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