Cost of Living Comparison Between Trondheim and Tonsberg Cost of Living Comparison Between Trondheim and Tonsberg

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,769 per month in Trondheim vs $2,542 in Tonsberg, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,199 per month in Trondheim vs $3,649 in Tonsberg, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,628 per month in Trondheim vs $4,756 in Tonsberg, rent included.

Trondheim costs about 9% more than Tonsberg, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Trondheim and Tonsberg sit above the global median – Trondheim by 107%, Tonsberg by 90%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Trondheim
Tonsberg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.24 NOK 207
$25.74 NOK 239
-13.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$120 NOK 1,120
$101 NOK 940
19.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.02 NOK 130
$13.93 NOK 130
0.65%
Cappuccino
$4.76 NOK 44.30
$4.88 NOK 45.42
-2.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62 NOK 33.68
$5.42 NOK 50.4
-33.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 NOK 27.86
$4.99 NOK 46.45
-39.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$10.48 NOK 97.5
$10.14 NOK 94.3
3.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.60 NOK 108
$9.39 NOK 87.4
23.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trondheim
Tonsberg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.52 NOK 23.44
$2.28 NOK 21.18
10.53%
White Bread (500g)
$3.46 NOK 32.19
$3.26 NOK 30.33
6.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.86 NOK 35.89
$3.30 NOK 30.71
16.97%
Eggs
$4.45 NOK 41.37
$4.27 NOK 39.74
4.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.26 NOK 114
$12.26 NOK 114
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.12 NOK 141
$14.50 NOK 135
4.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$28.16 NOK 262
$28.42 NOK 264
-0.91%
Apples (1kg)
$3.90 NOK 36.27
$3.61 NOK 33.55
8.03%
Banana (1kg)
$2.86 NOK 26.62
$2.45 NOK 22.83
16.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.63 NOK 24.44
$3.28 NOK 30.46
-19.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.28 NOK 49.08
$4.43 NOK 41.20
19.19%
Potato (1kg)
$3.02 NOK 28.12
$2.39 NOK 22.21
26.36%
Onion (1kg)
$3.35 NOK 31.13
$2.55 NOK 23.69
31.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.14 NOK 29.23
$2.88 NOK 26.75
9.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 NOK 23.43
$1.86 NOK 17.28
35.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.30 NOK 142
$15.24 NOK 142
0.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.44 NOK 172
$16.36 NOK 152
12.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.70 NOK 34.38
$3.35 NOK 31.15
10.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.70 NOK 43.74
$4.16 NOK 38.65
12.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Trondheim
Tonsberg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.60 NOK 42.76
$4.29 NOK 39.88
7.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$94.2 NOK 876
$73.0 NOK 679
28.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$15.28 NOK 142
$10.28 NOK 95.6
48.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.25 NOK 20.94
$1.40 NOK 12.97
60.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$89.5 NOK 832
$47.03 NOK 437
90.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.16 NOK 20.13
$1.98 NOK 18.41
9.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.6K NOK 294.2K
$35.1K NOK 326.8K
-9.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.2K NOK 392.6K
$38.4K NOK 356.7K
10.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trondheim
Tonsberg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$323 NOK 3,000
$239 NOK 2,226
34.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.66 NOK 397
$38.05 NOK 354
12.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.3 NOK 691
$55.8 NOK 519
33.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trondheim
Tonsberg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.93 NOK 390
$49.84 NOK 464
-15.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.26 NOK 430
$35.95 NOK 334
28.68%
Cinema Ticket
$17.54 NOK 163
$16.68 NOK 155
5.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trondheim
Tonsberg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$328 NOK 3,054
$286 NOK 2,659
14.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,586 NOK 79.9K
$9,999 NOK 93.0K
-14.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trondheim
Tonsberg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110 NOK 1,023
$94.9 NOK 882
15.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.72 NOK 444
$52.7 NOK 490
-9.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 NOK 1,170
$108 NOK 1,005
16.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132 NOK 1,230
$152 NOK 1,413
-13.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trondheim
Tonsberg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,377 NOK 12.8K
$1,210 NOK 11.3K
13.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,077 NOK 10.0K
$924 NOK 8,595
16.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,227 NOK 20.7K
$1,426 NOK 13.3K
56.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,686 NOK 15.7K
$1,224 NOK 11.4K
37.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,271 NOK 58.3K
$5,488 NOK 51.0K
14.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,863 NOK 45.2K
$4,639 NOK 43.1K
4.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trondheim
Tonsberg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,445 NOK 41.3K
$4,643 NOK 43.2K
-4.26%
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 Tonsberg: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,377 in Trondheim versus $1,210 in Tonsberg. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 4% higher in Tonsberg, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $120 in Trondheim versus $101 in Tonsberg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $487 vs $452 – making Tonsberg the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Tonsberg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tonsberg cheaper than Trondheim?
Yes – Trondheim is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,153 per month in Trondheim and $3,813 in Tonsberg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tonsberg, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $328 per month in Trondheim and $286 in Tonsberg. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Trondheim and Tonsberg?
Groceries cost about 8% more in Trondheim, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Trondheim or Tonsberg?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,769 in Trondheim and $2,542 in Tonsberg. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Trondheim or Tonsberg more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tonsberg – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Trondheim or Tonsberg?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Tonsberg. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Trondheim makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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