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Ask anyone who's just moved to Trondheim to study, and they'll tell you it's a cheap city to drink in. That's partly true, and partly a myth that costs new students real money in their first semester. Trondheim *can* be cheap — but only if you know which system you're operating in.
Unlike Oslo, where the price gap is mostly about geography, Trondheim is just as much about who you are as where you are. The city's student clubs run on an entirely different price level, locked behind membership and student ID, while the commercial bars downtown compete on completely different terms. Mix the two systems up, and you'll easily pay double what the person next to you is paying.
This guide covers both.
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The Golden Rule: Know the Line Between Student Club and Commercial Bar
The single biggest factor in what you'll pay in Trondheim isn't neighbourhood — it's whether the venue is a student-run club or a regular commercial bar. The student clubs around Samfundet, along with the venues in and around Gløshaugen and Moholt, typically run on significantly lower prices than the city centre, because they don't operate under the same commercial margin requirements.
Whether you get that price depends on access: a valid student ID or membership is usually required. This is different from Oslo, where "student discount" is mostly a one-off promotion at a single bar — in Trondheim, it's an entire parallel pricing system.
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The Cheapest Bars in Trondheim Right Now
Based on current PilsPosten data, these are the venues with the lowest prices in the city:
Under [X] kr/0.5L
[VENUE 1] *([Area])* — [X] kr [Short, honest description in the same tone as the rest of the site — no ad copy.]
[VENUE 2] *([Area])* — [X] kr [Short description.]
[VENUE 3] *([Area])* — [X] kr [Short description.]
[VENUE 4] *([Area])* — [X] kr [Short description.]
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Neighbourhoods Worth Knowing
Solsiden
The former industrial waterfront is now one of the city's densest clusters of bars, ideal for a pub crawl. Price levels vary a lot from venue to venue in the same block — some of the city's priciest cocktail bars sit right next to more affordable options. [VENUE] ([X] kr) and [VENUE] ([X] kr, happy hour [Y] kr) both sit below the area average.
Midtbyen & Nordre gate
The classic nightlife street, and still the heart of the city's nightlife. Location alone tells you little about price here — proper student pubs sit door to door with more polished venues. [VENUE] ([X] kr) is a reliable choice early in the evening.
Bakklandet
The colourful wooden houses make Bakklandet one of the most photographed neighbourhoods in the city, and it shows in the prices. Rarely the place to chase rock-bottom deals, but a good pick for atmosphere — especially early evening while the sun is still over the Nidelva river.
Gløshaugen & Moholt
Home to campus and a large share of student housing, and usually — alongside Samfundet — where the lowest prices in the city are found. The trade-off is the distance from the centre and the student ID requirement at most venues. [VENUE] ([X] kr, members only) is representative of the level here.
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Happy Hour: Your Biggest Lever
Even the pricier venues downtown become manageable during happy hour. In Trondheim, most windows run between 3pm and 7pm on weekdays, with discounts typically 20–40 kr off the standard price.
Some current standouts:
- [VENUE] ([Area]) — [X] kr during happy hour, [Y] kr otherwise. - [VENUE] ([Area]) — happy hour at [X] kr. - [VENUE] ([Area]) — drops to [X] kr between 3pm and 6pm.
The PilsPosten [happy hour tracker →](#) shows today's active deals in real time, so you don't have to guess.
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Where NOT to Drink on a Budget
This guide wouldn't be honest without a warning list.
The most photogenic stretches of Bakklandet — the charm comes at a price, usually well above the city average at venues with river views.
Cocktail bars on Solsiden — fine for a special occasion, brutal as a regular habit.
Trondheim Airport Værnes — mentioned only because people do it. Airport beer prices are among the highest in the region. Wait until you're in the city.
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A Practical Route: Budget Night Out in Trondheim
If you want to put this into practice, here's a simple route that keeps costs down across a full evening:
1. Start at Gløshaugen or near Samfundet (5pm) — catch student pricing early, around [X]–[Y] kr 2. Move to Midtbyen (7pm) — settle in for the main part of the evening, [X]–[Y] kr 3. Head to Solsiden or the city centre (10pm) — for the later hours, [X]–[Y] kr
Five pints across the evening at these prices: roughly [X] kr total. The same five pints at the priciest downtown venues: closer to [Y] kr.
Use [RoutePils →](#) to map the exact walking distance between stops.
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The Bottom Line
Trondheim is cheap if you know the system, and surprisingly expensive if you treat it like Oslo. The student clubs aren't a footnote — they're the whole point, and the commercial bars downtown compete on entirely different terms.
The city's cheapest pint right now is [X] kr. The city average sits at [Y] kr. The gap between those two numbers comes down almost entirely to whether you've got a student ID in your pocket.
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*Prices are tracked in real time on PilsPosten. Check the [Trondheim bar listings →](#) for current data before heading out — prices can change seasonally or without notice.*