🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,794 in Trondheim versus $4,022 in Redwood City, CA.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,158 in Trondheim versus $5,909 in Redwood City, CA.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,521 in Trondheim versus $7,797 in Redwood City, CA.
🙂Living in Trondheim costs roughly 31% less than in Redwood City, CA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Trondheim109% above, Redwood City, CA200% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Trondheim
Redwood City, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.32NOK 208
$27.86$27.86
-19.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121NOK 1,127
$100.0$100.0
20.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.30NOK 133
$14.40$14.40
-0.69%
Cappuccino
$4.67NOK 43.55
$4.79$4.79
-2.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66NOK 34.10
$2.60$2.60
40.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89NOK 26.90
$2.17$2.17
33.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.79NOK 101
$5.92$5.92
82.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.44NOK 107
$6.96$6.96
64.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trondheim
Redwood City, CA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.52NOK 23.51
$1.40$1.40
80.00%
White Bread(500g)
$3.60NOK 33.53
$2.33$2.33
54.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.86NOK 35.93
$5.57$5.57
-30.70%
Eggs
$4.55NOK 42.37
$4.76$4.76
-4.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.19NOK 114
$7.95$7.95
53.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.17NOK 141
$15.02$15.02
1.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.24NOK 263
$16.83$16.83
67.80%
Apples(1kg)
$3.88NOK 36.13
$6.45$6.45
-39.84%
Banana(1kg)
$3.00NOK 27.92
$2.26$2.26
32.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.67NOK 24.88
$3.76$3.76
-28.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.03NOK 46.86
$3.00$3.00
67.67%
Potato(1kg)
$2.97NOK 27.73
$2.37$2.37
25.32%
Onion(1kg)
$3.34NOK 31.09
$3.50$3.50
-4.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.24NOK 30.20
$2.10$2.10
54.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.53NOK 23.59
$3.10$3.10
-18.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.40NOK 143
$9.09$9.09
69.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.08NOK 178
$11.83$11.83
61.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.66NOK 34.10
$1.75$1.75
109.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.73NOK 44.05
$3.97$3.97
19.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Trondheim
Redwood City, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.69NOK 43.68
$7.21$7.21
-34.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$93.3NOK 870
$75.0$75.0
24.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.00NOK 140
$3.40$3.40
341.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.16NOK 20.16
$1.87$1.87
15.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$88.6NOK 826
$39.22$39.22
125.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.13NOK 19.86
$1.28$1.28
66.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KNOK 298.2K
$23.4K$23.4K
36.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.8KNOK 389.9K
$25.6K$25.6K
63.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trondheim
Redwood City, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$318NOK 2,962
$194$194
63.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.68NOK 388
$50.8$50.8
-17.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.9NOK 717
$70.1$70.1
9.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trondheim
Redwood City, CA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.83NOK 399
$177$177
-75.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$47.79NOK 445
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.29NOK 161
$14.63$14.63
18.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trondheim
Redwood City, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$329NOK 3,069
$2,790$2,790
-88.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,501NOK 79.2K
$38.4K$38.4K
-77.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trondheim
Redwood City, CA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110NOK 1,022
$61.0$61.0
79.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.69NOK 444
$61.4$61.4
-22.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$129NOK 1,202
$89.3$89.3
44.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132NOK 1,228
$101$101
30.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trondheim
Redwood City, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,386NOK 12.9K
$4,195$4,195
-66.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,065NOK 9,928
$2,488$2,488
-57.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,218NOK 20.7K
$5,570$5,570
-60.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,676NOK 15.6K
$4,300$4,300
-61.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,199NOK 57.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,921NOK 45.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trondheim
Redwood City, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,339NOK 40.4K
$8,175$8,175
-46.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.32
6.55
-34.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Trondheim: April 26, 2026
Last update for Redwood City, CA: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,386 in Trondheim and $4,195 in Redwood City, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Redwood City, CA pays 88% 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: $121 in Trondheim vs $100 in Redwood City, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $490 vs $404 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 Redwood City, CA?
Trondheim and Redwood City, CA differ by about 44% in total monthly costs ($2,794 vs $4,022 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, Redwood City, CA earns 88% less. 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 Redwood City, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,386 in Trondheim versus $4,195 in Redwood City, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Redwood City, CA pay roughly 21% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Trondheim – a meal for two runs $121 versus $100 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 44% less than in Redwood City, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.