🙂A single person spends $2,748 per month in Trondheim vs $3,878 in Berkeley, CA, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $4,158 per month in Trondheim vs $5,678 in Berkeley, CA, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $5,569 per month in Trondheim vs $7,478 in Berkeley, CA, rent included.
🙂Trondheim is about 29% cheaper than Berkeley, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Trondheim and Berkeley, CA sit above the global median – Trondheim by 105%, Berkeley, CA by 189%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Trondheim
Berkeley, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.17NOK 206
$21.84$21.84
1.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122NOK 1,137
$98.4$98.4
24.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.43NOK 134
$11.71$11.71
23.23%
Cappuccino
$4.84NOK 45.00
$5.91$5.91
-18.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58NOK 33.30
$3.21$3.21
11.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91NOK 27.02
$2.44$2.44
19.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.67NOK 99.2
$7.86$7.86
35.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.42NOK 106
$8.91$8.91
28.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trondheim
Berkeley, CA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.60NOK 24.19
$1.46$1.46
78.08%
White Bread(500g)
$3.50NOK 32.48
$5.00$5.00
-30.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.84NOK 35.70
$6.34$6.34
-39.43%
Eggs
$4.43NOK 41.15
$4.94$4.94
-10.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.20NOK 113
$21.53$21.53
-43.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.90NOK 138
$14.74$14.74
1.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.82NOK 268
$22.58$22.58
27.64%
Apples(1kg)
$3.85NOK 35.80
$5.99$5.99
-35.73%
Banana(1kg)
$2.95NOK 27.37
$2.60$2.60
13.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.64NOK 24.49
$5.01$5.01
-47.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.18NOK 48.10
$7.29$7.29
-28.94%
Potato(1kg)
$2.89NOK 26.87
$3.51$3.51
-17.66%
Onion(1kg)
$3.28NOK 30.49
$3.82$3.82
-14.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.17NOK 29.41
$2.90$2.90
9.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.39NOK 22.18
$2.79$2.79
-14.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.01NOK 139
$12.11$12.11
23.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.82NOK 175
$13.24$13.24
42.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.84NOK 35.65
$2.27$2.27
69.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67NOK 43.37
$3.32$3.32
40.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Trondheim
Berkeley, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.65NOK 43.20
$2.52$2.52
84.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$91.3NOK 848
$85.1$85.1
7.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.44NOK 143
$3.51$3.51
339.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.28NOK 21.15
$1.84$1.84
23.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$87.6NOK 814
$29.64$29.64
195.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.17NOK 20.14
$1.27$1.27
70.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KNOK 297.3K
$30.5K$30.5K
4.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.8KNOK 388.2K
$26.4K$26.4K
58.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trondheim
Berkeley, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$317NOK 2,948
$217$217
46.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.17NOK 401
$48.83$48.83
-11.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.4NOK 700
$68.2$68.2
10.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trondheim
Berkeley, CA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.29NOK 393
$70.5$70.5
-40.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.17NOK 429
$6.87$6.87
572.05%
Cinema Ticket
$17.30NOK 161
$15.23$15.23
13.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trondheim
Berkeley, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$326NOK 3,030
$2,184$2,184
-85.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,458NOK 78.6K
$32.5K$32.5K
-73.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trondheim
Berkeley, CA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113NOK 1,051
$68.4$68.4
65.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.03NOK 446
$46.09$46.09
4.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$130NOK 1,206
$101$101
28.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132NOK 1,229
$151$151
-12.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trondheim
Berkeley, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,407NOK 13.1K
$2,234$2,234
-37.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,080NOK 10.0K
$2,227$2,227
-51.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,208NOK 20.5K
$4,581$4,581
-51.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,702NOK 15.8K
$3,964$3,964
-57.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,371NOK 59.2K
$8,086$8,086
-21.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,083NOK 47.2K
$7,942$7,942
-35.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trondheim
Berkeley, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,336NOK 40.3K
$6,877$6,877
-36.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.32
6.51
-33.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Trondheim: June 1, 2026
Last update for Berkeley, CA: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,407 in Trondheim versus $2,234 in Berkeley, CA. 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 59% higher in Berkeley, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $122 in Trondheim versus $98.0 in Berkeley, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $488 in Trondheim vs $525 in Berkeley, CA – so Trondheim 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
Trondheim vs Berkeley, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Berkeley, CA cheaper than Trondheim?
Yes – Berkeley, CA is pricier by about 41%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,122 per month in Trondheim and $5,816 in Berkeley, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Trondheim, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 7% less in Trondheim. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $326 per month in Trondheim and $2,184 in Berkeley, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $3,000 enough to cover costs in Trondheim or Berkeley, CA?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,748 in Trondheim and $3,878 in Berkeley, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Trondheim or Berkeley, CA more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Trondheim – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Trondheim or Berkeley, CA?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Trondheim. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Berkeley, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.