Cost of Living Comparison Between Bergen and Alesund Cost of Living Comparison Between Bergen and Alesund

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,650 per month in Bergen vs $2,215 in Alesund, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,988 per month in Bergen vs $3,317 in Alesund, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,327 per month in Bergen vs $4,418 in Alesund, rent included.

Bergen costs about 20% more than Alesund, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Bergen and Alesund sit above the global median – Bergen by 98%, Alesund by 66%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bergen
Alesund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.72 NOK 248
$20.27 NOK 195
26.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$103 NOK 993
$87.7 NOK 845
17.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$19.51 NOK 188
$12.72 NOK 122
53.38%
Cappuccino
$5.42 NOK 52.2
$3.94 NOK 37.90
37.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 NOK 30.82
$2.00 NOK 19.28
60.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 NOK 27.87
$2.27 NOK 21.82
27.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.82 NOK 114
$11.20 NOK 108
5.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.78 NOK 94.2
$8.93 NOK 86.0
9.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bergen
Alesund
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.65 NOK 25.54
$2.43 NOK 23.40
9.05%
White Bread (500g)
$3.28 NOK 31.58
$2.91 NOK 28.07
12.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.88 NOK 27.77
$2.82 NOK 27.12
2.13%
Eggs
$4.90 NOK 47.23
$3.94 NOK 37.98
24.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.20 NOK 137
$14.23 NOK 137
-0.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.06 NOK 155
$13.33 NOK 128
20.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$28.21 NOK 272
$22.52 NOK 217
25.27%
Apples (1kg)
$3.94 NOK 37.99
$2.86 NOK 27.57
37.76%
Banana (1kg)
$2.96 NOK 28.52
$2.40 NOK 23.08
23.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.75 NOK 36.17
$2.23 NOK 21.45
68.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.62 NOK 54.2
$3.48 NOK 33.56
61.49%
Potato (1kg)
$2.73 NOK 26.29
$2.71 NOK 26.13
0.74%
Onion (1kg)
$2.91 NOK 28.04
$1.79 NOK 17.24
62.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.80 NOK 27.00
$2.87 NOK 27.60
-2.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 NOK 20.64
$2.04 NOK 19.67
4.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$16.95 NOK 163
$14.04 NOK 135
20.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.26 NOK 166
$17.23 NOK 166
0.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.30 NOK 31.80
$3.30 NOK 31.74
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 NOK 42.18
$4.03 NOK 38.86
8.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Bergen
Alesund
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.47 NOK 43.07
$4.49 NOK 43.20
-0.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$81.2 NOK 783
$65.9 NOK 635
23.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$15.23 NOK 147
$12.11 NOK 117
25.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.25 NOK 21.66
$2.18 NOK 21.01
3.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$72.5 NOK 699
$73.7 NOK 710
-1.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.13 NOK 20.51
$2.17 NOK 20.93
-1.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K NOK 340.4K
$35.9K NOK 345.8K
-1.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.1K NOK 415.0K
$43.8K NOK 421.4K
-1.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bergen
Alesund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$242 NOK 2,333
$240 NOK 2,312
0.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.51 NOK 371
$39.04 NOK 376
-1.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.7 NOK 623
$39.85 NOK 384
62.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bergen
Alesund
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.9 NOK 520
$57.3 NOK 552
-5.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.36 NOK 389
$30.76 NOK 296
31.21%
Cinema Ticket
$20.20 NOK 195
$17.47 NOK 168
15.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bergen
Alesund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$286 NOK 2,753
$268 NOK 2,577
6.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K NOK 121.0K
$2,464 NOK 23.7K
409.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bergen
Alesund
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.1 NOK 878
$85.4 NOK 822
6.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.5 NOK 535
$44.17 NOK 425
25.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 NOK 1,071
$110 NOK 1,060
1.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 NOK 1,400
$135 NOK 1,298
7.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bergen
Alesund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 NOK 12.4K
$944 NOK 9,093
35.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$976 NOK 9,397
$794 NOK 7,645
22.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,019 NOK 19.4K
$1,396 NOK 13.4K
44.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,558 NOK 15.0K
$1,144 NOK 11.0K
36.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,575 NOK 73.0K
$4,409 NOK 42.5K
71.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,645 NOK 44.7K
$2,429 NOK 23.4K
91.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bergen
Alesund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,344 NOK 41.8K
$4,120 NOK 39.7K
5.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.85
4.03
20.35%

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

Last update for Bergen: July 12, 2026

Last update for Alesund: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,284 in Bergen versus $944 in Alesund. 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 5% higher in Bergen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $103 in Bergen versus $88.0 in Alesund. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $489 vs $419 – making Alesund 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
Bergen vs Alesund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Bergen and in Alesund compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,650 in Bergen, $2,215 in Alesund – roughly 20% apart. Bergen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Bergen compared to Alesund?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,975 per month in Bergen and $3,323 in Alesund. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Bergen and Alesund?
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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $103 in Bergen and $88.0 in Alesund. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bergen or Alesund?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,650 in Bergen and $2,215 in Alesund. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Alesund, where all-in costs run around $2,215, than in Bergen at $2,650. In Alesund it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bergen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Bergen and Alesund?
It depends on your priorities. Bergen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,215 in Alesund to $2,650 in Bergen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Bergen or Alesund safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Bergen and Alesund?
If budget matters most, go with Alesund. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bergen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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