πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $3,141 in Oslo versus $2,430 in Ulsteinvik.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,597 in Oslo versus $3,741 in Ulsteinvik.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,053 in Oslo versus $5,052 in Ulsteinvik.
πLiving in Oslo is roughly 29% more expensive than Ulsteinvik, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Oslo134% above, Ulsteinvik81% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Oslo
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.53NOKΒ 237
$25.66NOKΒ 238
-0.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$123NOKΒ 1,138
$103NOKΒ 957
18.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.15NOKΒ 141
$13.92NOKΒ 129
8.84%
Cappuccino
$4.86NOKΒ 45.18
$5.02NOKΒ 46.64
-3.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08NOKΒ 37.95
$3.21NOKΒ 29.81
27.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19NOKΒ 29.65
$2.92NOKΒ 27.16
9.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.02NOKΒ 112
$10.24NOKΒ 95.1
17.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.22NOKΒ 104
$9.64NOKΒ 89.5
16.39%
π Groceries & Markets
Oslo
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.39NOKΒ 22.24
$2.19NOKΒ 20.35
9.13%
White Bread(500g)
$4.09NOKΒ 37.98
$3.33NOKΒ 30.95
22.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.66NOKΒ 34.02
$3.28NOKΒ 30.44
11.59%
Eggs
$5.03NOKΒ 46.77
$4.33NOKΒ 40.21
16.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.46NOKΒ 125
$11.82NOKΒ 110
13.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.04NOKΒ 149
$14.52NOKΒ 135
10.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$30.76NOKΒ 286
$27.67NOKΒ 257
11.17%
Apples(1kg)
$3.49NOKΒ 32.47
$3.45NOKΒ 32.01
1.16%
Banana(1kg)
$2.63NOKΒ 24.41
$2.37NOKΒ 21.98
10.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.35NOKΒ 31.16
$3.24NOKΒ 30.10
3.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.16NOKΒ 47.96
$4.56NOKΒ 42.38
13.16%
Potato(1kg)
$2.43NOKΒ 22.58
$2.45NOKΒ 22.78
-0.82%
Onion(1kg)
$2.71NOKΒ 25.21
$2.50NOKΒ 23.21
8.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.85NOKΒ 26.48
$2.82NOKΒ 26.20
1.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.34NOKΒ 21.73
$1.83NOKΒ 16.99
27.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.19NOKΒ 160
$15.10NOKΒ 140
13.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.93NOKΒ 176
$18.31NOKΒ 170
3.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.35NOKΒ 31.12
$3.33NOKΒ 30.95
0.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38NOKΒ 40.67
$3.99NOKΒ 37.02
9.77%
π Getting Around
Oslo
Ulsteinvik
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.31NOKΒ 40.00
$4.37NOKΒ 40.61
-1.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9NOKΒ 723
$74.2NOKΒ 689
5.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.04NOKΒ 93.3
$10.27NOKΒ 95.4
-2.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.38NOKΒ 12.86
$1.41NOKΒ 13.06
-2.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.24NOKΒ 392
$46.03NOKΒ 428
-8.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.18NOKΒ 20.24
$2.14NOKΒ 19.90
1.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5KNOKΒ 338.8K
$35.7KNOKΒ 331.9K
2.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.7KNOKΒ 396.5K
$38.6KNOKΒ 358.4K
10.62%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oslo
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$304NOKΒ 2,821
$241NOKΒ 2,238
26.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.63NOKΒ 294
$38.38NOKΒ 357
-17.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.0NOKΒ 530
$55.1NOKΒ 512
3.50%
π Sport & Entertainment
Oslo
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.8NOKΒ 537
$48.91NOKΒ 454
18.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.64NOKΒ 266
$35.72NOKΒ 332
-19.82%
Cinema Ticket
$18.01NOKΒ 167
$16.69NOKΒ 155
7.91%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Oslo
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$274NOKΒ 2,543
$285NOKΒ 2,650
-4.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.5KNOKΒ 135.1K
$10.0KNOKΒ 92.9K
45.41%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Oslo
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106NOKΒ 983
$94.3NOKΒ 876
12.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.4NOKΒ 608
$51.4NOKΒ 477
27.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124NOKΒ 1,152
$110NOKΒ 1,018
13.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$168NOKΒ 1,564
$153NOKΒ 1,424
9.83%
π Accommodation & Living
Oslo
Ulsteinvik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,671NOKΒ 15.5K
$1,220NOKΒ 11.3K
37.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,446NOKΒ 13.4K
$897NOKΒ 8,332
61.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,749NOKΒ 25.5K
$1,846NOKΒ 17.1K
48.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,165NOKΒ 20.1K
$1,559NOKΒ 14.5K
38.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$12.0KNOKΒ 111.7K
$5,240NOKΒ 48.7K
129.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$7,295NOKΒ 67.8K
$4,283NOKΒ 39.8K
70.31%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Oslo
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,411NOKΒ 41.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.08
4.38
15.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Oslo: May 31, 2026
Last update for Ulsteinvik: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,671 in Oslo and $1,220 in Ulsteinvik. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $122 in Oslo vs $103 in Ulsteinvik for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $500 vs $451 per month, with Ulsteinvik cheaper across the board.
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 Ulsteinvik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ulsteinvik cheaper than Oslo?
Ulsteinvik is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $4,711 in Oslo and $3,645 in Ulsteinvik to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Oslo and Ulsteinvik?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,671 in Oslo versus $1,220 in Ulsteinvik. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Oslo vs Ulsteinvik?
All in, you'll spend $3,141 per month in Oslo versus $2,430 in Ulsteinvik β a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Ulsteinvik runs roughly 5% less than in Oslo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $3,000 enough to cover costs in Oslo or Ulsteinvik?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Ulsteinvik is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Oslo or Ulsteinvik more family-friendly?
For families, Ulsteinvik is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Oslo, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Oslo or Ulsteinvik?
Safety-wise, Oslo and Ulsteinvik are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ulsteinvik gentler on the wallet β expenses run 29% less than in Oslo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.