😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,745 in Trondheim versus $2,499 in Karmøy.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,170 in Trondheim versus $3,768 in Karmøy.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,595 in Trondheim versus $5,036 in Karmøy.
🌍Living in Trondheim is roughly 10% more expensive than in Karmøy, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Trondheim106% above, Karmøy88% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Trondheim
Karmøy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.21NOK 211
$25.43NOK 241
-12.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$123NOK 1,162
$103NOK 976
19.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.44NOK 137
$13.93NOK 132
3.66%
Cappuccino
$4.82NOK 45.75
$4.86NOK 46.08
-0.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67NOK 34.84
$3.13NOK 29.72
17.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99NOK 28.34
$2.85NOK 26.98
4.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.80NOK 102
$10.28NOK 97.5
5.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.45NOK 109
$9.47NOK 89.8
20.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trondheim
Karmøy
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.51NOK 23.79
$2.26NOK 21.46
11.06%
White Bread(500g)
$3.65NOK 34.58
$3.45NOK 32.67
5.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.86NOK 36.62
$3.20NOK 30.34
20.62%
Eggs
$4.59NOK 43.49
$4.52NOK 42.89
1.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.21NOK 116
$12.19NOK 116
0.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.92NOK 141
$14.95NOK 142
-0.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.37NOK 269
$28.00NOK 265
1.32%
Apples(1kg)
$3.77NOK 35.76
$3.53NOK 33.50
6.80%
Banana(1kg)
$2.97NOK 28.21
$2.46NOK 23.33
20.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.64NOK 25.00
$3.25NOK 30.81
-18.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.01NOK 47.50
$4.57NOK 43.38
9.63%
Potato(1kg)
$2.97NOK 28.20
$2.39NOK 22.65
24.27%
Onion(1kg)
$3.22NOK 30.53
$2.46NOK 23.29
30.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.20NOK 30.33
$2.74NOK 25.98
16.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.50NOK 23.68
$1.90NOK 18.06
31.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.41NOK 146
$13.97NOK 133
10.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.42NOK 175
$17.55NOK 166
4.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.66NOK 34.68
$3.42NOK 32.40
7.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.84NOK 45.87
$4.03NOK 38.24
20.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Trondheim
Karmøy
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.57NOK 43.37
$4.31NOK 40.86
6.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$93.7NOK 889
$74.2NOK 704
26.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.40NOK 146
$10.22NOK 96.9
50.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.26NOK 21.40
$1.45NOK 13.71
55.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$89.5NOK 848
$46.92NOK 445
90.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.12NOK 20.06
$2.07NOK 19.62
2.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4KNOK 306.8K
$35.5KNOK 337.1K
-8.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.1KNOK 409.0K
$38.8KNOK 367.9K
11.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trondheim
Karmøy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$323NOK 3,059
$242NOK 2,297
33.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.23NOK 410
$37.68NOK 357
14.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.7NOK 727
$56.1NOK 532
36.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trondheim
Karmøy
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.53NOK 403
$49.40NOK 468
-13.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.79NOK 444
$35.91NOK 340
30.30%
Cinema Ticket
$17.26NOK 164
$16.44NOK 156
4.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trondheim
Karmøy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$321NOK 3,044
$279NOK 2,649
14.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,375NOK 79.4K
$10.2KNOK 96.9K
-18.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trondheim
Karmøy
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110NOK 1,044
$97.7NOK 927
12.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.48NOK 450
$51.5NOK 488
-7.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$128NOK 1,214
$107NOK 1,014
19.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132NOK 1,248
$151NOK 1,427
-12.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trondheim
Karmøy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,371NOK 13.0K
$1,207NOK 11.4K
13.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,079NOK 10.2K
$897NOK 8,508
20.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,269NOK 21.5K
$1,799NOK 17.1K
26.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,685NOK 16.0K
$1,540NOK 14.6K
9.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,109NOK 57.9K
$6,079NOK 57.6K
0.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,952NOK 47.0K
$4,014NOK 38.1K
23.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trondheim
Karmøy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,148NOK 39.3K
$3,958NOK 37.5K
4.81%
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 26, 2026
Last update for Karmøy: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,371 in Trondheim and $1,207 in Karmøy. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Trondheim 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: $123 in Trondheim vs $103 in Karmøy for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $487 vs $458 per month, with Karmøy 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
Trondheim vs Karmøy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Trondheim and in Karmøy?
Trondheim and Karmøy differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($2,745 vs $2,499 including rent). Karmøy is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Trondheim or Karmøy?
Average pay runs 5% higher in Trondheim, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Trondheim and in Karmøy?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,371 in Trondheim versus $1,207 in Karmøy. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Trondheim and in Karmøy?
A monthly transit pass in Karmøy runs roughly 26% less than in Trondheim. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Trondheim and Karmøy?
Childcare runs $321 in Trondheim versus $279 in Karmøy. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Karmøy is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Trondheim and Karmøy?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Trondheim or Karmøy safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Trondheim and Karmøy are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Trondheim or Karmøy?
Expats usually find Karmøy gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Trondheim. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.