Cost of Living Comparison Between Alesund and Bethlehem, PA Cost of Living Comparison Between Alesund and Bethlehem, PA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,215 per month in Alesund vs $2,739 in Bethlehem, PA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,317 per month in Alesund vs $3,814 in Bethlehem, PA, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,418 per month in Alesund vs $4,888 in Bethlehem, PA, rent included.

Alesund is about 19% cheaper than Bethlehem, PA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Alesund and Bethlehem, PA sit above the global median – Alesund by 66%, Bethlehem, PA by 105%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.27 NOK 195

$17.81 $17.81

13.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$87.7 NOK 845

$50.6 $50.6

73.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.72 NOK 122

$13.09 $13.09

-2.83%

Cappuccino

$3.94 NOK 37.90

$5.07 $5.07

-22.29%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 NOK 19.28

$2.92 $2.92

-31.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 NOK 21.82

$1.95 $1.95

16.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$11.20 NOK 108

$5.30 $5.30

111.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.93 NOK 86.0

$7.98 $7.98

11.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.43 NOK 23.40

$1.08 $1.08

125.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.91 NOK 28.07

$4.05 $4.05

-28.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.82 NOK 27.12

$4.37 $4.37

-35.47%

Eggs

$3.94 NOK 37.98

$4.13 $4.13

-4.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.23 NOK 137

$12.29 $12.29

15.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.33 NOK 128

$16.82 $16.82

-20.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.52 NOK 217

$21.39 $21.39

5.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 NOK 27.57

$11.79 $11.79

-75.74%

Banana (1kg)

$2.40 NOK 23.08

$1.34 $1.34

79.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.23 NOK 21.45

$4.54 $4.54

-50.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.48 NOK 33.56

$7.13 $7.13

-51.19%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 NOK 26.13

$5.38 $5.38

-49.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.79 NOK 17.24

$2.81 $2.81

-36.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 NOK 27.60

$2.80 $2.80

2.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 NOK 19.67

$1.90 $1.90

7.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.04 NOK 135

$9.93 $9.93

41.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.23 NOK 166

$16.19 $16.19

6.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.30 NOK 31.74

$4.25 $4.25

-22.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 NOK 38.86

$5.05 $5.05

-20.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.49 NOK 43.20

$2.04 $2.04

120.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.9 NOK 635

$59.1 $59.1

11.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$12.11 NOK 117

$3.41 $3.41

255.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.18 NOK 21.01

$1.57 $1.57

38.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$73.7 NOK 710

$29.07 $29.07

153.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.17 NOK 20.93

$0.87 $0.87

149.43%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.9K NOK 345.8K

$29.9K $29.9K

20.27%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$43.8K NOK 421.4K

$25.4K $25.4K

72.35%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$240 NOK 2,312

$224 $224

7.36%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$39.04 NOK 376

$63.6 $63.6

-38.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.85 NOK 384

$61.3 $61.3

-35.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.3 NOK 552

$36.51 $36.51

56.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.76 NOK 296

Cinema Ticket

$17.47 NOK 168

$15.22 $15.22

14.78%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$268 NOK 2,577

$1,019 $1,019

-73.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,464 NOK 23.7K

$23.8K $23.8K

-89.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.4 NOK 822

$54.5 $54.5

56.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.17 NOK 425

$29.67 $29.67

48.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 NOK 1,060

$65.7 $65.7

67.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 NOK 1,298

$80.0 $80.0

68.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$944 NOK 9,093

$1,490 $1,490

-36.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$794 NOK 7,645

$1,305 $1,305

-39.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,396 NOK 13.4K

$2,109 $2,109

-33.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,144 NOK 11.0K

$1,985 $1,985

-42.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,409 NOK 42.5K

$2,158 $2,158

104.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,429 NOK 23.4K

$2,171 $2,171

11.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,120 NOK 39.7K

$3,583 $3,583

14.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.03

6.62

-39.12%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Alesund: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bethlehem, PA: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $944 in Alesund versus $1,490 in Bethlehem, PA. 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 15% higher in Alesund, 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 $88.0 in Alesund versus $51.0 in Bethlehem, PA. Groceries tell a different story – $419 in Alesund vs $511 in Bethlehem, PA – so Alesund wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Alesund vs Bethlehem, PA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,215 in Alesund, $2,739 in Bethlehem, PA – roughly 24% apart. Bethlehem, PA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,323 per month in Alesund and $4,109 in Bethlehem, PA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Alesund, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Alesund and $51.0 in Bethlehem, PA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,215 in Alesund and $2,739 in Bethlehem, PA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Alesund, where all-in costs run around $2,215, than in Bethlehem, PA at $2,739. In Alesund it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bethlehem, PA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Alesund has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,215 in Alesund to $2,739 in Bethlehem, PA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Alesund. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bethlehem, PA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.