😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,009 in Trondheim versus $2,687 in Karmøy.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,335 in Trondheim versus $4,109 in Karmøy.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,661 in Trondheim versus $5,530 in Karmøy.
🌍Living in Trondheim is roughly 12% more expensive than in Karmøy, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Trondheim120% above, Karmøy96% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Trondheim
Karmøy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.98NOK 198
$22.10NOK 208
-5.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$110NOK 1,036
$95.4NOK 898
15.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.84NOK 149
$14.10NOK 133
12.34%
Cappuccino
$5.62NOK 52.9
$4.76NOK 44.85
18.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.77NOK 54.4
$3.87NOK 36.42
49.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37NOK 41.13
$3.33NOK 31.36
31.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.62NOK 128
$12.29NOK 116
10.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$13.21NOK 124
$10.31NOK 97.1
28.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trondheim
Karmøy
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.59NOK 24.37
$2.42NOK 22.81
7.02%
White Bread(500g)
$3.55NOK 33.49
$3.76NOK 35.45
-5.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.90NOK 36.78
$4.29NOK 40.40
-9.09%
Eggs
$4.88NOK 46.00
$4.54NOK 42.80
7.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49NOK 127
$13.61NOK 128
-0.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.46NOK 155
$14.06NOK 132
17.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$32.40NOK 305
$33.34NOK 314
-2.82%
Apples(1kg)
$3.89NOK 36.65
$3.61NOK 34.02
7.76%
Banana(1kg)
$2.94NOK 27.67
$2.68NOK 25.25
9.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.00NOK 37.68
$4.05NOK 38.19
-1.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.77NOK 54.3
$4.93NOK 46.42
17.04%
Potato(1kg)
$2.89NOK 27.23
$2.36NOK 22.20
22.46%
Onion(1kg)
$3.14NOK 29.56
$3.16NOK 29.74
-0.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.87NOK 27.06
$3.14NOK 29.53
-8.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.25NOK 21.22
$2.72NOK 25.58
-17.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.01NOK 170
$17.27NOK 163
4.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.22NOK 181
$16.86NOK 159
14.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.54NOK 33.32
$3.61NOK 34.01
-1.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69NOK 44.18
$4.67NOK 44.02
0.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Trondheim
Karmøy
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.88NOK 45.99
$4.60NOK 43.32
6.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$102NOK 963
$86.0NOK 810
18.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.49NOK 89.4
$13.33NOK 126
-28.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.61NOK 15.15
$1.83NOK 17.25
-12.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.3NOK 577
$61.0NOK 574
0.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.38NOK 22.40
$2.11NOK 19.85
12.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$47.1KNOK 443.9K
$56.0KNOK 527.6K
-15.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.4KNOK 437.0K
$48.0KNOK 451.9K
-3.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trondheim
Karmøy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$282NOK 2,655
$317NOK 2,987
-11.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.46NOK 343
$33.04NOK 311
10.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.6NOK 787
$65.5NOK 617
27.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trondheim
Karmøy
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.16NOK 416
$51.4NOK 484
-14.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.28NOK 389
$39.27NOK 370
5.12%
Cinema Ticket
$21.08NOK 199
$20.09NOK 189
4.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trondheim
Karmøy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304NOK 2,860
$223NOK 2,098
36.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,455NOK 42.0K
$12.9KNOK 121.8K
-65.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trondheim
Karmøy
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110NOK 1,040
$92.5NOK 871
19.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.7NOK 496
$64.9NOK 611
-18.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124NOK 1,171
$144NOK 1,355
-13.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158NOK 1,484
$153NOK 1,440
3.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trondheim
Karmøy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,496NOK 14.1K
$1,218NOK 11.5K
22.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236NOK 11.6K
$1,045NOK 9,848
18.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,253NOK 21.2K
$2,052NOK 19.3K
9.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,690NOK 15.9K
$1,685NOK 15.9K
0.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,555NOK 61.8K
$6,768NOK 63.8K
-3.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,105NOK 48.1K
$4,771NOK 44.9K
6.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trondheim
Karmøy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,338NOK 40.9K
$4,154NOK 39.1K
4.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.32
4.98
6.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Trondheim: September 12, 2026
Last update for Karmøy: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,496 in Trondheim and $1,218 in Karmøy. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Trondheim pays 4% 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: $110 in Trondheim vs $95.0 in Karmøy for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $517 vs $503 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 12% in total monthly costs ($3,009 vs $2,687 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 4% 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: $1,496 in Trondheim versus $1,218 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 19% 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 $304 in Trondheim versus $223 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 12% less than in Trondheim. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.