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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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