Cost of Living Comparison Between Tromso and Oslo Cost of Living Comparison Between Tromso and Oslo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,965 in Tromso versus $3,203 in Oslo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,410 in Tromso versus $4,686 in Oslo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,854 in Tromso versus $6,170 in Oslo.

Living in Tromso costs roughly 7% less than in Oslo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Tromso 122% above, Oslo 140% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tromso
Oslo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$33.12 NOK 319
$25.37 NOK 245
30.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121 NOK 1,163
$120 NOK 1,162
0.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.95 NOK 144
$14.96 NOK 144
-0.07%
Cappuccino
$6.11 NOK 59.0
$5.08 NOK 48.95
20.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 NOK 43.52
$4.10 NOK 39.56
10.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36 NOK 32.38
$3.19 NOK 30.77
5.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.31 NOK 109
$12.37 NOK 119
-8.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.00 NOK 106
$11.03 NOK 106
-0.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tromso
Oslo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.49 NOK 24.05
$2.40 NOK 23.18
3.75%
White Bread (500g)
$3.19 NOK 30.77
$4.03 NOK 38.91
-20.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.47 NOK 33.46
$3.67 NOK 35.41
-5.45%
Eggs
$4.86 NOK 46.89
$4.95 NOK 47.70
-1.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.61 NOK 112
$13.66 NOK 132
-15.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.21 NOK 147
$16.41 NOK 158
-7.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$37.68 NOK 363
$31.39 NOK 303
20.04%
Apples (1kg)
$3.86 NOK 37.18
$3.60 NOK 34.76
7.22%
Banana (1kg)
$2.81 NOK 27.12
$2.63 NOK 25.38
6.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.56 NOK 34.38
$3.45 NOK 33.31
3.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.16 NOK 49.72
$5.07 NOK 48.85
1.78%
Potato (1kg)
$2.98 NOK 28.77
$2.51 NOK 24.16
18.73%
Onion (1kg)
$3.56 NOK 34.33
$2.71 NOK 26.15
31.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.68 NOK 25.87
$2.78 NOK 26.76
-3.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 NOK 16.90
$2.41 NOK 23.19
-27.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.11 NOK 146
$17.46 NOK 168
-13.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.35 NOK 177
$18.64 NOK 180
-1.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.64 NOK 35.06
$3.41 NOK 32.92
6.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55 NOK 43.83
$4.35 NOK 41.96
4.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Tromso
Oslo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.69 NOK 45.20
$4.18 NOK 40.34
12.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.5 NOK 574
$79.6 NOK 767
-25.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$12.71 NOK 123
$10.20 NOK 98.3
24.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 NOK 10.48
$1.41 NOK 13.57
-22.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$50.8 NOK 490
$41.75 NOK 403
21.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.23 NOK 21.54
$2.27 NOK 21.91
-1.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1K NOK 319.0K
$36.7K NOK 353.4K
-9.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.6K NOK 352.8K
$42.3K NOK 408.3K
-13.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tromso
Oslo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$252 NOK 2,428
$296 NOK 2,855
-14.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.54 NOK 458
$31.29 NOK 302
51.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.9 NOK 732
$55.5 NOK 535
36.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tromso
Oslo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.75 NOK 460
$57.4 NOK 553
-16.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.56 NOK 381
$28.40 NOK 274
39.30%
Cinema Ticket
$16.45 NOK 159
$18.01 NOK 174
-8.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tromso
Oslo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$334 NOK 3,216
$274 NOK 2,647
21.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,348 NOK 70.9K
$14.7K NOK 141.6K
-49.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tromso
Oslo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.0 NOK 878
$103 NOK 996
-11.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.49 NOK 323
$64.5 NOK 622
-48.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$134 NOK 1,288
$121 NOK 1,166
10.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 NOK 1,279
$168 NOK 1,616
-20.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tromso
Oslo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,352 NOK 13.0K
$1,700 NOK 16.4K
-20.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,258 NOK 12.1K
$1,441 NOK 13.9K
-12.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,549 NOK 24.6K
$2,677 NOK 25.8K
-4.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,815 NOK 17.5K
$2,180 NOK 21.0K
-16.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,817 NOK 85.0K
$11.5K NOK 111.0K
-23.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,188 NOK 50.0K
$6,961 NOK 67.1K
-25.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tromso
Oslo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,066 NOK 39.2K
$4,256 NOK 41.0K
-4.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.27
5.08
-15.94%

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

Last update for Tromso: July 13, 2026

Last update for Oslo: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,352 in Tromso and $1,700 in Oslo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Oslo pays 5% 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 $120 in Oslo. Groceries flip the comparison at $502 vs $505, with Tromso 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
Tromso vs Oslo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oslo cheaper than Tromso?
Tromso is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tromso or Oslo?
On paper, salaries run 5% lower in Oslo. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Tromso and Oslo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,352 in Tromso versus $1,700 in Oslo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Tromso and in Oslo?
All in, you'll spend $2,965 per month in Tromso versus $3,203 in Oslo – a 8% 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 Tromso runs roughly 34% less than in Oslo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,000 enough to cover costs in Tromso or in Oslo?
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.
Is Tromso or Oslo more family-friendly?
For families, Tromso 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, Tromso or Oslo?
Safety-wise, Tromso 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 Tromso gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Oslo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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