Cost of Living Comparison Between Bergen and Narvik Cost of Living Comparison Between Bergen and Narvik

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,948 in Bergen versus $2,529 in Narvik.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,449 in Bergen versus $3,902 in Narvik.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,950 in Bergen versus $5,276 in Narvik.

Living in Bergen is roughly 17% more expensive than in Narvik, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bergen 115% above, Narvik 85% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bergen
Narvik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.70 NOK 233
$32.77 NOK 309
-24.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$139 NOK 1,311
$94.8 NOK 893
46.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.86 NOK 149
$15.78 NOK 149
0.51%
Cappuccino
$5.68 NOK 53.5
$5.11 NOK 48.15
11.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.31 NOK 50.0
$3.00 NOK 28.25
77.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 NOK 42.69
$2.89 NOK 27.21
56.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.85 NOK 121
$11.84 NOK 112
8.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.60 NOK 99.9
$12.26 NOK 116
-13.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bergen
Narvik
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.33 NOK 21.95
$2.52 NOK 23.75
-7.54%
White Bread (500g)
$3.90 NOK 36.77
$3.37 NOK 31.79
15.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.57 NOK 33.67
$2.72 NOK 25.63
31.25%
Eggs
$6.62 NOK 62.4
$5.38 NOK 50.7
23.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.02 NOK 142
$11.98 NOK 113
25.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.61 NOK 166
$15.25 NOK 144
15.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$35.64 NOK 336
$23.46 NOK 221
51.92%
Apples (1kg)
$4.02 NOK 37.88
$3.82 NOK 36.00
5.24%
Banana (1kg)
$2.83 NOK 26.64
$2.09 NOK 19.68
35.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.67 NOK 34.54
$4.87 NOK 45.85
-24.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.50 NOK 51.8
$4.47 NOK 42.08
23.04%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 NOK 23.99
$2.66 NOK 25.05
-4.14%
Onion (1kg)
$3.30 NOK 31.10
$4.84 NOK 45.60
-31.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.94 NOK 27.70
$2.97 NOK 27.95
-1.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 NOK 17.95
$2.24 NOK 21.15
-14.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.18 NOK 171
$16.43 NOK 155
10.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.23 NOK 172
$16.14 NOK 152
12.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.52 NOK 33.20
$3.47 NOK 32.71
1.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.39 NOK 41.32
$3.83 NOK 36.13
14.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Bergen
Narvik
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.12 NOK 48.20
$4.62 NOK 43.57
10.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$90.2 NOK 850
$92.7 NOK 873
-2.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$12.62 NOK 119
$15.91 NOK 150
-20.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 NOK 18.43
$2.08 NOK 19.59
-5.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$74.5 NOK 702
$54.6 NOK 514
36.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.37 NOK 22.33
$2.22 NOK 20.89
6.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.1K NOK 462.5K
$40.5K NOK 381.4K
21.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.2K NOK 416.9K
$38.7K NOK 364.9K
14.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bergen
Narvik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$288 NOK 2,717
$260 NOK 2,454
10.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.45 NOK 296
$51.4 NOK 484
-38.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$78.6 NOK 741
$85.2 NOK 803
-7.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bergen
Narvik
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.85 NOK 432
$56.6 NOK 534
-19.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$43.68 NOK 412
$27.16 NOK 256
60.82%
Cinema Ticket
$19.64 NOK 185
$17.37 NOK 164
13.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bergen
Narvik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$245 NOK 2,309
$320 NOK 3,017
-23.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K NOK 115.2K
$7,707 NOK 72.6K
58.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bergen
Narvik
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107 NOK 1,008
$126 NOK 1,190
-15.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.3 NOK 511
$35.09 NOK 331
54.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 NOK 1,181
$143 NOK 1,352
-12.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$170 NOK 1,602
$168 NOK 1,584
1.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bergen
Narvik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,496 NOK 14.1K
$930 NOK 8,766
60.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,104 NOK 10.4K
$745 NOK 7,019
48.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,481 NOK 23.4K
$1,670 NOK 15.7K
48.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,780 NOK 16.8K
$1,229 NOK 11.6K
44.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,757 NOK 73.1K
$5,415 NOK 51.0K
43.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,967 NOK 46.8K
$4,789 NOK 45.1K
3.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bergen
Narvik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,712 NOK 44.4K
$3,580 NOK 33.7K
31.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.31
5.01
5.99%

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

Last update for Bergen: September 12, 2026

Last update for Narvik: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,496 in Bergen and $930 in Narvik. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bergen pays 32% 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: $139 in Bergen vs $95.0 in Narvik for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $534 vs $461 per month, with Narvik 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 Narvik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Narvik cheaper than Bergen?
Narvik is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Bergen or Narvik?
Average pay runs 32% 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 Narvik?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,496 in Bergen versus $930 in Narvik. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $245 in Bergen versus $320 in Narvik. 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 Narvik?
Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Bergen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Bergen or in Narvik?
At $2,529 in Narvik versus $2,948 in Bergen, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Narvik but tight or insufficient in Bergen. The gap between the two cities makes Narvik the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Bergen or Narvik more family-friendly?
For families, Narvik 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 Narvik?
Safety-wise, Bergen and Narvik 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 Narvik gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Bergen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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