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