😐A single person spends $2,748 per month in Trondheim vs $2,498 in Tonsberg, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,158 per month in Trondheim vs $3,682 in Tonsberg, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,569 per month in Trondheim vs $4,866 in Tonsberg, rent included.
😐Trondheim costs about 10% more than Tonsberg, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Trondheim and Tonsberg sit above the global median – Trondheim by 105%, Tonsberg by 86%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Trondheim
Tonsberg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.17NOK 210
$25.57NOK 242
-13.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122NOK 1,157
$101NOK 955
21.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.43NOK 136
$13.53NOK 128
6.65%
Cappuccino
$4.84NOK 45.79
$4.83NOK 45.65
0.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58NOK 33.88
$5.42NOK 51.2
-33.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91NOK 27.49
$4.97NOK 46.94
-41.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.67NOK 101
$10.21NOK 96.5
4.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.42NOK 108
$9.46NOK 89.5
20.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trondheim
Tonsberg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.60NOK 24.62
$2.22NOK 20.96
17.12%
White Bread(500g)
$3.50NOK 33.06
$3.30NOK 31.24
6.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.84NOK 36.33
$3.18NOK 30.10
20.75%
Eggs
$4.43NOK 41.88
$4.27NOK 40.36
3.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.20NOK 115
$11.82NOK 112
3.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.90NOK 141
$14.84NOK 140
0.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.82NOK 272
$28.32NOK 268
1.77%
Apples(1kg)
$3.85NOK 36.44
$3.42NOK 32.36
12.57%
Banana(1kg)
$2.95NOK 27.85
$2.39NOK 22.58
23.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.64NOK 24.92
$3.43NOK 32.41
-23.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.18NOK 48.95
$4.52NOK 42.77
14.60%
Potato(1kg)
$2.89NOK 27.35
$2.47NOK 23.33
17.00%
Onion(1kg)
$3.28NOK 31.02
$2.57NOK 24.30
27.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.17NOK 29.93
$2.80NOK 26.43
13.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.39NOK 22.58
$1.83NOK 17.32
30.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.01NOK 142
$14.98NOK 142
0.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.82NOK 178
$17.98NOK 170
4.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.84NOK 36.28
$3.45NOK 32.66
11.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67NOK 44.13
$4.08NOK 38.56
14.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Trondheim
Tonsberg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.65NOK 43.96
$4.16NOK 39.34
11.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$91.3NOK 863
$72.2NOK 683
26.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.44NOK 146
$10.26NOK 97.0
50.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.28NOK 21.52
$1.44NOK 13.64
58.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$87.6NOK 828
$46.58NOK 440
88.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.17NOK 20.50
$2.09NOK 19.79
3.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KNOK 302.5K
$36.1KNOK 341.6K
-11.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.8KNOK 395.0K
$37.9KNOK 358.5K
10.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trondheim
Tonsberg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$317NOK 3,000
$243NOK 2,295
30.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.17NOK 408
$39.09NOK 370
10.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.4NOK 712
$55.2NOK 522
36.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trondheim
Tonsberg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.29NOK 400
$49.50NOK 468
-14.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.17NOK 436
$36.01NOK 340
28.21%
Cinema Ticket
$17.30NOK 164
$16.61NOK 157
4.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trondheim
Tonsberg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$326NOK 3,084
$283NOK 2,678
15.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,458NOK 80.0K
$10.0KNOK 94.8K
-15.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trondheim
Tonsberg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113NOK 1,070
$95.5NOK 903
18.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.03NOK 454
$51.4NOK 486
-6.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$130NOK 1,227
$106NOK 1,005
22.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132NOK 1,251
$151NOK 1,430
-12.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trondheim
Tonsberg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,407NOK 13.3K
$1,219NOK 11.5K
15.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,080NOK 10.2K
$954NOK 9,015
13.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,208NOK 20.9K
$1,443NOK 13.6K
52.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,702NOK 16.1K
$1,222NOK 11.6K
39.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,371NOK 60.2K
$5,966NOK 56.4K
6.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,083NOK 48.1K
$4,341NOK 41.0K
17.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trondheim
Tonsberg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,336NOK 41.0K
$4,692NOK 44.4K
-7.58%
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 1, 2026
Last update for Tonsberg: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,407 in Trondheim versus $1,219 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 8% 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 $122 in Trondheim versus $101 in Tonsberg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $488 vs $455 – 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 10%, 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 $4,122 per month in Trondheim and $3,747 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 $326 per month in Trondheim and $283 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 7% 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 $2,748 in Trondheim and $2,498 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.