Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bergen and Steinkjer

For one person, living costs are similar in Bergen and in Steinkjer: $2,869 and $2,773 a month, rent and utilities included.

Bergen
🇳🇴 Norway
$2,869
/mo nomad
Steinkjer
🇳🇴 Norway
$2,773
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bergen and in Steinkjer

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bergen and in Steinkjer actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,869 in Bergen versus $2,773 in Steinkjer.

  • Bergen $2,869
  • Steinkjer $2,773

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,330 in Bergen versus $3,905 in Steinkjer.

  • Bergen $4,330
  • Steinkjer $3,905

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,790 in Bergen versus $5,037 in Steinkjer.

  • Bergen $5,790
  • Steinkjer $5,037

Living in Bergen is roughly 3% more expensive than in Steinkjer, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bergen 113% above, Steinkjer 105% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bergen
Steinkjer
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.37 NOK 220
$20.51 NOK 193
13.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$134 NOK 1,263
$58.2 NOK 548
130.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.56 NOK 147
$13.52 NOK 127
15.09%
Cappuccino
$5.30 NOK 49.86
$4.62 NOK 43.52
14.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.07 NOK 47.70
$5.75 NOK 54.2
-11.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 NOK 42.48
$4.25 NOK 39.99
6.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.55 NOK 118
$10.33 NOK 97.3
21.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.56 NOK 99.4
$6.20 NOK 58.3
70.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bergen
Steinkjer
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.19 NOK 20.66
$2.46 NOK 23.13
-10.98%
White Bread (500g)
$3.92 NOK 36.88
$3.46 NOK 32.61
13.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.42 NOK 32.20
$3.60 NOK 33.88
-5.00%
Eggs
$6.34 NOK 59.7
$4.95 NOK 46.62
28.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.80 NOK 139
$12.85 NOK 121
15.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.41 NOK 164
$16.08 NOK 151
8.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$36.51 NOK 344
$28.53 NOK 269
27.97%
Apples (1kg)
$4.12 NOK 38.83
$3.91 NOK 36.76
5.37%
Banana (1kg)
$2.68 NOK 25.22
$2.93 NOK 27.59
-8.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.48 NOK 32.77
$3.90 NOK 36.70
-10.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.46 NOK 51.4
$5.71 NOK 53.8
-4.38%
Potato (1kg)
$2.51 NOK 23.59
$2.89 NOK 27.18
-13.15%
Onion (1kg)
$3.38 NOK 31.78
$3.07 NOK 28.89
10.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.83 NOK 26.68
$2.78 NOK 26.17
1.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 NOK 16.84
$2.23 NOK 20.96
-19.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.41 NOK 164
$17.67 NOK 166
-1.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.96 NOK 178
$18.14 NOK 171
4.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.58 NOK 33.66
$3.50 NOK 32.92
2.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22 NOK 39.70
$4.65 NOK 43.77
-9.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Bergen
Steinkjer
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.05 NOK 47.54
$4.21 NOK 39.65
19.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$85.0 NOK 800
$85.6 NOK 805
-0.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$12.36 NOK 116
$9.24 NOK 87.0
33.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 NOK 18.05
$1.61 NOK 15.17
19.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$71.5 NOK 673
$58.4 NOK 550
22.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.44 NOK 22.96
$2.47 NOK 23.27
-1.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.7K NOK 458.5K
$45.4K NOK 427.7K
7.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.0K NOK 405.0K
$45.4K NOK 427.8K
-5.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bergen
Steinkjer
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$281 NOK 2,641
$266 NOK 2,505
5.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.84 NOK 309
$35.46 NOK 334
-7.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$81.5 NOK 767
$81.8 NOK 770
-0.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bergen
Steinkjer
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.18 NOK 425
$54.1 NOK 510
-16.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$42.91 NOK 404
$41.52 NOK 391
3.35%
Cinema Ticket
$18.56 NOK 175
$15.71 NOK 148
18.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bergen
Steinkjer
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$239 NOK 2,251
$293 NOK 2,763
-18.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K NOK 109.6K
$4,447 NOK 41.9K
161.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bergen
Steinkjer
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107 NOK 1,003
$105 NOK 989
1.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.3 NOK 502
$51.2 NOK 482
4.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 NOK 1,116
$118 NOK 1,109
0.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$163 NOK 1,534
$154 NOK 1,453
5.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bergen
Steinkjer
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,483 NOK 14.0K
$1,200 NOK 11.3K
23.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,117 NOK 10.5K
$1,133 NOK 10.7K
-1.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,327 NOK 21.9K
$2,078 NOK 19.6K
11.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,714 NOK 16.1K
$1,580 NOK 14.9K
8.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,835 NOK 73.8K
$6,718 NOK 63.2K
16.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,754 NOK 44.8K
$3,607 NOK 34.0K
31.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bergen
Steinkjer
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,567 NOK 43.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.27
5.32
-0.94%

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

Last update for Bergen: October 12, 2026

Last update for Steinkjer: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bergen
$1.1K
Steinkjer
$1.1K 1.4% $16
Groceries & Markets
Bergen
$530
Steinkjer
$495 6.7% $35
Eating Out
Bergen
$419
Steinkjer
$364 13.2% $55
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bergen
$395
Steinkjer
$383 2.9% $11
Clothing & Footwear
Bergen
$199
Steinkjer
$193 2.9% $5.8
Getting Around
Bergen
$127
Steinkjer
$120 5.9% $7.5
Sport & Entertainment
Bergen
$82
Steinkjer
$86 4% $3.3

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,483 in Bergen and $1,200 in Steinkjer. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $134 in Bergen vs $58.0 in Steinkjer for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $530 vs $495 per month, with Steinkjer cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇳🇴 Bergen
🇳🇴 Steinkjer
🕒 Local time
18:44 6:44 PM
18:44 6:44 PM
Same time as Bergen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
292,482
24,066
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to NOK – Norwegian Krone Converter

Norwegian Krone exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 9.41 NOK (1 NOK = 0.106 USD). 1 EUR = 10.58 NOK (100 NOK = 9.45 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bergen Steinkjer 520 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Bergen
  • Steinkjer

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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, eating out, and clothing. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $4,304 in Bergen and $4,160 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: $1,483 in Bergen versus $1,200 in Steinkjer. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $239 in Bergen versus $293 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 in 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 enough to cover costs in Bergen or in Steinkjer?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Steinkjer is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
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 3% less than in Bergen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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