😐A single person spends $2,780 per month in Trondheim vs $2,212 in Drammen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,125 per month in Trondheim vs $3,324 in Drammen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,471 per month in Trondheim vs $4,437 in Drammen, rent included.
😐Trondheim costs about 26% more than Drammen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Trondheim and Drammen sit above the global median – Trondheim by 108%, Drammen by 66%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Trondheim
Drammen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.76NOK 219
$20.63NOK 199
10.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$120NOK 1,153
$74.8NOK 721
59.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.31NOK 138
$13.18NOK 127
8.57%
Cappuccino
$4.67NOK 45.06
$4.73NOK 45.63
-1.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54NOK 34.15
$2.45NOK 23.64
44.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00NOK 28.88
$2.68NOK 25.80
11.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.77NOK 104
$8.14NOK 78.5
32.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.45NOK 110
$6.23NOK 60.1
83.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trondheim
Drammen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.65NOK 25.59
$2.11NOK 20.32
25.59%
White Bread(500g)
$3.59NOK 34.61
$3.13NOK 30.17
14.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.81NOK 36.75
$3.32NOK 32.00
14.76%
Eggs
$4.42NOK 42.60
$4.19NOK 40.41
5.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.33NOK 119
$11.24NOK 108
9.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.88NOK 143
$13.19NOK 127
12.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.83NOK 268
$17.36NOK 167
60.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.77NOK 36.31
$1.95NOK 18.81
93.33%
Banana(1kg)
$2.89NOK 27.85
$2.26NOK 21.75
27.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.69NOK 25.91
$3.29NOK 31.71
-18.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.28NOK 50.9
$3.79NOK 36.51
39.31%
Potato(1kg)
$2.91NOK 28.04
$2.30NOK 22.22
26.52%
Onion(1kg)
$3.21NOK 30.94
$1.34NOK 12.90
139.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.24NOK 31.24
$1.79NOK 17.23
81.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52NOK 24.34
$1.83NOK 17.69
37.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.47NOK 149
$14.30NOK 138
8.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.24NOK 176
$12.44NOK 120
46.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.77NOK 36.40
$2.93NOK 28.29
28.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67NOK 45.06
$4.08NOK 39.37
14.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Trondheim
Drammen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.54NOK 43.82
$2.83NOK 27.26
60.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$94.6NOK 912
$76.5NOK 737
23.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.38NOK 148
$10.25NOK 98.8
50.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.24NOK 21.62
$1.22NOK 11.73
83.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$89.4NOK 862
$99.6NOK 960
-10.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.21NOK 21.35
$2.16NOK 20.84
2.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4KNOK 303.1K
$41.1KNOK 396.1K
-23.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.3KNOK 417.9K
$39.1KNOK 377.1K
10.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trondheim
Drammen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$326NOK 3,146
$218NOK 2,103
49.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.18NOK 416
$43.27NOK 417
-0.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.6NOK 739
$37.61NOK 363
103.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trondheim
Drammen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.89NOK 414
$84.5NOK 815
-49.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.70NOK 450
$35.41NOK 341
31.88%
Cinema Ticket
$17.51NOK 169
$15.17NOK 146
15.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trondheim
Drammen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$330NOK 3,179
$302NOK 2,909
9.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,333NOK 80.4K
$10.1KNOK 97.6K
-17.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trondheim
Drammen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110NOK 1,063
$97.2NOK 937
13.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.54NOK 458
$24.93NOK 240
90.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$126NOK 1,212
$101NOK 971
24.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129NOK 1,247
$144NOK 1,391
-10.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trondheim
Drammen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,378NOK 13.3K
$942NOK 9,081
46.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,060NOK 10.2K
$769NOK 7,415
37.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,251NOK 21.7K
$1,460NOK 14.1K
54.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,660NOK 16.0K
$1,366NOK 13.2K
21.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,307NOK 60.8K
$10.3KNOK 99.7K
-38.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,811NOK 46.4K
$6,145NOK 59.3K
-21.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trondheim
Drammen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,102NOK 39.6K
$3,527NOK 34.0K
16.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.32
4.38
-1.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Trondheim: July 13, 2026
Last update for Drammen: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,378 in Trondheim versus $942 in Drammen. 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 16% higher in Trondheim, 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 $120 in Trondheim versus $75.0 in Drammen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $487 vs $376 – making Drammen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Drammen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Trondheim and in Drammen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,780 in Trondheim, $2,212 in Drammen – roughly 26% apart. Trondheim costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Trondheim compared to Drammen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,170 per month in Trondheim and $3,318 in Drammen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Trondheim and Drammen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Drammen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Trondheim and Drammen?
Kindergarten costs $330 per month in Trondheim and $302 in Drammen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 29% more in Trondheim, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Drammen, where all-in costs run around $2,212, than in Trondheim at $2,780. In Drammen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Trondheim it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Trondheim and Drammen?
It depends on your priorities. Trondheim has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,212 in Drammen to $2,780 in Trondheim. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Trondheim or Drammen safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Trondheim and Drammen?
If budget matters most, go with Drammen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Trondheim makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.