😐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, WA189% above, Arendal67% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Redmond, WA
Arendal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.84$19.84
$17.94NOK 173
10.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.7$70.7
$74.4NOK 717
-5.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.81$11.81
$14.88NOK 143
-20.63%
Cappuccino
$5.69$5.69
$5.08NOK 48.93
12.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48$2.48
$3.21NOK 30.96
-22.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44$2.44
$3.07NOK 29.57
-20.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.72$7.72
$11.20NOK 108
-31.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.02$8.02
$10.23NOK 98.6
-21.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Redmond, WA
Arendal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35$1.35
$2.33NOK 22.44
-42.06%
White Bread(500g)
$4.97$4.97
$3.06NOK 29.51
62.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.27$4.27
$3.53NOK 34.05
20.96%
Eggs
$4.19$4.19
$4.37NOK 42.05
-4.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.58$17.58
$12.84NOK 124
36.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.45$10.45
$15.79NOK 152
-33.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.62$16.62
$27.39NOK 264
-39.32%
Apples(1kg)
$8.50$8.50
$3.39NOK 32.63
150.74%
Banana(1kg)
$2.72$2.72
$2.62NOK 25.24
3.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.35$4.35
$3.08NOK 29.68
41.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.15$5.15
$4.59NOK 44.26
12.20%
Potato(1kg)
$3.05$3.05
$2.14NOK 20.58
42.52%
Onion(1kg)
$2.81$2.81
$2.99NOK 28.80
-6.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.57$2.57
$2.56NOK 24.65
0.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.18$3.18
$1.76NOK 16.96
80.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.33$11.33
$15.33NOK 148
-26.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.24$15.24
$16.97NOK 163
-10.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91$1.91
$3.34NOK 32.16
-42.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25$4.25
$3.99NOK 38.44
6.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Redmond, WA
Arendal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.22$3.22
$3.83NOK 36.93
-15.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.5$88.5
$105NOK 1,009
-15.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.58$2.58
$7.94NOK 76.5
-67.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.73$1.73
$2.10NOK 20.18
-17.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.98$29.98
$30.41NOK 293
-1.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17$1.17
$2.05NOK 19.78
-42.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K$32.8K
$34.5KNOK 332.6K
-5.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K$25.9K
$32.4KNOK 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
$193NOK 1,861
39.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.2$61.2
$35.70NOK 344
71.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.1$76.1
$73.7NOK 710
3.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Redmond, WA
Arendal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.7$68.7
$44.57NOK 429
54.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$52.6NOK 507
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.83$15.83
$12.25NOK 118
29.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Redmond, WA
Arendal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,241$2,241
$308NOK 2,964
628.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$29.4K$29.4K
$9,980NOK 96.1K
194.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Redmond, WA
Arendal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.3$52.3
$95.2NOK 917
-45.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5$52.5
$58.8NOK 566
-10.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.0$91.0
$104NOK 1,002
-12.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139$139
$162NOK 1,559
-13.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Redmond, WA
Arendal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,280$2,280
$1,076NOK 10.4K
111.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,280$2,280
$718NOK 6,913
217.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,798$3,798
$1,314NOK 12.7K
188.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,477$3,477
$1,141NOK 11.0K
204.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,109$7,109
$3,056NOK 29.4K
132.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,959$6,959
$2,066NOK 19.9K
236.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Redmond, WA
Arendal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$9,077$9,077
$4,050NOK 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