Cost of Living Comparison Between Bergen and Bodo Cost of Living Comparison Between Bergen and Bodo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,650 in Bergen versus $2,307 in Bodo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,988 in Bergen versus $3,622 in Bodo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,327 in Bergen versus $4,936 in Bodo.

Living in Bergen is roughly 15% more expensive than in Bodo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bergen 98% above, Bodo 73% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bergen
Bodo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.72 NOK 248
$19.10 NOK 184
34.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$103 NOK 994
$101 NOK 972
2.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$19.51 NOK 188
$15.87 NOK 153
22.94%
Cappuccino
$5.42 NOK 52.3
$5.80 NOK 55.9
-6.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 NOK 30.86
$3.62 NOK 34.86
-11.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 NOK 27.90
$2.96 NOK 28.54
-2.36%
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 94.3
$10.61 NOK 102
-7.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bergen
Bodo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.65 NOK 25.56
$2.22 NOK 21.45
19.37%
White Bread (500g)
$3.28 NOK 31.62
$2.83 NOK 27.30
15.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.88 NOK 27.80
$3.22 NOK 31.06
-10.56%
Eggs
$4.90 NOK 47.29
$4.67 NOK 44.99
4.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.20 NOK 137
$12.24 NOK 118
16.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.06 NOK 155
$16.55 NOK 160
-2.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$28.21 NOK 272
$15.96 NOK 154
76.75%
Apples (1kg)
$3.94 NOK 38.03
$3.07 NOK 29.60
28.34%
Banana (1kg)
$2.96 NOK 28.55
$2.31 NOK 22.31
28.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.75 NOK 36.21
$3.01 NOK 29.05
24.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.62 NOK 54.2
$5.61 NOK 54.1
0.18%
Potato (1kg)
$2.73 NOK 26.32
$2.55 NOK 24.58
7.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.91 NOK 28.07
$2.58 NOK 24.93
12.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.80 NOK 27.03
$3.66 NOK 35.25
-23.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 NOK 20.66
$2.12 NOK 20.47
0.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$16.95 NOK 163
$14.36 NOK 139
18.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.26 NOK 166
$19.32 NOK 186
-10.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.30 NOK 31.84
$3.09 NOK 29.76
6.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 NOK 42.22
$3.77 NOK 36.39
16.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Bergen
Bodo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.47 NOK 43.12
$4.38 NOK 42.20
2.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$81.2 NOK 783
$53.4 NOK 515
52.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$15.23 NOK 147
$9.23 NOK 89.0
65.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.25 NOK 21.68
$1.41 NOK 13.56
59.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$72.5 NOK 700
$46.43 NOK 448
56.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.13 NOK 20.53
$2.13 NOK 20.56
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K NOK 340.8K
$35.7K NOK 344.4K
-1.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.1K NOK 415.5K
$37.8K NOK 364.1K
14.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bergen
Bodo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$242 NOK 2,336
$143 NOK 1,379
69.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.51 NOK 371
$24.74 NOK 239
55.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.7 NOK 624
$62.7 NOK 605
3.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bergen
Bodo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.9 NOK 520
$48.17 NOK 464
11.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.36 NOK 389
$35.10 NOK 338
14.99%
Cinema Ticket
$20.20 NOK 195
$13.41 NOK 129
50.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bergen
Bodo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$286 NOK 2,756
$389 NOK 3,749
-26.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K NOK 121.1K
$10.2K NOK 97.9K
23.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bergen
Bodo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.1 NOK 878
$71.6 NOK 690
27.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.5 NOK 535
$52.3 NOK 505
6.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 NOK 1,072
$107 NOK 1,029
4.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 NOK 1,401
$153 NOK 1,479
-5.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bergen
Bodo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 NOK 12.4K
$977 NOK 9,420
31.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$976 NOK 9,408
$909 NOK 8,767
7.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,019 NOK 19.5K
$2,103 NOK 20.3K
-3.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,558 NOK 15.0K
$1,643 NOK 15.8K
-5.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,575 NOK 73.0K
$6,187 NOK 59.7K
22.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,645 NOK 44.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bergen
Bodo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,344 NOK 41.9K
$3,413 NOK 32.9K
27.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.85
3.8
27.63%

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

Last update for Bergen: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bodo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,284 in Bergen and $977 in Bodo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bergen pays 27% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $103 in Bergen vs $101 in Bodo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $489 vs $433 per month, with Bodo cheaper across the board.

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 Bodo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bodo cheaper than Bergen?
Bodo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Bergen or Bodo?
Average pay runs 27% higher in Bergen, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Bergen and Bodo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,284 in Bergen versus $977 in Bodo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $286 in Bergen versus $389 in Bodo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Bergen and in Bodo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Bergen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Bergen or in Bodo?
At $2,307 in Bodo versus $2,650 in Bergen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bodo but tight or insufficient in Bergen. The gap between the two cities makes Bodo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Bergen or Bodo more family-friendly?
For families, Bodo is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Bergen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Bergen or Bodo?
Safety-wise, Bergen and Bodo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Bodo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Bergen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Bergen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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