Cost of Living Comparison Between Bergen and Tromso Cost 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: Bergen 94% above, Tromso 119% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bergen
Tromso
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.78 NOK 240
$32.45 NOK 301
-20.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 NOK 931
$121 NOK 1,124
-17.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$18.96 NOK 176
$15.08 NOK 140
25.73%
Cappuccino
$5.36 NOK 49.82
$6.17 NOK 57.4
-13.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 NOK 29.86
$4.58 NOK 42.52
-29.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 NOK 28.14
$3.44 NOK 31.97
-11.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.53 NOK 107
$11.21 NOK 104
2.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.67 NOK 89.8
$11.08 NOK 103
-12.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bergen
Tromso
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.64 NOK 24.50
$2.42 NOK 22.45
9.09%
White Bread (500g)
$3.36 NOK 31.20
$3.17 NOK 29.42
5.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.90 NOK 26.92
$3.28 NOK 30.46
-11.59%
Eggs
$5.11 NOK 47.45
$4.92 NOK 45.72
3.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.96 NOK 130
$11.34 NOK 105
23.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.06 NOK 149
$15.48 NOK 144
3.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$28.05 NOK 261
$37.09 NOK 345
-24.37%
Apples (1kg)
$3.75 NOK 34.84
$3.92 NOK 36.42
-4.34%
Banana (1kg)
$2.94 NOK 27.29
$2.88 NOK 26.78
2.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.61 NOK 33.56
$3.75 NOK 34.82
-3.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.52 NOK 51.3
$5.12 NOK 47.54
7.81%
Potato (1kg)
$2.72 NOK 25.24
$3.08 NOK 28.65
-11.69%
Onion (1kg)
$2.77 NOK 25.73
$3.63 NOK 33.72
-23.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.85 NOK 26.45
$2.69 NOK 24.98
5.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 NOK 19.95
$1.70 NOK 15.80
26.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$16.93 NOK 157
$15.05 NOK 140
12.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 NOK 171
$19.06 NOK 177
-3.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.35 NOK 31.08
$3.64 NOK 33.78
-7.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.27 NOK 39.68
$4.54 NOK 42.14
-5.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Bergen
Tromso
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.56 NOK 42.40
$4.79 NOK 44.49
-4.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 NOK 748
$59.6 NOK 553
35.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$15.36 NOK 143
$12.88 NOK 120
19.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.28 NOK 21.15
$1.13 NOK 10.46
101.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$72.7 NOK 675
$52.1 NOK 484
39.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.16 NOK 20.11
$2.11 NOK 19.63
2.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K NOK 325.2K
$32.6K NOK 302.8K
7.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.6K NOK 404.7K
$35.8K NOK 332.2K
21.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bergen
Tromso
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$238 NOK 2,207
$245 NOK 2,279
-3.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.16 NOK 355
$48.71 NOK 453
-21.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.1 NOK 595
$77.2 NOK 717
-17.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bergen
Tromso
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.2 NOK 513
$47.87 NOK 445
15.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.59 NOK 377
$39.54 NOK 367
2.66%
Cinema Ticket
$19.99 NOK 186
$16.73 NOK 155
19.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bergen
Tromso
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$281 NOK 2,610
$336 NOK 3,118
-16.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.9K NOK 120.1K
$7,362 NOK 68.4K
75.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bergen
Tromso
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.5 NOK 841
$87.7 NOK 815
3.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.0 NOK 510
$33.00 NOK 307
66.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 NOK 1,034
$131 NOK 1,215
-14.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147 NOK 1,369
$135 NOK 1,258
8.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bergen
Tromso
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,275 NOK 11.8K
$1,348 NOK 12.5K
-5.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$997 NOK 9,263
$1,268 NOK 11.8K
-21.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,004 NOK 18.6K
$2,614 NOK 24.3K
-23.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,576 NOK 14.6K
$1,853 NOK 17.2K
-14.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,998 NOK 74.3K
$9,264 NOK 86.1K
-13.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,773 NOK 44.3K
$5,545 NOK 51.5K
-13.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bergen
Tromso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,646 NOK 43.2K
$4,243 NOK 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.

Bergen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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