Cost of Living Comparison Between Tonsberg and Oslo Cost of Living Comparison Between Tonsberg and Oslo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,478 in Tonsberg versus $3,214 in Oslo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,681 in Tonsberg versus $4,677 in Oslo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,885 in Tonsberg versus $6,139 in Oslo.

Living in Tonsberg costs roughly 23% less than in Oslo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Tonsberg 85% above, Oslo 141% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tonsberg
Oslo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.36 NOK 243
$25.14 NOK 241
0.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 NOK 980
$120 NOK 1,146
-14.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.89 NOK 133
$15.42 NOK 148
-9.92%
Cappuccino
$4.79 NOK 45.97
$4.90 NOK 46.95
-2.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.15 NOK 49.42
$4.10 NOK 39.32
25.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.94 NOK 47.35
$3.35 NOK 32.09
47.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.96 NOK 95.5
$12.14 NOK 116
-17.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.66 NOK 92.6
$10.99 NOK 105
-12.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tonsberg
Oslo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.21 NOK 21.15
$2.36 NOK 22.67
-6.36%
White Bread (500g)
$3.39 NOK 32.51
$4.18 NOK 40.06
-18.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.20 NOK 30.70
$3.62 NOK 34.76
-11.60%
Eggs
$4.33 NOK 41.49
$5.14 NOK 49.29
-15.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.95 NOK 115
$13.25 NOK 127
-9.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.90 NOK 143
$15.96 NOK 153
-6.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$27.98 NOK 268
$31.50 NOK 302
-11.17%
Apples (1kg)
$3.52 NOK 33.80
$3.57 NOK 34.20
-1.40%
Banana (1kg)
$2.41 NOK 23.09
$2.61 NOK 25.05
-7.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.25 NOK 31.20
$3.44 NOK 33.02
-5.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.41 NOK 42.26
$5.05 NOK 48.41
-12.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.45 NOK 23.46
$2.47 NOK 23.68
-0.81%
Onion (1kg)
$2.47 NOK 23.66
$2.65 NOK 25.43
-6.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.74 NOK 26.24
$2.89 NOK 27.71
-5.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 NOK 18.33
$2.35 NOK 22.57
-18.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.95 NOK 143
$17.03 NOK 163
-12.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.33 NOK 185
$18.41 NOK 177
5.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.41 NOK 32.66
$3.37 NOK 32.30
1.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13 NOK 39.62
$4.39 NOK 42.11
-5.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Tonsberg
Oslo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.18 NOK 40.06
$4.14 NOK 39.72
0.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.3 NOK 694
$78.5 NOK 753
-7.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.16 NOK 97.5
$10.09 NOK 96.7
0.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.40 NOK 13.42
$1.43 NOK 13.73
-2.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$47.45 NOK 455
$41.77 NOK 401
13.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.10 NOK 20.14
$2.28 NOK 21.83
-7.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K NOK 334.2K
$36.7K NOK 351.6K
-4.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K NOK 371.6K
$42.9K NOK 411.8K
-9.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tonsberg
Oslo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$237 NOK 2,272
$296 NOK 2,837
-19.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.87 NOK 363
$30.61 NOK 294
23.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.3 NOK 521
$56.4 NOK 541
-3.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tonsberg
Oslo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.98 NOK 479
$55.9 NOK 536
-10.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.76 NOK 343
$29.25 NOK 281
22.26%
Cinema Ticket
$16.26 NOK 156
$18.50 NOK 177
-12.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tonsberg
Oslo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$285 NOK 2,734
$265 NOK 2,544
7.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.0K NOK 96.1K
$14.8K NOK 141.8K
-32.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tonsberg
Oslo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.0 NOK 921
$102 NOK 980
-6.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.9 NOK 498
$64.7 NOK 621
-19.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 NOK 1,052
$125 NOK 1,199
-12.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152 NOK 1,462
$164 NOK 1,574
-7.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tonsberg
Oslo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 NOK 11.8K
$1,728 NOK 16.6K
-29.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$935 NOK 8,966
$1,465 NOK 14.0K
-36.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,438 NOK 13.8K
$2,670 NOK 25.6K
-46.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,203 NOK 11.5K
$2,182 NOK 20.9K
-44.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,119 NOK 49.1K
$11.7K NOK 112.1K
-56.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,108 NOK 39.4K
$7,104 NOK 68.1K
-42.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tonsberg
Oslo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,407 NOK 42.3K
$4,224 NOK 40.5K
4.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.38
5.08
-13.78%

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

Last update for Tonsberg: July 21, 2026

Last update for Oslo: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,226 in Tonsberg and $1,728 in Oslo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tonsberg pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $102 in Tonsberg vs $120 in Oslo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $458 vs $502 per month, with Tonsberg 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
Tonsberg vs Oslo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oslo cheaper than Tonsberg?
Tonsberg is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 30% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tonsberg or Oslo?
Average pay runs 4% higher in Tonsberg, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Tonsberg and Oslo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,226 in Tonsberg versus $1,728 in Oslo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Tonsberg and in Oslo?
All in, you'll spend $2,478 per month in Tonsberg versus $3,214 in Oslo – a 30% 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 Tonsberg runs roughly 9% less than in Oslo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Tonsberg or in Oslo?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Tonsberg is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Tonsberg or Oslo more family-friendly?
For families, Tonsberg 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, Tonsberg or Oslo?
Safety-wise, Tonsberg and Oslo 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 Tonsberg gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Oslo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Tonsberg vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities