πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,929 in Tromso versus $3,568 in Kahului, HI.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,342 in Tromso versus $5,090 in Kahului, HI.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,756 in Tromso versus $6,611 in Kahului, HI.
πLiving in Tromso costs roughly 18% less than in Kahului, HI, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Tromso119% above, Kahului, HI166% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Tromso
Kahului, HI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$32.45NOKΒ 301
$19.17$19.17
69.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121NOKΒ 1,124
$79.2$79.2
52.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.08NOKΒ 140
$15.48$15.48
-2.58%
Cappuccino
$6.17NOKΒ 57.4
$7.17$7.17
-13.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58NOKΒ 42.52
$2.94$2.94
55.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44NOKΒ 31.97
$3.55$3.55
-3.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.21NOKΒ 104
$7.20$7.20
55.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.08NOKΒ 103
$7.63$7.63
45.22%
π Groceries & Markets
Tromso
Kahului, HI
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.42NOKΒ 22.45
$1.66$1.66
45.78%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17NOKΒ 29.42
$3.45$3.45
-8.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.28NOKΒ 30.46
$4.33$4.33
-24.25%
Eggs
$4.92NOKΒ 45.72
$4.07$4.07
20.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.34NOKΒ 105
$12.45$12.45
-8.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.48NOKΒ 144
$11.09$11.09
39.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$37.09NOKΒ 345
$15.42$15.42
140.53%
Apples(1kg)
$3.92NOKΒ 36.42
$8.93$8.93
-56.10%
Banana(1kg)
$2.88NOKΒ 26.78
$1.64$1.64
75.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.75NOKΒ 34.82
$4.19$4.19
-10.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.12NOKΒ 47.54
$8.57$8.57
-40.26%
Potato(1kg)
$3.08NOKΒ 28.65
$6.67$6.67
-53.82%
Onion(1kg)
$3.63NOKΒ 33.72
$2.91$2.91
24.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.69NOKΒ 24.98
$3.05$3.05
-11.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70NOKΒ 15.80
$1.57$1.57
8.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.05NOKΒ 140
$9.47$9.47
58.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.06NOKΒ 177
$14.10$14.10
35.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.64NOKΒ 33.78
$1.79$1.79
103.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.54NOKΒ 42.14
$4.07$4.07
11.55%
π Getting Around
Tromso
Kahului, HI
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.79NOKΒ 44.49
$1.99$1.99
140.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$59.6NOKΒ 553
$44.88$44.88
32.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.88NOKΒ 120
$3.40$3.40
278.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.13NOKΒ 10.46
$1.64$1.64
-31.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$52.1NOKΒ 484
$29.16$29.16
78.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11NOKΒ 19.63
$1.25$1.25
68.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6KNOKΒ 302.8K
$39.2K$39.2K
-16.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KNOKΒ 332.2K
$26.3K$26.3K
35.96%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tromso
Kahului, HI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$245NOKΒ 2,279
$214$214
14.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.71NOKΒ 453
$78.4$78.4
-37.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.2NOKΒ 717
$54.1$54.1
42.59%
π Sport & Entertainment
Tromso
Kahului, HI
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.87NOKΒ 445
$42.74$42.74
12.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.54NOKΒ 367
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.73NOKΒ 155
$12.80$12.80
30.70%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Tromso
Kahului, HI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$336NOKΒ 3,118
$1,321$1,321
-74.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,362NOKΒ 68.4K
$23.3K$23.3K
-68.39%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Tromso
Kahului, HI
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.7NOKΒ 815
$38.80$38.80
126.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.00NOKΒ 307
$25.19$25.19
31.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$131NOKΒ 1,215
$66.1$66.1
97.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135NOKΒ 1,258
$106$106
27.86%
π Accommodation & Living
Tromso
Kahului, HI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,348NOKΒ 12.5K
$2,454$2,454
-45.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268NOKΒ 11.8K
$2,113$2,113
-40.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,614NOKΒ 24.3K
$3,481$3,481
-24.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,853NOKΒ 17.2K
$3,455$3,455
-46.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,264NOKΒ 86.1K
$2,720$2,720
240.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,545NOKΒ 51.5K
$2,391$2,391
131.95%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Tromso
Kahului, HI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,243NOKΒ 39.4K
$4,675$4,675
-9.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.27
6.51
-34.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tromso: June 1, 2026
Last update for Kahului, HI: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,348 in Tromso and $2,454 in Kahului, HI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Kahului, HI pays 10% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $121 in Tromso vs $79.0 in Kahului, HI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $502 vs $440 per month, with Kahului, HI 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
Tromso vs Kahului, HI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tromso or Kahului, HI?
Tromso wins on cost β living expenses run 22% lower than in Kahului, HI. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tromso the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tromso or Kahului, HI?
On paper, Kahului, HI earns 10% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tromso vs Kahului, HI?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,348 in Tromso versus $2,454 in Kahului, HI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Tromso and Kahului, HI?
Childcare runs $336 in Tromso versus $1,321 in Kahului, HI. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Tromso or Kahului, HI?
Shoppers in Kahului, HI pay roughly 14% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Tromso or Kahului, HI?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Tromso is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tromso or Kahului, HI?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tromso delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $2,929 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tromso hard to pass up.
How safe is Tromso compared to Kahului, HI?
Safety-wise, Tromso and Kahului, HI 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Tromso gentler on the wallet β expenses run 22% less than in Kahului, HI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.