Ås vs Alesund
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Alesund is approximately 16% less expensive than Ås based on cost of living including rent. This makes Alesund a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Alesund has a FIRE Score of 64/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 66.65, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Alesund is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.
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Ås
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Alesund
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Alesund
Alesund is a small, safe, and walkable city where a single adult can live on a budget tier of $1,204/mo, and the 85/100 safety index and 15/100 crime index make it one of the easier Norwegian towns for newcomers to settle into. The rent math is strange: a 3-bedroom outside the center costs $1,639/mo while a 3-bedroom in the center runs just $1,140/mo, so families should look central rather than suburban. With an average net salary of $4,209/mo and a cost of living index of 84/100, Alesund is affordable by Norwegian standards, though the $4,400/mo family cost excluding rent will still sting. Choose it for the English proficiency, excellent healthcare, and 100 Mbps internet, not for big-city energy or a deep expat scene.
About Norway
Best for digital nomads thanks to its Independent Contractor Visa — one of few clear legal paths for remote workers in Europe. Safety Index of 67 and US Travel Advisory Level 1 mean crime rates far below most US metros, while healthcare is excellent (life expectancy 82.9 years) and English proficiency high. The catch: housing costs ($1,348 for a 1BR in city center) and a progressive tax up to 38.2% make it expensive, and the visa can lead to permanent residence.
Alesund costs roughly 0% less than Ås. Ås scores significantly higher on safety — worth weighing against the cost gap. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Alesund is approximately 16% less expensive than Ås based on cost of living including rent. This makes Alesund a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Alesund has a FIRE Score of 64/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 66.65, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Alesund is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.
About Ås
Ås is a small-town university address that prices like a real city, with a 1-bedroom in the center at $1,253/mo and a single person's monthly cost excluding rent at $1,250/mo. The 85/100 cost of living index and 85/100 safety index make it a comfortable, low-crime base, but a 67/100 overall expat score and a small expat community mean you are buying quiet, not company. The polar climate and 191 km distance to OSL are the honest trade-offs, and the Norway Svalbard Digital Nomad program's $2,251/mo income floor is steep for a place this far from an airport.
About Norway
Best for digital nomads thanks to its Independent Contractor Visa — one of few clear legal paths for remote workers in Europe. Safety Index of 67 and US Travel Advisory Level 1 mean crime rates far below most US metros, while healthcare is excellent (life expectancy 82.9 years) and English proficiency high. The catch: housing costs ($1,348 for a 1BR in city center) and a progressive tax up to 38.2% make it expensive, and the visa can lead to permanent residence.
$962/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Alesund
Alesund is a small, safe, and walkable city where a single adult can live on a budget tier of $1,204/mo, and the 85/100 safety index and 15/100 crime index make it one of the easier Norwegian towns for newcomers to settle into. The rent math is strange: a 3-bedroom outside the center costs $1,639/mo while a 3-bedroom in the center runs just $1,140/mo, so families should look central rather than suburban. With an average net salary of $4,209/mo and a cost of living index of 84/100, Alesund is affordable by Norwegian standards, though the $4,400/mo family cost excluding rent will still sting. Choose it for the English proficiency, excellent healthcare, and 100 Mbps internet, not for big-city energy or a deep expat scene.
About Norway
Best for digital nomads thanks to its Independent Contractor Visa — one of few clear legal paths for remote workers in Europe. Safety Index of 67 and US Travel Advisory Level 1 mean crime rates far below most US metros, while healthcare is excellent (life expectancy 82.9 years) and English proficiency high. The catch: housing costs ($1,348 for a 1BR in city center) and a progressive tax up to 38.2% make it expensive, and the visa can lead to permanent residence.
$1,113/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Ås | Alesund |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $1252.91 | $1080.85 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $835.27 | $784.49 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1879.37 | $1532.17 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $1800 | $1638.71 |
| Safety Index | 85 | 66.65 |
| Internet Speed | 95.3Mbps | 100Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Ås | Alesund |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $2,045/mo | $1,888/mo |
| Excluding rent | $1,210/mo | $1,104/mo |
| Rent | $835/mo | $784/mo |
| Groceries | $330/mo | $287/mo |
| Dining out | $220/mo | $209/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $158/mo | $145/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $502/mo | $375/mo |
| Transport | N/A | $88.00/mo |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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