😐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: Trondheim107% above, Sarpsborg91% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.39NOK 213
$37.65NOK 357
-40.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$119NOK 1,131
$92.3NOK 876
29.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.04NOK 133
$18.53NOK 176
-24.23%
Cappuccino
$4.72NOK 44.83
$5.28NOK 50.1
-10.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62NOK 34.35
$2.68NOK 25.40
35.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94NOK 27.88
$2.60NOK 24.70
13.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.68NOK 101
$5.89NOK 55.9
81.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.73NOK 111
$7.79NOK 73.9
50.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.64NOK 25.03
$2.26NOK 21.41
16.81%
White Bread(500g)
$3.52NOK 33.36
$3.29NOK 31.18
6.99%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.96NOK 37.59
$3.14NOK 29.85
26.11%
Eggs
$4.56NOK 43.28
$4.37NOK 41.52
4.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.35NOK 117
$11.93NOK 113
3.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.21NOK 144
$14.93NOK 142
1.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.37NOK 269
$28.14NOK 267
0.82%
Apples(1kg)
$3.78NOK 35.84
$3.60NOK 34.19
5.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.83NOK 26.84
$2.47NOK 23.46
14.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.64NOK 25.01
$3.32NOK 31.54
-20.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.31NOK 50.4
$4.35NOK 41.26
22.07%
Potato(1kg)
$2.87NOK 27.27
$2.48NOK 23.58
15.73%
Onion(1kg)
$3.18NOK 30.19
$2.49NOK 23.67
27.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.24NOK 30.73
$2.78NOK 26.37
16.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52NOK 23.97
$1.82NOK 17.24
38.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.32NOK 145
$15.31NOK 145
0.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.36NOK 174
$19.10NOK 181
-3.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.72NOK 35.28
$3.40NOK 32.24
9.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.83NOK 45.88
$3.99NOK 37.88
21.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.75NOK 45.11
$2.47NOK 23.40
92.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$93.7NOK 889
$74.1NOK 703
26.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$14.89NOK 141
$10.15NOK 96.3
46.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19NOK 20.78
$1.40NOK 13.30
56.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$87.8NOK 833
$45.99NOK 437
90.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.22NOK 21.08
$2.14NOK 20.32
3.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KNOK 306.0K
$36.1KNOK 342.9K
-10.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.5KNOK 403.0K
$38.6KNOK 366.1K
10.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$328NOK 3,118
$238NOK 2,263
37.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.15NOK 410
$38.10NOK 362
13.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.0NOK 712
$56.1NOK 532
33.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.27NOK 401
$50.1NOK 476
-15.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.32NOK 440
$36.13NOK 343
28.20%
Cinema Ticket
$17.14NOK 163
$16.31NOK 155
5.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$322NOK 3,059
$284NOK 2,692
13.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,553NOK 81.2K
$10.1KNOK 95.8K
-15.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113NOK 1,076
$97.6NOK 926
16.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.89NOK 455
$52.8NOK 501
-9.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$126NOK 1,195
$109NOK 1,033
15.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134NOK 1,269
$150NOK 1,421
-10.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,396NOK 13.2K
$1,209NOK 11.5K
15.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,055NOK 10.0K
$903NOK 8,572
16.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,233NOK 21.2K
$1,492NOK 14.2K
49.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,689NOK 16.0K
$1,319NOK 12.5K
28.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,157NOK 58.4K
$6,022NOK 57.2K
2.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,848NOK 46.0K
$4,474NOK 42.5K
8.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trondheim
Sarpsborg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,264NOK 40.5K
$2,685NOK 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.