A method for producing an ester compound including reacting a compound having at least one cyclic structure of a norbornene ring and a norbornadiene ring with an alcohol and carbon monoxide by using a palladium catalyst and an oxidizing agent, to thereby introduce ester groups to carbon atoms forming a double bond in the cyclic structure and obtain the ester compound, wherein the palladium catalyst comprises a palladium complex having a bipyridyl as a ligand.