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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,605 per month in Bergen vs $2,242 in Alesund, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,923 per month in Bergen vs $3,326 in Alesund, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,240 per month in Bergen vs $4,409 in Alesund, rent included.

Bergen costs about 16% more than Alesund, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Bergen and Alesund sit above the global median – Bergen by 94%, Alesund by 67%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bergen
Alesund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.78 NOK 240
$19.85 NOK 184
29.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 NOK 931
$85.4 NOK 794
17.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$18.96 NOK 176
$12.95 NOK 120
46.41%
Cappuccino
$5.36 NOK 49.82
$3.95 NOK 36.66
35.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 NOK 29.86
$2.02 NOK 18.79
58.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 NOK 28.14
$2.19 NOK 20.32
38.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.53 NOK 107
$10.94 NOK 102
5.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.67 NOK 89.8
$9.25 NOK 85.9
4.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bergen
Alesund
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.64 NOK 24.50
$2.39 NOK 22.22
10.46%
White Bread (500g)
$3.36 NOK 31.20
$2.95 NOK 27.39
13.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.90 NOK 26.92
$2.89 NOK 26.82
0.35%
Eggs
$5.11 NOK 47.45
$3.99 NOK 37.02
28.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.96 NOK 130
$14.13 NOK 131
-1.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.06 NOK 149
$13.66 NOK 127
17.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$28.05 NOK 261
$22.52 NOK 209
24.56%
Apples (1kg)
$3.75 NOK 34.84
$2.74 NOK 25.45
36.86%
Banana (1kg)
$2.94 NOK 27.29
$2.33 NOK 21.63
26.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.61 NOK 33.56
$2.16 NOK 20.09
67.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.52 NOK 51.3
$3.68 NOK 34.19
50.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.72 NOK 25.24
$2.69 NOK 24.96
1.12%
Onion (1kg)
$2.77 NOK 25.73
$1.73 NOK 16.05
60.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.85 NOK 26.45
$2.80 NOK 26.05
1.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 NOK 19.95
$2.14 NOK 19.89
0.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$16.93 NOK 157
$13.59 NOK 126
24.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 NOK 171
$18.84 NOK 175
-2.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.35 NOK 31.08
$3.28 NOK 30.49
2.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.27 NOK 39.68
$4.24 NOK 39.40
0.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Bergen
Alesund
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.56 NOK 42.40
$4.53 NOK 42.09
0.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 NOK 748
$65.5 NOK 609
22.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$15.36 NOK 143
$12.10 NOK 112
26.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.28 NOK 21.15
$2.07 NOK 19.26
10.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$72.7 NOK 675
$73.6 NOK 684
-1.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.16 NOK 20.11
$2.19 NOK 20.35
-1.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K NOK 325.2K
$36.0K NOK 334.2K
-2.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.6K NOK 404.7K
$43.3K NOK 402.3K
0.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bergen
Alesund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$238 NOK 2,207
$242 NOK 2,251
-1.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.16 NOK 355
$39.19 NOK 364
-2.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.1 NOK 595
$40.94 NOK 380
56.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bergen
Alesund
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.2 NOK 513
$58.0 NOK 539
-4.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.59 NOK 377
$29.85 NOK 277
35.98%
Cinema Ticket
$19.99 NOK 186
$17.00 NOK 158
17.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bergen
Alesund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$281 NOK 2,610
$266 NOK 2,468
5.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.9K NOK 120.1K
$2,461 NOK 22.9K
425.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bergen
Alesund
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.5 NOK 841
$84.1 NOK 781
7.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.0 NOK 510
$43.85 NOK 407
25.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 NOK 1,034
$110 NOK 1,022
1.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147 NOK 1,369
$136 NOK 1,264
8.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bergen
Alesund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,275 NOK 11.8K
$968 NOK 8,988
31.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$997 NOK 9,263
$782 NOK 7,262
27.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,004 NOK 18.6K
$1,384 NOK 12.9K
44.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,576 NOK 14.6K
$1,166 NOK 10.8K
35.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,998 NOK 74.3K
$4,672 NOK 43.4K
71.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,773 NOK 44.3K
$2,516 NOK 23.4K
89.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bergen
Alesund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,646 NOK 43.2K
$4,349 NOK 40.4K
6.83%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Alesund: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,275 in Bergen versus $968 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 7% 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 $100 in Bergen versus $85.0 in Alesund. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $490 vs $425 – 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 Alesund compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,605 in Bergen, $2,242 in Alesund – roughly 16% 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 $3,908 per month in Bergen and $3,363 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 $100 in Bergen and $85.0 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 $2,605 in Bergen and $2,242 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 $2,242, than in Bergen at $2,605. 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 $2,242 in Alesund to $2,605 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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