😐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: Bergen94% above, Steinkjer52% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bergen
Steinkjer
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.78NOK 240
$22.84NOK 212
12.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100NOK 931
$54.9NOK 510
82.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.96NOK 176
$13.05NOK 121
45.29%
Cappuccino
$5.36NOK 49.82
$4.64NOK 43.10
15.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21NOK 29.86
$3.64NOK 33.80
-11.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03NOK 28.14
$2.87NOK 26.70
5.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.53NOK 107
$10.01NOK 93.0
15.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.67NOK 89.8
$6.13NOK 56.9
57.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bergen
Steinkjer
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.64NOK 24.50
$1.96NOK 18.24
34.69%
White Bread(500g)
$3.36NOK 31.20
$3.63NOK 33.73
-7.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.90NOK 26.92
$3.07NOK 28.52
-5.54%
Eggs
$5.11NOK 47.45
$4.64NOK 43.13
10.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.96NOK 130
$10.14NOK 94.2
37.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.06NOK 149
$15.08NOK 140
6.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.05NOK 261
$28.06NOK 261
-0.04%
Apples(1kg)
$3.75NOK 34.84
$3.93NOK 36.53
-4.58%
Banana(1kg)
$2.94NOK 27.29
$2.25NOK 20.88
30.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.61NOK 33.56
$2.57NOK 23.92
40.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.52NOK 51.3
$5.08NOK 47.16
8.66%
Potato(1kg)
$2.72NOK 25.24
$2.03NOK 18.90
33.99%
Onion(1kg)
$2.77NOK 25.73
$2.06NOK 19.18
34.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.85NOK 26.45
$2.51NOK 23.35
13.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.15NOK 19.95
$2.40NOK 22.25
-10.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$16.93NOK 157
$14.41NOK 134
17.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.39NOK 171
$18.92NOK 176
-2.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.35NOK 31.08
$3.52NOK 32.66
-4.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.27NOK 39.68
$4.81NOK 44.68
-11.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Bergen
Steinkjer
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.56NOK 42.40
$4.01NOK 37.21
13.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5NOK 748
$74.3NOK 691
8.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.36NOK 143
$14.99NOK 139
2.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.28NOK 21.15
$2.23NOK 20.73
2.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$72.7NOK 675
$89.5NOK 831
-18.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.16NOK 20.11
$1.98NOK 18.35
9.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0KNOK 325.2K
$31.8KNOK 295.3K
10.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.6KNOK 404.7K
$42.7KNOK 396.6K
2.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bergen
Steinkjer
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$238NOK 2,207
$150NOK 1,397
58.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.16NOK 355
$42.78NOK 397
-10.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.1NOK 595
$50.6NOK 470
26.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bergen
Steinkjer
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.2NOK 513
$30.84NOK 286
79.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.59NOK 377
$36.02NOK 335
12.69%
Cinema Ticket
$19.99NOK 186
$15.26NOK 142
31.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bergen
Steinkjer
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$281NOK 2,610
$329NOK 3,060
-14.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.9KNOK 120.1K
$8,468NOK 78.7K
52.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bergen
Steinkjer
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.5NOK 841
$50.9NOK 473
77.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.0NOK 510
$29.97NOK 278
83.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111NOK 1,034
$61.0NOK 567
82.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147NOK 1,369
$129NOK 1,198
14.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bergen
Steinkjer
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,275NOK 11.8K
$1,022NOK 9,499
24.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$997NOK 9,263
$648NOK 6,020
53.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,004NOK 18.6K
$1,530NOK 14.2K
30.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,576NOK 14.6K
$999NOK 9,278
57.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,998NOK 74.3K
$5,278NOK 49.0K
51.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,773NOK 44.3K
$3,870NOK 36.0K
23.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bergen
Steinkjer
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,646NOK 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.