😐A single person spends $2,748 per month in Trondheim vs $2,214 in Drammen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,158 per month in Trondheim vs $3,324 in Drammen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,569 per month in Trondheim vs $4,434 in Drammen, rent included.
😐Trondheim costs about 24% more than Drammen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Trondheim and Drammen sit above the global median – Trondheim by 105%, Drammen by 65%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Trondheim
Drammen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.17NOK 206
$20.64NOK 192
7.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122NOK 1,139
$75.3NOK 701
62.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.43NOK 134
$13.06NOK 122
10.49%
Cappuccino
$4.84NOK 45.09
$4.99NOK 46.43
-3.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58NOK 33.37
$2.42NOK 22.52
47.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91NOK 27.07
$2.64NOK 24.60
10.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.67NOK 99.4
$7.82NOK 72.8
36.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.42NOK 106
$6.19NOK 57.6
84.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trondheim
Drammen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.60NOK 24.24
$2.20NOK 20.51
18.18%
White Bread(500g)
$3.50NOK 32.55
$3.13NOK 29.17
11.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.84NOK 35.77
$3.15NOK 29.34
21.90%
Eggs
$4.43NOK 41.24
$4.19NOK 38.98
5.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.20NOK 114
$11.60NOK 108
5.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.90NOK 139
$13.42NOK 125
11.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.82NOK 268
$17.23NOK 160
67.27%
Apples(1kg)
$3.85NOK 35.88
$2.05NOK 19.08
87.80%
Banana(1kg)
$2.95NOK 27.42
$2.32NOK 21.62
27.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.64NOK 24.54
$3.42NOK 31.83
-22.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.18NOK 48.20
$3.95NOK 36.79
31.14%
Potato(1kg)
$2.89NOK 26.93
$2.27NOK 21.14
27.31%
Onion(1kg)
$3.28NOK 30.55
$1.34NOK 12.48
144.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.17NOK 29.47
$1.85NOK 17.18
71.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.39NOK 22.23
$1.93NOK 17.93
23.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.01NOK 140
$14.45NOK 135
3.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.82NOK 175
$13.02NOK 121
44.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.84NOK 35.72
$3.07NOK 28.58
25.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67NOK 43.46
$3.91NOK 36.39
19.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Trondheim
Drammen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.65NOK 43.29
$2.81NOK 26.17
65.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$91.3NOK 850
$75.5NOK 703
20.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.44NOK 144
$10.01NOK 93.2
54.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.28NOK 21.19
$1.26NOK 11.77
80.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$87.6NOK 815
$103NOK 959
-14.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.17NOK 20.18
$2.17NOK 20.21
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KNOK 297.9K
$39.9KNOK 371.5K
-19.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.8KNOK 389.0K
$38.9KNOK 362.0K
7.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trondheim
Drammen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$317NOK 2,954
$217NOK 2,021
46.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.17NOK 402
$44.32NOK 413
-2.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.4NOK 701
$38.34NOK 357
96.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trondheim
Drammen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.29NOK 394
$86.1NOK 801
-50.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.17NOK 430
$35.80NOK 333
28.97%
Cinema Ticket
$17.30NOK 161
$14.77NOK 138
17.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trondheim
Drammen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$326NOK 3,037
$310NOK 2,887
5.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,458NOK 78.7K
$10.2KNOK 95.4K
-17.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trondheim
Drammen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113NOK 1,053
$97.8NOK 910
15.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.03NOK 447
$25.22NOK 235
90.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$130NOK 1,209
$97.7NOK 909
32.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132NOK 1,232
$142NOK 1,326
-7.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trondheim
Drammen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,407NOK 13.1K
$932NOK 8,676
50.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,080NOK 10.1K
$777NOK 7,229
39.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,208NOK 20.6K
$1,491NOK 13.9K
48.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,702NOK 15.8K
$1,343NOK 12.5K
26.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,371NOK 59.3K
$10.8KNOK 100.7K
-41.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,083NOK 47.3K
$6,561NOK 61.1K
-22.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trondheim
Drammen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,336NOK 40.4K
$3,747NOK 34.9K
15.74%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Drammen: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,407 in Trondheim versus $932 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 $122 in Trondheim versus $75.0 in Drammen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $488 vs $383 – 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 Drammen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,748 in Trondheim, $2,214 in Drammen – roughly 24% 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 $4,122 per month in Trondheim and $3,321 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 $326 per month in Trondheim and $310 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 27% 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 $2,214, than in Trondheim at $2,748. 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 $2,214 in Drammen to $2,748 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.