Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Oslo and Halden

For one person, living is cheaper in Halden: $2,552 a month against $3,427 in Oslo, rent and utilities included – about $10,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Oslo
🇳🇴 Norway
$3,427
/mo nomad
Halden
🇳🇴 Norway
$2,552
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Oslo and in Halden

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Oslo and in Halden actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,427 per month in Oslo vs $2,552 in Halden, rent included.

  • Oslo $3,427
  • Halden $2,552

A couple spends around $4,942 per month in Oslo vs $3,967 in Halden, rent included.

  • Oslo $4,942
  • Halden $3,967

A family of three spends $6,457 per month in Oslo vs $5,381 in Halden, rent included.

  • Oslo $6,457
  • Halden $5,381

Oslo costs about 34% more than Halden, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Oslo and Halden sit above the global median – Oslo by 154%, Halden by 89%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oslo
Halden
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.56 NOK 194
$20.99 NOK 198
-2.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$126 NOK 1,185
$105 NOK 987
19.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.56 NOK 146
$12.74 NOK 120
22.14%
Cappuccino
$5.83 NOK 54.9
$4.76 NOK 44.82
22.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32 NOK 40.70
$3.71 NOK 34.92
16.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 NOK 31.39
$3.09 NOK 29.06
7.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.46 NOK 108
$10.07 NOK 94.8
13.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.30 NOK 116
$9.63 NOK 90.7
27.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oslo
Halden
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.45 NOK 23.11
$2.43 NOK 22.92
0.82%
White Bread (500g)
$4.20 NOK 39.55
$4.08 NOK 38.43
2.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.76 NOK 44.80
$4.06 NOK 38.20
17.24%
Eggs
$5.79 NOK 54.5
$4.66 NOK 43.86
24.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.59 NOK 137
$14.82 NOK 139
-1.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.42 NOK 145
$15.33 NOK 144
0.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$31.00 NOK 292
$31.09 NOK 293
-0.29%
Apples (1kg)
$3.34 NOK 31.43
$3.22 NOK 30.32
3.73%
Banana (1kg)
$2.66 NOK 25.05
$2.58 NOK 24.32
3.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.39 NOK 31.95
$3.55 NOK 33.43
-4.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.76 NOK 54.3
$4.00 NOK 37.65
44.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.70 NOK 25.43
$2.58 NOK 24.30
4.65%
Onion (1kg)
$2.87 NOK 26.99
$2.78 NOK 26.20
3.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.18 NOK 29.90
$3.15 NOK 29.68
0.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 NOK 22.17
$2.06 NOK 19.42
14.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.05 NOK 179
$15.31 NOK 144
24.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.27 NOK 153
$16.46 NOK 155
-1.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.48 NOK 32.79
$2.77 NOK 26.07
25.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.15 NOK 39.09
$4.07 NOK 38.34
1.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Oslo
Halden
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.70 NOK 44.24
$4.73 NOK 44.56
-0.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.2 NOK 755
$43.05 NOK 405
86.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$12.10 NOK 114
$12.05 NOK 113
0.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.80 NOK 16.94
$1.84 NOK 17.36
-2.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$69.3 NOK 652
$69.8 NOK 657
-0.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.35 NOK 22.10
$2.19 NOK 20.63
7.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.1K NOK 453.1K
$47.1K NOK 443.2K
2.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.8K NOK 412.4K
$43.5K NOK 409.3K
0.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oslo
Halden
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$425 NOK 3,999
$417 NOK 3,930
1.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.77 NOK 318
$31.39 NOK 296
7.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.7 NOK 505
$53.5 NOK 503
0.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oslo
Halden
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.8 NOK 563
$56.7 NOK 533
5.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.20 NOK 275
$31.23 NOK 294
-6.50%
Cinema Ticket
$20.11 NOK 189
$15.87 NOK 149
26.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oslo
Halden
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$238 NOK 2,237
$235 NOK 2,212
1.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.5K NOK 145.6K
$15.6K NOK 147.3K
-1.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oslo
Halden
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 NOK 949
$99.2 NOK 933
1.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.8 NOK 554
$59.6 NOK 561
-1.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 NOK 1,271
$135 NOK 1,273
-0.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$157 NOK 1,474
$126 NOK 1,190
23.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oslo
Halden
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,018 NOK 19.0K
$939 NOK 8,837
114.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,587 NOK 14.9K
$843 NOK 7,939
88.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,978 NOK 28.0K
$1,914 NOK 18.0K
55.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,397 NOK 22.6K
$1,677 NOK 15.8K
42.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$11.7K NOK 110.2K
$2,058 NOK 19.4K
469.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,719 NOK 63.3K
$1,848 NOK 17.4K
263.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oslo
Halden
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,687 NOK 44.1K
$3,445 NOK 32.4K
36.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.94
4.75
4.00%

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

Last update for Oslo: October 11, 2026

Last update for Halden: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Oslo
$1.6K
Halden
$843 46.9% $744
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oslo
$512
Halden
$502 1.9% $9.9
Groceries & Markets
Oslo
$511
Halden
$486 4.9% $25
Eating Out
Oslo
$394
Halden
$360 8.5% $34
Clothing & Footwear
Oslo
$203
Halden
$189 6.8% $14
Getting Around
Oslo
$120
Halden
$83 30.7% $37
Sport & Entertainment
Oslo
$100
Halden
$88 11.6% $12

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,018 in Oslo versus $939 in Halden. 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 36% 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 $126 in Oslo versus $105 in Halden. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $511 vs $486 – making Halden the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇳🇴 Oslo
🇳🇴 Halden
🕒 Local time
15:41 3:41 PM
15:41 3:41 PM
Same time as Oslo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,098,061 Capital
31,965
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to NOK – Norwegian Krone Converter

Norwegian Krone exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 9.41 NOK (1 NOK = 0.106 USD). 1 EUR = 10.58 NOK (100 NOK = 9.45 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Oslo Halden 100 km
From you
  • Oslo
  • Halden

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Halden: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Oslo and in Halden compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,427 in Oslo, $2,552 in Halden – roughly 34% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.
What salary covers living expenses in Oslo compared to Halden?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,140 per month in Oslo and $3,829 in Halden. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Oslo and Halden?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Halden, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 5% more in Oslo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $126 in Oslo and $105 in Halden. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Halden, where all-in costs run around $2,552, than in Oslo at $3,427. In Halden it covers expenses comfortably, while in Oslo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Oslo and Halden?
It depends on your priorities. Oslo has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,552 in Halden to $3,427 in Oslo. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Oslo or Halden safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Oslo and Halden?
If budget matters most, go with Halden. 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.

Oslo vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?