🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,965 in Tromso versus $3,515 in Kahului, HI.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,410 in Tromso versus $4,959 in Kahului, HI.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,854 in Tromso versus $6,404 in Kahului, HI.
🌍Living in Tromso costs roughly 16% less than in Kahului, HI, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Tromso122% above, Kahului, HI163% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tromso
Kahului, HI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$33.12NOK 319
$19.05$19.05
73.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121NOK 1,162
$81.0$81.0
48.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.95NOK 144
$15.46$15.46
-3.30%
Cappuccino
$6.11NOK 58.9
$7.12$7.12
-14.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51NOK 43.47
$2.90$2.90
55.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36NOK 32.34
$3.55$3.55
-5.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.31NOK 109
$7.16$7.16
57.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.00NOK 106
$7.69$7.69
43.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tromso
Kahului, HI
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.49NOK 24.03
$1.65$1.65
50.91%
White Bread(500g)
$3.19NOK 30.74
$3.51$3.51
-9.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.47NOK 33.42
$4.31$4.31
-19.49%
Eggs
$4.86NOK 46.83
$4.26$4.26
14.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.61NOK 112
$12.48$12.48
-6.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.21NOK 147
$11.07$11.07
37.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$37.68NOK 363
$15.65$15.65
140.77%
Apples(1kg)
$3.86NOK 37.14
$8.76$8.76
-55.94%
Banana(1kg)
$2.81NOK 27.09
$1.63$1.63
72.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.56NOK 34.34
$4.34$4.34
-17.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.16NOK 49.66
$8.75$8.75
-41.03%
Potato(1kg)
$2.98NOK 28.74
$6.65$6.65
-55.19%
Onion(1kg)
$3.56NOK 34.29
$2.89$2.89
23.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.68NOK 25.84
$2.98$2.98
-10.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.75NOK 16.88
$1.58$1.58
10.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.11NOK 146
$9.36$9.36
61.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.35NOK 177
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.64NOK 35.02
$1.79$1.79
103.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55NOK 43.78
$3.92$3.92
16.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Tromso
Kahului, HI
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.69NOK 45.14
$2.03$2.03
131.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$59.5NOK 573
$45.78$45.78
29.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.71NOK 122
$3.44$3.44
269.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.09NOK 10.47
$1.61$1.61
-32.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$50.8NOK 489
$29.71$29.71
70.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.23NOK 21.51
$1.24$1.24
79.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1KNOK 318.6K
$39.4K$39.4K
-16.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.6KNOK 352.4K
$26.0K$26.0K
40.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tromso
Kahului, HI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$252NOK 2,425
$219$219
14.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.54NOK 458
$80.8$80.8
-41.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.9NOK 731
$55.3$55.3
37.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tromso
Kahului, HI
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.75NOK 460
$42.18$42.18
13.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.56NOK 381
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.45NOK 158
$13.06$13.06
25.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tromso
Kahului, HI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$334NOK 3,212
$1,297$1,297
-74.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,348NOK 70.8K
$23.7K$23.7K
-68.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tromso
Kahului, HI
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.0NOK 877
$38.32$38.32
137.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.49NOK 323
$25.13$25.13
33.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$134NOK 1,287
$64.4$64.4
107.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133NOK 1,278
$105$105
26.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tromso
Kahului, HI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,352NOK 13.0K
$2,536$2,536
-46.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,258NOK 12.1K
$2,116$2,116
-40.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,549NOK 24.6K
$3,538$3,538
-27.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,815NOK 17.5K
$3,501$3,501
-48.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,817NOK 84.9K
$11.8K$11.8K
-25.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,188NOK 50.0K
$11.6K$11.6K
-55.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tromso
Kahului, HI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,066NOK 39.2K
$4,719$4,719
-13.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.27
6.51
-34.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tromso: July 13, 2026
Last update for Kahului, HI: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,352 in Tromso and $2,536 in Kahului, HI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kahului, HI pays 16% 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: $121 in Tromso vs $81.0 in Kahului, HI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $502 vs $414 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 – living expenses run 19% 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 in Kahului, HI?
On paper, salaries run 16% lower in Kahului, HI. 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 compared to Kahului, HI?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,352 in Tromso versus $2,536 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 in Kahului, HI?
Childcare runs $334 in Tromso versus $1,297 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 in Kahului, HI?
Shoppers in Kahului, HI pay roughly 21% 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 in 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 – similar infrastructure at $2,965 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 – expenses run 19% less than in Kahului, HI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.