🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,922 in Trondheim versus $4,171 in Redwood City, CA.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,248 in Trondheim versus $6,185 in Redwood City, CA.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,574 in Trondheim versus $8,198 in Redwood City, CA.
🌍Living in Trondheim costs roughly 30% less than in Redwood City, CA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Trondheim113% above, Redwood City, CA204% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Trondheim
Redwood City, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.74NOK 194
$22.89$22.89
-9.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$120NOK 1,121
$112$112
7.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.80NOK 148
$13.04$13.04
21.17%
Cappuccino
$5.72NOK 53.4
$5.56$5.56
2.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.62NOK 52.5
$3.21$3.21
75.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13NOK 38.61
$2.36$2.36
75.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.64NOK 118
$8.02$8.02
57.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$13.13NOK 123
$8.93$8.93
47.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trondheim
Redwood City, CA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.53NOK 23.59
$1.49$1.49
69.80%
White Bread(500g)
$3.44NOK 32.10
$5.23$5.23
-34.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.67NOK 34.29
$5.41$5.41
-32.16%
Eggs
$4.80NOK 44.80
$7.61$7.61
-36.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29NOK 124
$15.10$15.10
-11.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.85NOK 157
$10.53$10.53
60.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$31.97NOK 299
$19.96$19.96
60.17%
Apples(1kg)
$3.99NOK 37.30
$6.69$6.69
-40.36%
Banana(1kg)
$2.86NOK 26.68
$3.01$3.01
-4.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.76NOK 35.13
$4.84$4.84
-22.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.76NOK 53.8
$6.35$6.35
-9.29%
Potato(1kg)
$2.93NOK 27.37
$3.31$3.31
-11.48%
Onion(1kg)
$3.04NOK 28.34
$4.00$4.00
-24.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.86NOK 26.68
$3.04$3.04
-5.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.33NOK 21.74
$2.86$2.86
-18.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.87NOK 167
$11.83$11.83
51.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.91NOK 177
$20.28$20.28
-6.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.54NOK 33.03
$2.62$2.62
35.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52NOK 42.23
$3.44$3.44
31.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Trondheim
Redwood City, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.89NOK 45.67
$4.72$4.72
3.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$100NOK 936
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.62NOK 89.9
$4.05$4.05
137.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.63NOK 15.20
$1.28$1.28
27.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$60.7NOK 567
$38.29$38.29
58.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.34NOK 21.87
$1.43$1.43
63.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.5KNOK 434.1K
$36.7K$36.7K
26.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.7KNOK 426.7K
$26.7K$26.7K
71.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trondheim
Redwood City, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$271NOK 2,530
$241$241
12.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.81NOK 344
$53.5$53.5
-31.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$84.5NOK 789
$69.1$69.1
22.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trondheim
Redwood City, CA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.14NOK 403
$237$237
-81.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.84NOK 381
$30.42$30.42
34.25%
Cinema Ticket
$20.61NOK 192
$17.69$17.69
16.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trondheim
Redwood City, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$302NOK 2,822
$2,946$2,946
-89.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,386NOK 41.0K
$42.2K$42.2K
-89.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trondheim
Redwood City, CA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$108NOK 1,010
$45.69$45.69
136.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.4NOK 480
$24.82$24.82
107.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121NOK 1,126
$100$100
20.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$157NOK 1,466
$115$115
36.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trondheim
Redwood City, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,516NOK 14.2K
$4,221$4,221
-64.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223NOK 11.4K
$2,465$2,465
-50.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,272NOK 21.2K
$5,798$5,798
-60.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,678NOK 15.7K
$4,411$4,411
-61.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,500NOK 60.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,039NOK 47.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trondheim
Redwood City, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,457NOK 41.6K
$8,101$8,101
-44.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.32
6.38
-16.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Trondheim: August 16, 2026
Last update for Redwood City, CA: August 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,516 in Trondheim and $4,221 in Redwood City, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Redwood City, CA pays 82% 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: $120 in Trondheim vs $112 in Redwood City, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $513 vs $505 per month, with Redwood City, CA 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 Redwood City, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Trondheim and in Redwood City, CA?
Trondheim and Redwood City, CA differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($2,922 vs $4,171 including rent). Trondheim is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 82% lower in Redwood City, CA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Trondheim and in Redwood City, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,516 in Trondheim versus $4,221 in Redwood City, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Trondheim and Redwood City, CA?
Childcare runs $302 in Trondheim versus $2,946 in Redwood City, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Trondheim – a meal for two runs $120 versus $112 in Redwood City, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Trondheim 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 Redwood City, CA?
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 Redwood City, CA safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Trondheim and Redwood City, CA 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 Redwood City, CA?
Expats usually find Trondheim gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Redwood City, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.