Cost of Living Comparison Between Bergen and Fredrikstad Cost of Living Comparison Between Bergen and Fredrikstad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,650 in Bergen versus $2,682 in Fredrikstad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,988 in Bergen versus $4,010 in Fredrikstad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,327 in Bergen versus $5,338 in Fredrikstad.

Living in Bergen costs roughly 1% less than in Fredrikstad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bergen 98% above, Fredrikstad 101% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bergen
Fredrikstad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.72 NOK 248
$17.97 NOK 173
43.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$103 NOK 994
$114 NOK 1,094
-9.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$19.51 NOK 188
$11.91 NOK 115
63.81%
Cappuccino
$5.42 NOK 52.3
$5.34 NOK 51.5
1.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 NOK 30.86
$3.97 NOK 38.25
-19.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 NOK 27.90
$2.74 NOK 26.47
5.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.82 NOK 114
$11.01 NOK 106
7.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.78 NOK 94.3
$10.29 NOK 99.3
-4.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bergen
Fredrikstad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.65 NOK 25.56
$2.19 NOK 21.09
21.00%
White Bread (500g)
$3.28 NOK 31.62
$4.25 NOK 41.02
-22.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.88 NOK 27.80
$3.27 NOK 31.54
-11.93%
Eggs
$4.90 NOK 47.29
$5.22 NOK 50.4
-6.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.20 NOK 137
$11.78 NOK 114
20.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.06 NOK 155
$16.02 NOK 155
0.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$28.21 NOK 272
$34.17 NOK 330
-17.44%
Apples (1kg)
$3.94 NOK 38.03
$4.51 NOK 43.50
-12.64%
Banana (1kg)
$2.96 NOK 28.55
$3.52 NOK 33.95
-15.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.75 NOK 36.21
$4.50 NOK 43.39
-16.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.62 NOK 54.2
$5.04 NOK 48.63
11.51%
Potato (1kg)
$2.73 NOK 26.32
$2.75 NOK 26.52
-0.73%
Onion (1kg)
$2.91 NOK 28.07
$2.66 NOK 25.64
9.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.80 NOK 27.03
$2.64 NOK 25.50
6.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 NOK 20.66
$1.85 NOK 17.81
15.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$16.95 NOK 163
$14.87 NOK 143
13.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.26 NOK 166
$21.86 NOK 211
-21.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.30 NOK 31.84
$3.43 NOK 33.04
-3.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 NOK 42.22
$6.11 NOK 59.0
-28.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Bergen
Fredrikstad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.47 NOK 43.12
$3.87 NOK 37.35
15.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$81.2 NOK 783
$63.7 NOK 614
27.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$15.23 NOK 147
$6.22 NOK 60.0
144.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.25 NOK 21.68
$1.46 NOK 14.04
54.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$72.5 NOK 700
$52.3 NOK 504
38.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.13 NOK 20.53
$2.27 NOK 21.93
-6.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K NOK 340.8K
$35.1K NOK 338.3K
0.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.1K NOK 415.5K
$39.1K NOK 377.0K
10.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bergen
Fredrikstad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$242 NOK 2,336
$339 NOK 3,272
-28.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.51 NOK 371
$37.93 NOK 366
1.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.7 NOK 624
$57.0 NOK 550
13.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bergen
Fredrikstad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.9 NOK 520
$48.85 NOK 471
10.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.36 NOK 389
$39.15 NOK 377
3.09%
Cinema Ticket
$20.20 NOK 195
$22.16 NOK 214
-8.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bergen
Fredrikstad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$286 NOK 2,756
$284 NOK 2,737
0.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K NOK 121.1K
$10.2K NOK 98.3K
23.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bergen
Fredrikstad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.1 NOK 878
$154 NOK 1,484
-40.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.5 NOK 535
$60.2 NOK 581
-7.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 NOK 1,072
$166 NOK 1,605
-33.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 NOK 1,401
$133 NOK 1,279
9.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bergen
Fredrikstad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 NOK 12.4K
$1,266 NOK 12.2K
1.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$976 NOK 9,408
$943 NOK 9,096
3.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,019 NOK 19.5K
$2,100 NOK 20.3K
-3.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,558 NOK 15.0K
$1,541 NOK 14.9K
1.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,575 NOK 73.0K
$5,874 NOK 56.6K
28.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,645 NOK 44.8K
$3,915 NOK 37.8K
18.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bergen
Fredrikstad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,344 NOK 41.9K
$3,227 NOK 31.1K
34.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.85
4.25
14.12%

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

Last update for Bergen: July 12, 2026

Last update for Fredrikstad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,284 in Bergen and $1,266 in Fredrikstad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bergen pays 35% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $103 in Bergen vs $114 in Fredrikstad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $489 vs $523 per month, with Bergen 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 Fredrikstad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fredrikstad cheaper than Bergen?
Bergen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Bergen or Fredrikstad?
Average pay runs 35% 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 Fredrikstad?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,284 in Bergen versus $1,266 in Fredrikstad. 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 $284 in Fredrikstad. 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 Fredrikstad?
Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Fredrikstad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Bergen or in Fredrikstad?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Bergen is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Bergen or Fredrikstad more family-friendly?
For families, Bergen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Fredrikstad, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Bergen or Fredrikstad?
Safety-wise, Bergen and Fredrikstad 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 Bergen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Fredrikstad. 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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