😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,769 in Trondheim versus $2,496 in Sarpsborg.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,199 in Trondheim versus $3,763 in Sarpsborg.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,628 in Trondheim versus $5,030 in Sarpsborg.
😐Living in Trondheim is roughly 11% more expensive than Sarpsborg, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Trondheim107% above, Sarpsborg86% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.24NOK 207
$38.11NOK 354
-41.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$120NOK 1,120
$95.2NOK 885
26.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.02NOK 130
$18.27NOK 170
-23.26%
Cappuccino
$4.76NOK 44.30
$5.25NOK 48.85
-9.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62NOK 33.68
$2.74NOK 25.44
32.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00NOK 27.86
$2.56NOK 23.79
17.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.48NOK 97.5
$6.24NOK 58.1
67.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.60NOK 108
$7.89NOK 73.4
47.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.52NOK 23.44
$2.22NOK 20.61
13.51%
White Bread(500g)
$3.46NOK 32.19
$3.28NOK 30.50
5.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.86NOK 35.89
$3.32NOK 30.86
16.27%
Eggs
$4.45NOK 41.37
$4.43NOK 41.21
0.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.26NOK 114
$12.12NOK 113
1.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.12NOK 141
$14.90NOK 139
1.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.16NOK 262
$28.08NOK 261
0.28%
Apples(1kg)
$3.90NOK 36.27
$3.48NOK 32.38
12.07%
Banana(1kg)
$2.86NOK 26.62
$2.48NOK 23.07
15.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.63NOK 24.44
$3.41NOK 31.71
-22.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.28NOK 49.08
$4.38NOK 40.76
20.55%
Potato(1kg)
$3.02NOK 28.12
$2.45NOK 22.76
23.27%
Onion(1kg)
$3.35NOK 31.13
$2.54NOK 23.62
31.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.14NOK 29.23
$2.75NOK 25.59
14.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52NOK 23.43
$1.92NOK 17.86
31.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.30NOK 142
$14.92NOK 139
2.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.44NOK 172
$19.21NOK 179
-4.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.70NOK 34.38
$3.34NOK 31.03
10.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.70NOK 43.74
$4.08NOK 37.91
15.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.60NOK 42.76
$2.49NOK 23.17
84.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$94.2NOK 876
$74.4NOK 691
26.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.28NOK 142
$10.19NOK 94.8
49.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.25NOK 20.94
$1.39NOK 12.92
61.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$89.5NOK 832
$47.55NOK 442
88.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.16NOK 20.13
$2.03NOK 18.89
6.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.6KNOK 294.2K
$35.1KNOK 326.0K
-9.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.2KNOK 392.6K
$38.2KNOK 354.9K
10.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$323NOK 3,000
$240NOK 2,232
34.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.66NOK 397
$37.83NOK 352
12.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.3NOK 691
$56.0NOK 521
32.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.93NOK 390
$49.58NOK 461
-15.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.26NOK 430
$36.07NOK 335
28.25%
Cinema Ticket
$17.54NOK 163
$16.71NOK 155
4.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$328NOK 3,054
$279NOK 2,593
17.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,586NOK 79.9K
$10.1KNOK 93.6K
-14.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110NOK 1,023
$96.6NOK 898
13.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.72NOK 444
$51.3NOK 477
-6.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$126NOK 1,170
$108NOK 1,003
16.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132NOK 1,230
$154NOK 1,437
-14.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,377NOK 12.8K
$1,222NOK 11.4K
12.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,077NOK 10.0K
$904NOK 8,404
19.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,227NOK 20.7K
$1,514NOK 14.1K
47.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,686NOK 15.7K
$1,342NOK 12.5K
25.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,271NOK 58.3K
$6,929NOK 64.4K
-9.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,863NOK 45.2K
$4,477NOK 41.6K
8.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,445NOK 41.3K
-
-
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: April 20, 2026
Last update for Sarpsborg: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,377 in Trondheim and $1,222 in Sarpsborg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $120 in Trondheim vs $95 in Sarpsborg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $487 vs $459 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 11% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Trondheim vs Sarpsborg?
You'd need roughly $4,153 in Trondheim and $3,744 in Sarpsborg to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Trondheim vs Sarpsborg?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,377 in Trondheim versus $1,222 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 27% 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 $328 in Trondheim versus $279 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 $2,496 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 11% less than in Trondheim. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.