Cost of Living Comparison Between Redmond, WA and Arendal Cost of Living Comparison Between Redmond, WA and Arendal

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,855 in Redmond, WA versus $2,237 in Arendal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,294 in Redmond, WA versus $3,331 in Arendal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,734 in Redmond, WA versus $4,425 in Arendal.

Living in Redmond, WA is roughly 72% more expensive than in Arendal, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Redmond, WA 189% above, Arendal 67% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Redmond, WA
Arendal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.84 $19.84
$17.94 NOK 173
10.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.7 $70.7
$74.4 NOK 717
-5.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.81 $11.81
$14.88 NOK 143
-20.63%
Cappuccino
$5.69 $5.69
$5.08 NOK 48.93
12.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$3.21 NOK 30.96
-22.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$3.07 NOK 29.57
-20.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.72 $7.72
$11.20 NOK 108
-31.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.02 $8.02
$10.23 NOK 98.6
-21.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Redmond, WA
Arendal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.35 $1.35
$2.33 NOK 22.44
-42.06%
White Bread (500g)
$4.97 $4.97
$3.06 NOK 29.51
62.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.27 $4.27
$3.53 NOK 34.05
20.96%
Eggs
$4.19 $4.19
$4.37 NOK 42.05
-4.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.58 $17.58
$12.84 NOK 124
36.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 $10.45
$15.79 NOK 152
-33.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.62 $16.62
$27.39 NOK 264
-39.32%
Apples (1kg)
$8.50 $8.50
$3.39 NOK 32.63
150.74%
Banana (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.62 NOK 25.24
3.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.35 $4.35
$3.08 NOK 29.68
41.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.15 $5.15
$4.59 NOK 44.26
12.20%
Potato (1kg)
$3.05 $3.05
$2.14 NOK 20.58
42.52%
Onion (1kg)
$2.81 $2.81
$2.99 NOK 28.80
-6.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.56 NOK 24.65
0.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.18 $3.18
$1.76 NOK 16.96
80.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.33 $11.33
$15.33 NOK 148
-26.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.24 $15.24
$16.97 NOK 163
-10.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$3.34 NOK 32.16
-42.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 $4.25
$3.99 NOK 38.44
6.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Redmond, WA
Arendal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.22 $3.22
$3.83 NOK 36.93
-15.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.5 $88.5
$105 NOK 1,009
-15.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.58 $2.58
$7.94 NOK 76.5
-67.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.73 $1.73
$2.10 NOK 20.18
-17.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.98 $29.98
$30.41 NOK 293
-1.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 $1.17
$2.05 NOK 19.78
-42.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K $32.8K
$34.5K NOK 332.6K
-5.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$32.4K NOK 312.1K
-19.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Redmond, WA
Arendal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$270 $270
$193 NOK 1,861
39.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.2 $61.2
$35.70 NOK 344
71.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.1 $76.1
$73.7 NOK 710
3.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Redmond, WA
Arendal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.7 $68.7
$44.57 NOK 429
54.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$52.6 NOK 507
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.83 $15.83
$12.25 NOK 118
29.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Redmond, WA
Arendal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,241 $2,241
$308 NOK 2,964
628.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.4K $29.4K
$9,980 NOK 96.1K
194.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Redmond, WA
Arendal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.3 $52.3
$95.2 NOK 917
-45.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 $52.5
$58.8 NOK 566
-10.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.0 $91.0
$104 NOK 1,002
-12.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139 $139
$162 NOK 1,559
-13.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Redmond, WA
Arendal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,280 $2,280
$1,076 NOK 10.4K
111.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,280 $2,280
$718 NOK 6,913
217.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,798 $3,798
$1,314 NOK 12.7K
188.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,477 $3,477
$1,141 NOK 11.0K
204.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,109 $7,109
$3,056 NOK 29.4K
132.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,959 $6,959
$2,066 NOK 19.9K
236.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Redmond, WA
Arendal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$9,077 $9,077
$4,050 NOK 39.0K
124.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.54
3.6
81.67%

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

Last update for Redmond, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Arendal: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,280 in Redmond, WA and $1,076 in Arendal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Redmond, WA pays 124% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $71.0 in Redmond, WA vs $74.0 in Arendal. Groceries flip the comparison at $466 vs $456, with Arendal cheaper for home cooking.

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
Redmond, WA vs Arendal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Redmond, WA and in Arendal?
Redmond, WA and Arendal differ by about 72% in total monthly costs ($3,855 vs $2,237 including rent). Arendal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Redmond, WA or Arendal?
Average pay runs 124% higher in Redmond, WA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Redmond, WA and in Arendal?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,280 in Redmond, WA versus $1,076 in Arendal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Redmond, WA and Arendal?
Childcare runs $2,241 in Redmond, WA versus $308 in Arendal. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Redmond, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,237 in Arendal versus $3,855 in Redmond, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Arendal but tight or insufficient in Redmond, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Arendal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Redmond, WA and Arendal?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Redmond, WA or Arendal safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Redmond, WA and Arendal are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Redmond, WA or Arendal?
Expats usually find Arendal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in Redmond, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Redmond, WA vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities