😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,907 in Bergen versus $2,742 in Porsgrunn.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,400 in Bergen versus $3,904 in Porsgrunn.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,894 in Bergen versus $5,066 in Porsgrunn.
🌍Living in Bergen is roughly 6% more expensive than in Porsgrunn, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bergen112% above, Porsgrunn100% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bergen
Porsgrunn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.49NOK 237
$21.25NOK 197
19.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$141NOK 1,305
$108NOK 1,000
30.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.21NOK 150
$16.19NOK 150
0.12%
Cappuccino
$5.63NOK 52.3
$5.86NOK 54.4
-3.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.28NOK 49.00
$3.62NOK 33.65
45.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74NOK 43.97
$3.12NOK 28.92
51.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.91NOK 120
$11.67NOK 108
10.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.52NOK 97.7
$10.69NOK 99.3
-1.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bergen
Porsgrunn
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.48NOK 23.00
$2.57NOK 23.88
-3.50%
White Bread(500g)
$3.83NOK 35.57
$4.32NOK 40.10
-11.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.58NOK 33.20
$4.60NOK 42.72
-22.17%
Eggs
$6.70NOK 62.2
$5.92NOK 55.0
13.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.27NOK 142
$14.91NOK 138
2.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$17.52NOK 163
$15.40NOK 143
13.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$35.05NOK 325
$29.64NOK 275
18.25%
Apples(1kg)
$4.22NOK 39.14
$3.43NOK 31.89
23.03%
Banana(1kg)
$2.71NOK 25.17
$2.67NOK 24.81
1.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.72NOK 34.55
$3.57NOK 33.18
4.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.61NOK 52.1
$5.83NOK 54.1
-3.77%
Potato(1kg)
$2.56NOK 23.73
$2.73NOK 25.37
-6.23%
Onion(1kg)
$3.48NOK 32.27
$2.92NOK 27.07
19.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.03NOK 28.12
$3.12NOK 28.99
-2.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.99NOK 18.44
$2.53NOK 23.50
-21.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.89NOK 166
$19.32NOK 179
-7.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.74NOK 174
$16.94NOK 157
10.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.62NOK 33.58
$3.49NOK 32.39
3.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.24NOK 39.39
$4.24NOK 39.37
-
🚌 Getting Around
Bergen
Porsgrunn
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$5.17NOK 47.97
$2.74NOK 25.45
88.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$90.2NOK 837
$50.2NOK 466
79.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.70NOK 118
$12.44NOK 115
2.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90NOK 17.68
$1.89NOK 17.59
0.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$73.1NOK 679
$70.6NOK 656
3.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.24NOK 20.82
$2.28NOK 21.16
-1.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.8KNOK 462.0K
$49.9KNOK 463.2K
-0.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.8KNOK 406.7K
$46.3KNOK 429.8K
-5.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bergen
Porsgrunn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$286NOK 2,653
$421NOK 3,912
-32.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.94NOK 297
$33.19NOK 308
-3.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$78.6NOK 729
$57.6NOK 534
36.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bergen
Porsgrunn
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.64NOK 414
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$43.59NOK 405
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.25NOK 179
$19.48NOK 181
-1.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bergen
Porsgrunn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$241NOK 2,234
$250NOK 2,318
-3.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9KNOK 110.9K
$16.0KNOK 148.6K
-25.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bergen
Porsgrunn
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107NOK 991
$101NOK 938
5.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.3NOK 504
$62.2NOK 578
-12.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$123NOK 1,141
$134NOK 1,244
-8.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$169NOK 1,571
$161NOK 1,499
4.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bergen
Porsgrunn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,514NOK 14.1K
$835NOK 7,754
81.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,119NOK 10.4K
$950NOK 8,818
17.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,489NOK 23.1K
$1,600NOK 14.9K
55.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,758NOK 16.3K
$1,273NOK 11.8K
38.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,741NOK 71.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,935NOK 45.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bergen
Porsgrunn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,828NOK 44.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.31
3.8
39.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bergen: August 30, 2026
Last update for Porsgrunn: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,514 in Bergen and $835 in Porsgrunn. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $141 in Bergen vs $108 in Porsgrunn for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $538 vs $515 per month, with Porsgrunn 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 Porsgrunn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Porsgrunn cheaper than Bergen?
Porsgrunn is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $4,361 in Bergen and $4,113 in Porsgrunn to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Bergen and Porsgrunn?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,514 in Bergen versus $835 in Porsgrunn. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $241 in Bergen versus $250 in Porsgrunn. 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 Porsgrunn?
Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Bergen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Bergen or in Porsgrunn?
At $2,742 in Porsgrunn versus $2,907 in Bergen, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Porsgrunn but tight or insufficient in Bergen. The gap between the two cities makes Porsgrunn the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Bergen or Porsgrunn more family-friendly?
For families, Porsgrunn 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 Porsgrunn?
Safety-wise, Bergen and Porsgrunn 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 Porsgrunn gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Bergen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.