Cost of Living Comparison Between Bergen and Steinkjer Cost of Living Comparison Between Bergen and Steinkjer

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,605 in Bergen versus $2,040 in Steinkjer.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,923 in Bergen versus $3,013 in Steinkjer.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,240 in Bergen versus $3,985 in Steinkjer.

Living in Bergen is roughly 28% more expensive than Steinkjer, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bergen 94% above, Steinkjer 52% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bergen
Steinkjer
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.78 NOK 240
$22.84 NOK 212
12.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 NOK 931
$54.9 NOK 510
82.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$18.96 NOK 176
$13.05 NOK 121
45.29%
Cappuccino
$5.36 NOK 49.82
$4.64 NOK 43.10
15.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 NOK 29.86
$3.64 NOK 33.80
-11.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 NOK 28.14
$2.87 NOK 26.70
5.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.53 NOK 107
$10.01 NOK 93.0
15.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.67 NOK 89.8
$6.13 NOK 56.9
57.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bergen
Steinkjer
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.64 NOK 24.50
$1.96 NOK 18.24
34.69%
White Bread (500g)
$3.36 NOK 31.20
$3.63 NOK 33.73
-7.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.90 NOK 26.92
$3.07 NOK 28.52
-5.54%
Eggs
$5.11 NOK 47.45
$4.64 NOK 43.13
10.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.96 NOK 130
$10.14 NOK 94.2
37.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.06 NOK 149
$15.08 NOK 140
6.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$28.05 NOK 261
$28.06 NOK 261
-0.04%
Apples (1kg)
$3.75 NOK 34.84
$3.93 NOK 36.53
-4.58%
Banana (1kg)
$2.94 NOK 27.29
$2.25 NOK 20.88
30.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.61 NOK 33.56
$2.57 NOK 23.92
40.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.52 NOK 51.3
$5.08 NOK 47.16
8.66%
Potato (1kg)
$2.72 NOK 25.24
$2.03 NOK 18.90
33.99%
Onion (1kg)
$2.77 NOK 25.73
$2.06 NOK 19.18
34.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.85 NOK 26.45
$2.51 NOK 23.35
13.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 NOK 19.95
$2.40 NOK 22.25
-10.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$16.93 NOK 157
$14.41 NOK 134
17.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 NOK 171
$18.92 NOK 176
-2.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.35 NOK 31.08
$3.52 NOK 32.66
-4.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.27 NOK 39.68
$4.81 NOK 44.68
-11.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Bergen
Steinkjer
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.56 NOK 42.40
$4.01 NOK 37.21
13.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 NOK 748
$74.3 NOK 691
8.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$15.36 NOK 143
$14.99 NOK 139
2.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.28 NOK 21.15
$2.23 NOK 20.73
2.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$72.7 NOK 675
$89.5 NOK 831
-18.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.16 NOK 20.11
$1.98 NOK 18.35
9.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K NOK 325.2K
$31.8K NOK 295.3K
10.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.6K NOK 404.7K
$42.7K NOK 396.6K
2.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bergen
Steinkjer
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$238 NOK 2,207
$150 NOK 1,397
58.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.16 NOK 355
$42.78 NOK 397
-10.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.1 NOK 595
$50.6 NOK 470
26.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bergen
Steinkjer
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.2 NOK 513
$30.84 NOK 286
79.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.59 NOK 377
$36.02 NOK 335
12.69%
Cinema Ticket
$19.99 NOK 186
$15.26 NOK 142
31.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bergen
Steinkjer
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$281 NOK 2,610
$329 NOK 3,060
-14.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.9K NOK 120.1K
$8,468 NOK 78.7K
52.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bergen
Steinkjer
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.5 NOK 841
$50.9 NOK 473
77.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.0 NOK 510
$29.97 NOK 278
83.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 NOK 1,034
$61.0 NOK 567
82.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147 NOK 1,369
$129 NOK 1,198
14.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bergen
Steinkjer
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,275 NOK 11.8K
$1,022 NOK 9,499
24.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$997 NOK 9,263
$648 NOK 6,020
53.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,004 NOK 18.6K
$1,530 NOK 14.2K
30.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,576 NOK 14.6K
$999 NOK 9,278
57.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,998 NOK 74.3K
$5,278 NOK 49.0K
51.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,773 NOK 44.3K
$3,870 NOK 36.0K
23.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bergen
Steinkjer
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,646 NOK 43.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.85
1.5
223.33%

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

Last update for Bergen: June 1, 2026

Last update for Steinkjer: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,275 in Bergen and $1,022 in Steinkjer. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $100 in Bergen vs $55.0 in Steinkjer for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $490 vs $460 per month, with Steinkjer 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 Steinkjer: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Steinkjer cheaper than Bergen?
Steinkjer is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,908 in Bergen and $3,060 in Steinkjer 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 Steinkjer?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,275 in Bergen versus $1,022 in Steinkjer. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $281 in Bergen versus $329 in Steinkjer. 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 Steinkjer?
Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Bergen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Bergen or Steinkjer?
At $2,040 in Steinkjer versus $2,605 in Bergen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Steinkjer but tight or insufficient in Bergen. The gap between the two cities makes Steinkjer the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Bergen or Steinkjer more family-friendly?
For families, Steinkjer 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 Steinkjer?
Safety-wise, Bergen and Steinkjer 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 Steinkjer gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Bergen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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