πA single person spends $3,141 per month in Oslo vs $3,108 in Fairbanks, AK, rent included.
πA couple spends around $4,597 per month in Oslo vs $4,296 in Fairbanks, AK, rent included.
πA family of three spends $6,053 per month in Oslo vs $5,485 in Fairbanks, AK, rent included.
πOslo costs about 1% more than Fairbanks, AK, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
πBoth Oslo and Fairbanks, AK sit above the global median β Oslo by 134%, Fairbanks, AK by 132%.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Oslo
Fairbanks, AK
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.53NOKΒ 238
$25.17$25.17
1.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$123NOKΒ 1,144
$89.0$89.0
37.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.15NOKΒ 141
$13.98$13.98
8.37%
Cappuccino
$4.86NOKΒ 45.41
$5.88$5.88
-17.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08NOKΒ 38.14
$2.87$2.87
42.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19NOKΒ 29.79
$2.04$2.04
56.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.02NOKΒ 112
$7.91$7.91
51.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.22NOKΒ 105
$10.07$10.07
11.42%
π Groceries & Markets
Oslo
Fairbanks, AK
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.39NOKΒ 22.35
$1.14$1.14
109.65%
White Bread(500g)
$4.09NOKΒ 38.17
$5.18$5.18
-21.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.66NOKΒ 34.19
$5.16$5.16
-29.07%
Eggs
$5.03NOKΒ 47.00
$4.39$4.39
14.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.46NOKΒ 126
$17.64$17.64
-23.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.04NOKΒ 150
$16.64$16.64
-3.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$30.76NOKΒ 287
$20.74$20.74
48.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.49NOKΒ 32.63
$7.82$7.82
-55.37%
Banana(1kg)
$2.63NOKΒ 24.53
$2.80$2.80
-6.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.35NOKΒ 31.32
$6.76$6.76
-50.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.16NOKΒ 48.20
$7.47$7.47
-30.92%
Potato(1kg)
$2.43NOKΒ 22.69
$3.92$3.92
-38.01%
Onion(1kg)
$2.71NOKΒ 25.33
$4.75$4.75
-42.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.85NOKΒ 26.61
$2.92$2.92
-2.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.34NOKΒ 21.84
$2.02$2.02
15.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.19NOKΒ 160
$11.23$11.23
53.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.93NOKΒ 177
$12.04$12.04
57.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.35NOKΒ 31.28
$1.71$1.71
95.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38NOKΒ 40.87
$0.99$0.99
342.42%
π Getting Around
Oslo
Fairbanks, AK
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.31NOKΒ 40.20
$1.46$1.46
195.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9NOKΒ 727
$40.16$40.16
93.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.04NOKΒ 93.8
$3.59$3.59
179.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.38NOKΒ 12.93
$2.23$2.23
-38.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.24NOKΒ 394
$44.52$44.52
-5.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.18NOKΒ 20.34
$1.05$1.05
107.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5KNOKΒ 340.5K
$30.0K$30.0K
21.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.7KNOKΒ 398.5K
$26.0K$26.0K
63.95%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oslo
Fairbanks, AK
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$304NOKΒ 2,834
$169$169
79.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.63NOKΒ 295
$60.5$60.5
-47.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.0NOKΒ 532
$116$116
-50.83%
π Sport & Entertainment
Oslo
Fairbanks, AK
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.8NOKΒ 539
$98.5$98.5
-41.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.64NOKΒ 267
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$18.01NOKΒ 168
$17.27$17.27
4.28%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Oslo
Fairbanks, AK
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$274NOKΒ 2,556
$1,202$1,202
-77.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.5KNOKΒ 135.8K
$23.3K$23.3K
-37.71%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Oslo
Fairbanks, AK
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106NOKΒ 987
$59.8$59.8
76.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.4NOKΒ 611
$39.83$39.83
64.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124NOKΒ 1,158
$85.2$85.2
45.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$168NOKΒ 1,572
$120$120
39.75%
π Accommodation & Living
Oslo
Fairbanks, AK
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,671NOKΒ 15.6K
$1,655$1,655
1.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,446NOKΒ 13.5K
$1,529$1,529
-5.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,749NOKΒ 25.7K
$2,223$2,223
23.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,165NOKΒ 20.2K
$2,014$2,014
7.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$12.0KNOKΒ 112.2K
$2,045$2,045
487.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$7,295NOKΒ 68.1K
$2,013$2,013
262.37%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Oslo
Fairbanks, AK
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,411NOKΒ 41.2K
$3,884$3,884
13.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.08
6.53
-22.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Oslo: May 31, 2026
Last update for Fairbanks, AK: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $1,671 in Oslo versus $1,655 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.
π°Salaries run about 14% higher in Oslo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $122 in Oslo versus $89.0 in Fairbanks, AK. Groceries tell a different story β $500 in Oslo vs $512 in Fairbanks, AK β 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 β Oslo is pricier by about 1%, 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 $4,711 per month in Oslo and $4,662 in Fairbanks, AK. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β 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 Fairbanks, AK?
Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Oslo β one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Oslo or Fairbanks, AK?
$2,500 is a stretch for both β monthly costs hit $3,141 in Oslo and $3,108 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 β 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 β 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.