Cost of Living Comparison Between Bergen and TromsoCost of Living Comparison Between Bergen and Tromso
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,605 in Bergen versus $2,929 in Tromso.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,923 in Bergen versus $4,342 in Tromso.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,240 in Bergen versus $5,756 in Tromso.
🙂Living in Bergen costs roughly 11% less than in Tromso, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bergen94% above, Tromso119% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bergen
Tromso
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.78NOK 240
$32.45NOK 301
-20.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100NOK 931
$121NOK 1,124
-17.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.96NOK 176
$15.08NOK 140
25.73%
Cappuccino
$5.36NOK 49.82
$6.17NOK 57.4
-13.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21NOK 29.86
$4.58NOK 42.52
-29.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03NOK 28.14
$3.44NOK 31.97
-11.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.53NOK 107
$11.21NOK 104
2.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.67NOK 89.8
$11.08NOK 103
-12.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bergen
Tromso
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.64NOK 24.50
$2.42NOK 22.45
9.09%
White Bread(500g)
$3.36NOK 31.20
$3.17NOK 29.42
5.99%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.90NOK 26.92
$3.28NOK 30.46
-11.59%
Eggs
$5.11NOK 47.45
$4.92NOK 45.72
3.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.96NOK 130
$11.34NOK 105
23.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.06NOK 149
$15.48NOK 144
3.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.05NOK 261
$37.09NOK 345
-24.37%
Apples(1kg)
$3.75NOK 34.84
$3.92NOK 36.42
-4.34%
Banana(1kg)
$2.94NOK 27.29
$2.88NOK 26.78
2.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.61NOK 33.56
$3.75NOK 34.82
-3.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.52NOK 51.3
$5.12NOK 47.54
7.81%
Potato(1kg)
$2.72NOK 25.24
$3.08NOK 28.65
-11.69%
Onion(1kg)
$2.77NOK 25.73
$3.63NOK 33.72
-23.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.85NOK 26.45
$2.69NOK 24.98
5.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.15NOK 19.95
$1.70NOK 15.80
26.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$16.93NOK 157
$15.05NOK 140
12.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.39NOK 171
$19.06NOK 177
-3.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.35NOK 31.08
$3.64NOK 33.78
-7.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.27NOK 39.68
$4.54NOK 42.14
-5.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Bergen
Tromso
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.56NOK 42.40
$4.79NOK 44.49
-4.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5NOK 748
$59.6NOK 553
35.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.36NOK 143
$12.88NOK 120
19.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.28NOK 21.15
$1.13NOK 10.46
101.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$72.7NOK 675
$52.1NOK 484
39.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.16NOK 20.11
$2.11NOK 19.63
2.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0KNOK 325.2K
$32.6KNOK 302.8K
7.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.6KNOK 404.7K
$35.8KNOK 332.2K
21.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bergen
Tromso
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$238NOK 2,207
$245NOK 2,279
-3.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.16NOK 355
$48.71NOK 453
-21.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.1NOK 595
$77.2NOK 717
-17.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bergen
Tromso
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.2NOK 513
$47.87NOK 445
15.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.59NOK 377
$39.54NOK 367
2.66%
Cinema Ticket
$19.99NOK 186
$16.73NOK 155
19.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bergen
Tromso
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$281NOK 2,610
$336NOK 3,118
-16.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.9KNOK 120.1K
$7,362NOK 68.4K
75.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bergen
Tromso
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.5NOK 841
$87.7NOK 815
3.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.0NOK 510
$33.00NOK 307
66.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111NOK 1,034
$131NOK 1,215
-14.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147NOK 1,369
$135NOK 1,258
8.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bergen
Tromso
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,275NOK 11.8K
$1,348NOK 12.5K
-5.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$997NOK 9,263
$1,268NOK 11.8K
-21.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,004NOK 18.6K
$2,614NOK 24.3K
-23.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,576NOK 14.6K
$1,853NOK 17.2K
-14.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,998NOK 74.3K
$9,264NOK 86.1K
-13.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,773NOK 44.3K
$5,545NOK 51.5K
-13.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bergen
Tromso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,646NOK 43.2K
$4,243NOK 39.4K
9.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.85
4.27
13.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bergen: June 1, 2026
Last update for Tromso: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,275 in Bergen and $1,348 in Tromso. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bergen pays 10% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $100 in Bergen vs $121 in Tromso for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $490 vs $502 per month, with Bergen 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 Tromso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tromso cheaper than Bergen?
Bergen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Bergen or Tromso?
Bergen pays 10% more on average, 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 Tromso?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,275 in Bergen versus $1,348 in Tromso. 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 $336 in Tromso. 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 Tromso?
Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Tromso. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Bergen or Tromso?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Bergen is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Bergen or Tromso more family-friendly?
For families, Bergen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tromso, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Bergen or Tromso?
Safety-wise, Bergen and Tromso 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 Bergen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Tromso. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.