Cost of Living Comparison Between Trondheim and Sarpsborg Cost of Living Comparison Between Trondheim and Sarpsborg

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,776 in Trondheim versus $2,561 in Sarpsborg.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,121 in Trondheim versus $3,771 in Sarpsborg.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,465 in Trondheim versus $4,982 in Sarpsborg.

Living in Trondheim is roughly 8% more expensive than Sarpsborg, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Trondheim 107% above, Sarpsborg 91% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.39 NOK 213
$37.65 NOK 357
-40.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$119 NOK 1,131
$92.3 NOK 876
29.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.04 NOK 133
$18.53 NOK 176
-24.23%
Cappuccino
$4.72 NOK 44.83
$5.28 NOK 50.1
-10.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62 NOK 34.35
$2.68 NOK 25.40
35.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 NOK 27.88
$2.60 NOK 24.70
13.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$10.68 NOK 101
$5.89 NOK 55.9
81.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.73 NOK 111
$7.79 NOK 73.9
50.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.64 NOK 25.03
$2.26 NOK 21.41
16.81%
White Bread (500g)
$3.52 NOK 33.36
$3.29 NOK 31.18
6.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.96 NOK 37.59
$3.14 NOK 29.85
26.11%
Eggs
$4.56 NOK 43.28
$4.37 NOK 41.52
4.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.35 NOK 117
$11.93 NOK 113
3.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.21 NOK 144
$14.93 NOK 142
1.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$28.37 NOK 269
$28.14 NOK 267
0.82%
Apples (1kg)
$3.78 NOK 35.84
$3.60 NOK 34.19
5.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.83 NOK 26.84
$2.47 NOK 23.46
14.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.64 NOK 25.01
$3.32 NOK 31.54
-20.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.31 NOK 50.4
$4.35 NOK 41.26
22.07%
Potato (1kg)
$2.87 NOK 27.27
$2.48 NOK 23.58
15.73%
Onion (1kg)
$3.18 NOK 30.19
$2.49 NOK 23.67
27.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.24 NOK 30.73
$2.78 NOK 26.37
16.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 NOK 23.97
$1.82 NOK 17.24
38.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.32 NOK 145
$15.31 NOK 145
0.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.36 NOK 174
$19.10 NOK 181
-3.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.72 NOK 35.28
$3.40 NOK 32.24
9.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.83 NOK 45.88
$3.99 NOK 37.88
21.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.75 NOK 45.11
$2.47 NOK 23.40
92.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$93.7 NOK 889
$74.1 NOK 703
26.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$14.89 NOK 141
$10.15 NOK 96.3
46.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 NOK 20.78
$1.40 NOK 13.30
56.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$87.8 NOK 833
$45.99 NOK 437
90.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.22 NOK 21.08
$2.14 NOK 20.32
3.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K NOK 306.0K
$36.1K NOK 342.9K
-10.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.5K NOK 403.0K
$38.6K NOK 366.1K
10.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$328 NOK 3,118
$238 NOK 2,263
37.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.15 NOK 410
$38.10 NOK 362
13.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.0 NOK 712
$56.1 NOK 532
33.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.27 NOK 401
$50.1 NOK 476
-15.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.32 NOK 440
$36.13 NOK 343
28.20%
Cinema Ticket
$17.14 NOK 163
$16.31 NOK 155
5.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$322 NOK 3,059
$284 NOK 2,692
13.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,553 NOK 81.2K
$10.1K NOK 95.8K
-15.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113 NOK 1,076
$97.6 NOK 926
16.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.89 NOK 455
$52.8 NOK 501
-9.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 NOK 1,195
$109 NOK 1,033
15.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134 NOK 1,269
$150 NOK 1,421
-10.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,396 NOK 13.2K
$1,209 NOK 11.5K
15.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,055 NOK 10.0K
$903 NOK 8,572
16.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,233 NOK 21.2K
$1,492 NOK 14.2K
49.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,689 NOK 16.0K
$1,319 NOK 12.5K
28.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,157 NOK 58.4K
$6,022 NOK 57.2K
2.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,848 NOK 46.0K
$4,474 NOK 42.5K
8.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,264 NOK 40.5K
$2,685 NOK 25.5K
58.79%
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 7, 2026

Last update for Sarpsborg: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,396 in Trondheim and $1,209 in Sarpsborg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Trondheim pays 59% 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: $119 in Trondheim vs $92.0 in Sarpsborg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $490 vs $457 per month, with Sarpsborg 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 Sarpsborg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Trondheim or Sarpsborg?
Sarpsborg wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Trondheim. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sarpsborg the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Trondheim or Sarpsborg?
Trondheim pays 59% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Trondheim vs Sarpsborg?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,396 in Trondheim versus $1,209 in Sarpsborg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Trondheim vs Sarpsborg?
A monthly transit pass in Sarpsborg runs roughly 26% less than in Trondheim. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Trondheim and Sarpsborg?
Childcare runs $322 in Trondheim versus $284 in Sarpsborg. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Trondheim or Sarpsborg?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Sarpsborg is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Trondheim or Sarpsborg?
Both work as nomad bases, but Sarpsborg delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,561 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Sarpsborg hard to pass up.
How safe is Trondheim compared to Sarpsborg?
Safety-wise, Trondheim and Sarpsborg are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Sarpsborg gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Trondheim. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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