Cost of Living Comparison Between Trenton, NJ and Baerum Cost of Living Comparison Between Trenton, NJ and Baerum

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,815 per month in Trenton, NJ vs $2,560 in Baerum, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,223 per month in Trenton, NJ vs $3,853 in Baerum, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,632 per month in Trenton, NJ vs $5,146 in Baerum, rent included.

Trenton, NJ costs about 10% more than Baerum, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Trenton, NJ and Baerum sit above the global median – Trenton, NJ by 110%, Baerum by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.89 $29.89

$25.44 NOK 236

17.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.6 $79.6

$103 NOK 959

-22.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.27 $15.27

$13.54 NOK 126

12.78%

Cappuccino

$5.10 $5.10

$5.07 NOK 47.08

0.59%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.52 NOK 23.37

17.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.13 NOK 19.75

25.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.09 $8.09

$8.96 NOK 83.2

-9.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.16 $8.16

$9.87 NOK 91.7

-17.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$2.29 NOK 21.27

-51.09%

White Bread (500g)

$3.93 $3.93

$3.56 NOK 33.07

10.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.13 $8.13

$3.16 NOK 29.35

157.28%

Eggs

$4.25 $4.25

$5.03 NOK 46.70

-15.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.22 $17.22

$11.44 NOK 106

50.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.37 $16.37

$15.92 NOK 148

2.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.84 $19.84

$31.04 NOK 288

-36.08%

Apples (1kg)

$7.52 $7.52

$3.57 NOK 33.14

110.64%

Banana (1kg)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.32 NOK 21.51

4.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$3.32 NOK 30.83

57.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.50 $6.50

$4.19 NOK 38.89

55.13%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.30 NOK 21.33

20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.61 $3.61

$2.23 NOK 20.68

61.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.85 NOK 26.50

-12.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.82 NOK 16.90

35.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.88 $10.88

$14.05 NOK 131

-22.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.86 $7.86

$19.53 NOK 181

-59.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$3.47 NOK 32.22

-50.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.84 $3.84

$4.03 NOK 37.45

-4.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$4.13 NOK 38.41

-50.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 NOK 683

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$9.95 NOK 92.4

-48.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.44 NOK 13.42

47.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.32 $41.32

$42.95 NOK 399

-3.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$2.13 NOK 19.75

-53.99%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.6K $29.6K

$27.9K NOK 258.8K

6.18%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.1K $26.1K

$24.6K NOK 228.9K

6.09%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$179 $179

$305 NOK 2,829

-41.12%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$60.8 $60.8

$41.01 NOK 381

48.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.4 $63.4

$37.37 NOK 347

69.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.98 $42.98

$50.5 NOK 469

-14.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.85 NOK 333

Cinema Ticket

$15.03 $15.03

$15.44 NOK 143

-2.66%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,852 $1,852

$268 NOK 2,488

591.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.2K $40.2K

$14.9K NOK 138.5K

169.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.7 $66.7

$105 NOK 977

-36.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.01 $49.01

$47.13 NOK 438

3.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$141 $141

$99.7 NOK 926

41.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$172 $172

$152 NOK 1,410

13.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,629 $1,629

$1,216 NOK 11.3K

33.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,333 $1,333

$908 NOK 8,438

46.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,638 $2,638

$2,140 NOK 19.9K

23.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,191 $2,191

$1,613 NOK 15.0K

35.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,145 $3,145

$6,036 NOK 56.1K

-47.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,052 $3,052

$4,455 NOK 41.4K

-31.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,394 $3,394

$5,515 NOK 51.2K

-38.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

4.38

49.54%

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

Last update for Trenton, NJ: May 31, 2026

Last update for Baerum: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,629 in Trenton, NJ versus $1,216 in Baerum. 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 62% higher in Baerum, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Trenton, NJ versus $103 in Baerum. Groceries tell a different story – $486 in Trenton, NJ vs $473 in Baerum – so Baerum wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Trenton, NJ vs Baerum: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Trenton, NJ is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,222 per month in Trenton, NJ and $3,840 in Baerum. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Baerum, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,815 in Trenton, NJ and $2,560 in Baerum. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,852 per month in Trenton, NJ and $268 in Baerum. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Baerum, where all-in costs run around $2,560, than in Trenton, NJ at $2,815. In Baerum it covers expenses comfortably, while in Trenton, NJ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Baerum – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Baerum. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Trenton, NJ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.