😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,009 in Trondheim versus $2,802 in Sarpsborg.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,335 in Trondheim versus $4,162 in Sarpsborg.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,661 in Trondheim versus $5,521 in Sarpsborg.
🌍Living in Trondheim is roughly 7% more expensive than in Sarpsborg, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Trondheim120% above, Sarpsborg105% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.98NOK 198
$40.12NOK 378
-47.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$110NOK 1,036
$107NOK 1,010
2.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.84NOK 149
$19.57NOK 184
-19.06%
Cappuccino
$5.62NOK 52.9
$5.76NOK 54.2
-2.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.77NOK 54.4
$2.90NOK 27.37
98.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37NOK 41.15
$2.65NOK 25.01
64.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.62NOK 128
$8.82NOK 83.2
54.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$13.21NOK 124
$11.73NOK 111
12.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.59NOK 24.38
$2.36NOK 22.24
9.75%
White Bread(500g)
$3.55NOK 33.49
$3.30NOK 31.09
7.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.90NOK 36.79
$3.76NOK 35.40
3.72%
Eggs
$4.88NOK 46.01
$5.08NOK 47.90
-3.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49NOK 127
$12.87NOK 121
4.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.46NOK 155
$15.59NOK 147
5.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$32.40NOK 305
$29.86NOK 281
8.51%
Apples(1kg)
$3.89NOK 36.66
$3.49NOK 32.90
11.46%
Banana(1kg)
$2.94NOK 27.67
$2.78NOK 26.16
5.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.00NOK 37.69
$3.60NOK 33.90
11.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.77NOK 54.3
$4.52NOK 42.58
27.65%
Potato(1kg)
$2.89NOK 27.23
$2.60NOK 24.51
11.15%
Onion(1kg)
$3.14NOK 29.57
$2.98NOK 28.08
5.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.87NOK 27.07
$3.11NOK 29.30
-7.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.25NOK 21.23
$2.33NOK 21.97
-3.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.01NOK 170
$19.68NOK 185
-8.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.22NOK 181
$17.86NOK 168
7.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.54NOK 33.33
$3.61NOK 34.03
-1.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69NOK 44.19
$4.32NOK 40.74
8.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.88NOK 46.00
$2.70NOK 25.46
80.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$102NOK 963
$77.7NOK 732
31.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.49NOK 89.4
$10.98NOK 104
-13.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.61NOK 15.15
$1.95NOK 18.39
-17.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.3NOK 577
$73.9NOK 696
-17.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.38NOK 22.41
$2.18NOK 20.53
9.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$47.1KNOK 444.0K
$45.0KNOK 423.6K
4.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.4KNOK 437.1K
$40.2KNOK 378.5K
15.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$282NOK 2,655
$273NOK 2,571
3.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.46NOK 344
$30.00NOK 283
21.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.6NOK 787
$59.3NOK 559
40.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.16NOK 416
$51.4NOK 484
-14.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.28NOK 389
$32.10NOK 302
28.60%
Cinema Ticket
$21.08NOK 199
$16.91NOK 159
24.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304NOK 2,861
$253NOK 2,384
19.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,455NOK 42.0K
$13.2KNOK 124.2K
-66.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110NOK 1,040
$97.1NOK 915
13.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.7NOK 496
$52.2NOK 492
0.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124NOK 1,172
$113NOK 1,065
10.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158NOK 1,485
$182NOK 1,711
-13.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,496NOK 14.1K
$1,257NOK 11.8K
18.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236NOK 11.6K
$1,038NOK 9,785
19.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,253NOK 21.2K
$1,609NOK 15.2K
39.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,690NOK 15.9K
$1,388NOK 13.1K
21.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,555NOK 61.8K
$6,265NOK 59.0K
4.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,105NOK 48.1K
$4,159NOK 39.2K
22.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,338NOK 40.9K
$2,721NOK 25.6K
59.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.32
5.18
2.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Trondheim: September 12, 2026
Last update for Sarpsborg: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,496 in Trondheim and $1,257 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: $110 in Trondheim vs $107 in Sarpsborg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $517 vs $486 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 7% 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 in Sarpsborg?
Average pay runs 59% 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Trondheim compared to Sarpsborg?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,496 in Trondheim versus $1,257 in Sarpsborg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Trondheim compared to Sarpsborg?
A monthly transit pass in Sarpsborg runs roughly 32% 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 in Sarpsborg?
Childcare runs $304 in Trondheim versus $253 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 in 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 $2,802 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 7% less than in Trondheim. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.