Cost of Living Comparison Between Oslo and Fairbanks, AK Cost of Living Comparison Between Oslo and Fairbanks, AK

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,203 per month in Oslo vs $3,090 in Fairbanks, AK, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,686 per month in Oslo vs $4,350 in Fairbanks, AK, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,170 per month in Oslo vs $5,609 in Fairbanks, AK, rent included.

Oslo costs about 4% more than Fairbanks, AK, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Oslo and Fairbanks, AK sit above the global median – Oslo by 140%, Fairbanks, AK by 131%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oslo
Fairbanks, AK
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.37 NOK 245
$24.75 $24.75
2.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$120 NOK 1,164
$86.6 $86.6
39.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.96 NOK 145
$13.77 $13.77
8.64%
Cappuccino
$5.08 NOK 49.07
$6.02 $6.02
-15.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.10 NOK 39.66
$2.76 $2.76
48.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19 NOK 30.85
$2.05 $2.05
55.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.37 NOK 120
$7.91 $7.91
56.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.03 NOK 107
$10.16 $10.16
8.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oslo
Fairbanks, AK
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.40 NOK 23.24
$1.13 $1.13
112.39%
White Bread (500g)
$4.03 NOK 39.00
$5.16 $5.16
-21.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.67 NOK 35.50
$5.30 $5.30
-30.75%
Eggs
$4.95 NOK 47.82
$4.20 $4.20
17.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.66 NOK 132
$17.80 $17.80
-23.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.41 NOK 159
$17.06 $17.06
-3.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$31.39 NOK 303
$21.20 $21.20
48.07%
Apples (1kg)
$3.60 NOK 34.85
$8.00 $8.00
-55.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.63 NOK 25.44
$2.90 $2.90
-9.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.45 NOK 33.39
$6.66 $6.66
-48.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.07 NOK 48.98
$7.24 $7.24
-29.97%
Potato (1kg)
$2.51 NOK 24.22
$3.77 $3.77
-33.42%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 NOK 26.22
$4.80 $4.80
-43.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 NOK 26.83
$2.90 $2.90
-4.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 NOK 23.25
$2.05 $2.05
17.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.46 NOK 169
$11.21 $11.21
55.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.64 NOK 180
$11.90 $11.90
56.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.41 NOK 33.00
$1.71 $1.71
99.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35 NOK 42.06
$1.02 $1.02
326.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Oslo
Fairbanks, AK
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.18 NOK 40.44
$1.54 $1.54
171.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.6 NOK 769
$39.44 $39.44
101.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.20 NOK 98.6
$3.40 $3.40
200.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.41 NOK 13.60
$2.20 $2.20
-35.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.75 NOK 404
$45.02 $45.02
-7.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.27 NOK 21.96
$1.03 $1.03
120.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K NOK 354.3K
$29.6K $29.6K
23.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.3K NOK 409.3K
$25.9K $25.9K
63.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oslo
Fairbanks, AK
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$296 NOK 2,863
$167 $167
77.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.29 NOK 302
$61.2 $61.2
-48.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.5 NOK 536
$116 $116
-52.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oslo
Fairbanks, AK
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.4 NOK 554
$98.3 $98.3
-41.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.40 NOK 275
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$18.01 NOK 174
$17.12 $17.12
5.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oslo
Fairbanks, AK
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$274 NOK 2,653
$1,183 $1,183
-76.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K NOK 141.9K
$23.6K $23.6K
-37.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oslo
Fairbanks, AK
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 NOK 999
$59.4 $59.4
74.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.5 NOK 623
$39.70 $39.70
62.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 NOK 1,169
$83.6 $83.6
44.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$168 NOK 1,620
$121 $121
38.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oslo
Fairbanks, AK
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,700 NOK 16.4K
$1,679 $1,679
1.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,441 NOK 13.9K
$1,477 $1,477
-2.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,677 NOK 25.9K
$2,305 $2,305
16.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,180 NOK 21.1K
$2,036 $2,036
7.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$11.5K NOK 111.3K
$2,007 $2,007
473.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,961 NOK 67.3K
$2,011 $2,011
246.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oslo
Fairbanks, AK
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,256 NOK 41.1K
$3,909 $3,909
8.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.08
6.53
-22.21%

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

Last update for Oslo: July 12, 2026

Last update for Fairbanks, AK: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,700 in Oslo versus $1,679 in Fairbanks, AK. 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 9% higher in Oslo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $120 in Oslo versus $87.0 in Fairbanks, AK. Groceries tell a different story – $505 in Oslo vs $515 in Fairbanks, AK – so Oslo 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
Oslo vs Fairbanks, AK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fairbanks, AK cheaper than Oslo?
Yes – Oslo is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,804 per month in Oslo and $4,634 in Fairbanks, AK. 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 Fairbanks, AK, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Oslo and in Fairbanks, AK?
Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Oslo – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Oslo or in Fairbanks, AK?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $120 in Oslo and $87.0 in Fairbanks, AK. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Oslo or in Fairbanks, AK?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,203 in Oslo and $3,090 in Fairbanks, AK. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Oslo or Fairbanks, AK more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Fairbanks, AK – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Oslo or Fairbanks, AK?
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 Fairbanks, AK. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Oslo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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