NOK 36.13
$4.18 CA$5.82
-7.42%
Banana (1kg)
$2.80 NOK 26.16
$1.40 CA$1.95
100.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.64 NOK 33.98
$3.80 CA$5.29
-4.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.25 NOK 49.03
$3.98 CA$5.55
31.91%
Potato (1kg)
$2.69 NOK 25.11
$2.65 CA$3.69
1.51%
Onion (1kg)
$3.13 NOK 29.21
$2.54 CA$3.53
23.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 NOK 28.66
$2.64 CA$3.68
16.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.32 NOK 21.68
$1.79 CA$2.49
29.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.02 NOK 168
$14.23 CA$19.82
26.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 NOK 171
$13.22 CA$18.41
38.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.71 NOK 34.68
$2.98 CA$4.15
24.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 NOK 40.89
$3.20 CA$4.46
36.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Norway
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.69 NOK 43.81
$2.47 CA$3.44
89.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$84.2 NOK 787
$73.5 CA$102
14.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$12.18 NOK 114
$3.26 CA$4.54
273.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 NOK 18.04
$1.54 CA$2.14
25.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$70.1 NOK 656
$27.66 CA$38.51
153.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.30 NOK 21.45
$1.20 CA$1.66
91.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.2K NOK 469.5K
$28.0K CA$38.9K
79.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.3K NOK 423.0K
$19.4K CA$27.0K
133.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Norway
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$282 NOK 2,638
$151 CA$211
86.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.97 NOK 364
$43.37 CA$60.4
-10.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.9 NOK 690
$59.8 CA$83.2
23.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Norway
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 NOK 494
$40.88 CA$56.9
29.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.70 NOK 352
$19.81 CA$27.59
90.31%
Cinema Ticket
$18.51 NOK 173
$11.39 CA$15.86
62.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Norway
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$301 NOK 2,817
$783 CA$1,090
-61.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,088 NOK 75.6K
$14.6K CA$20.4K
-44.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Norway
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$109 NOK 1,019
$55.1 CA$76.8
97.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.4 NOK 546
$39.66 CA$55.2
47.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 NOK 1,152
$89.3 CA$124
38.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$170 NOK 1,586
$103 CA$144
64.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Norway
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,404 NOK 13.1K
$1,299 CA$1,808
8.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,109 NOK 10.4K
$1,157 CA$1,611
-4.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,198 NOK 20.5K
$2,025 CA$2,820
8.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,735 NOK 16.2K
$1,779 CA$2,477
-2.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,816 NOK 63.7K
$4,679 CA$6,515
45.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,059 NOK 47.3K
$3,883 CA$5,407
30.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Norway
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,228 NOK 39.5K
$3,043 CA$4,237
38.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.01
4.86
3.09%

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

Last update for Norway: September 13, 2026

Last update for Canada: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,246 in Norway vs $1,221 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,026 in Oslo and $1,493 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $4,014 in Norway vs $2,963 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Dining out costs 62% more in Norway.

Public transport is 32% more expensive in Norway.

Salaries are 35% higher in Norway, and purchasing power comes out stronger 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 Canada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Norway?
Canada is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 6% 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 Canada, contributing to the overall 6% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Canada or in Norway?
$2,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Canada, but in Norway it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Canada or to Norway?
Canada 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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