Cost of Living Comparison Between Halden and Bergen Cost of Living Comparison Between Halden and Bergen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,190 in Halden versus $2,658 in Bergen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,589 in Halden versus $4,013 in Bergen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,988 in Halden versus $5,368 in Bergen.

Living in Halden costs roughly 18% less than in Bergen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Halden 65% above, Bergen 100% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Halden
Bergen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.20 NOK 192
$25.18 NOK 239
-19.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.9 NOK 947
$102 NOK 970
-2.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.94 NOK 113
$19.35 NOK 183
-38.29%
Cappuccino
$4.57 NOK 43.34
$5.34 NOK 50.7
-14.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 NOK 33.91
$3.24 NOK 30.68
10.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 NOK 28.04
$2.90 NOK 27.47
2.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$10.08 NOK 95.6
$11.61 NOK 110
-13.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.30 NOK 88.2
$9.63 NOK 91.3
-3.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Halden
Bergen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.29 NOK 21.73
$2.71 NOK 25.70
-15.50%
White Bread (500g)
$3.13 NOK 29.64
$3.44 NOK 32.64
-9.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.00 NOK 28.46
$2.79 NOK 26.44
7.53%
Eggs
$4.24 NOK 40.16
$5.03 NOK 47.68
-15.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.54 NOK 119
$13.95 NOK 132
-10.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.86 NOK 141
$15.55 NOK 147
-4.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$31.30 NOK 297
$27.87 NOK 264
12.31%
Apples (1kg)
$3.54 NOK 33.55
$3.81 NOK 36.09
-7.09%
Banana (1kg)
$2.51 NOK 23.78
$2.96 NOK 28.07
-15.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.30 NOK 31.28
$3.58 NOK 33.98
-7.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.40 NOK 41.72
$5.51 NOK 52.3
-20.15%
Potato (1kg)
$2.54 NOK 24.13
$2.60 NOK 24.70
-2.31%
Onion (1kg)
$2.58 NOK 24.51
$2.75 NOK 26.09
-6.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.73 NOK 25.93
$2.77 NOK 26.26
-1.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 NOK 15.24
$2.11 NOK 20.02
-23.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.90 NOK 141
$16.74 NOK 159
-10.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.34 NOK 155
$17.70 NOK 168
-7.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.65 NOK 25.14
$3.39 NOK 32.11
-21.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87 NOK 36.71
$4.30 NOK 40.77
-10.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Halden
Bergen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.36 NOK 41.35
$4.37 NOK 41.45
-0.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.5 NOK 565
$79.8 NOK 757
-25.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.08 NOK 95.6
$15.20 NOK 144
-33.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 NOK 13.60
$2.20 NOK 20.87
-35.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.87 NOK 397
$72.6 NOK 689
-42.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.15 NOK 20.41
$2.21 NOK 20.98
-2.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7K NOK 338.4K
$35.8K NOK 339.6K
-0.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.0K NOK 408.0K
$43.7K NOK 414.2K
-1.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Halden
Bergen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$306 NOK 2,903
$244 NOK 2,314
25.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.76 NOK 292
$38.05 NOK 361
-19.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.18 NOK 381
$65.4 NOK 620
-38.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Halden
Bergen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.0 NOK 503
$54.2 NOK 513
-2.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.49 NOK 337
$39.77 NOK 377
-10.76%
Cinema Ticket
$15.82 NOK 150
$19.90 NOK 189
-20.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Halden
Bergen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$272 NOK 2,577
$284 NOK 2,692
-4.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.9K NOK 141.5K
$12.9K NOK 122.2K
15.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Halden
Bergen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.4 NOK 914
$92.5 NOK 877
4.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.0 NOK 635
$55.7 NOK 528
20.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$122 NOK 1,153
$113 NOK 1,067
8.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 NOK 1,147
$143 NOK 1,360
-15.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Halden
Bergen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$923 NOK 8,748
$1,304 NOK 12.4K
-29.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$662 NOK 6,276
$997 NOK 9,455
-33.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,915 NOK 18.2K
$2,032 NOK 19.3K
-5.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,594 NOK 15.1K
$1,595 NOK 15.1K
-0.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,937 NOK 56.3K
$7,558 NOK 71.7K
-21.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,943 NOK 37.4K
$4,679 NOK 44.4K
-15.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Halden
Bergen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,386 NOK 32.1K
$4,385 NOK 41.6K
-22.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.75
4.85
-2.06%

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

Last update for Halden: July 28, 2026

Last update for Bergen: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $923 in Halden and $1,304 in Bergen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bergen pays 29% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $100 in Halden vs $102 in Bergen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $454 vs $485 per month, with Halden 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
Halden vs Bergen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bergen cheaper than Halden?
Halden is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Halden or Bergen?
On paper, salaries run 29% lower in Bergen. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Halden and Bergen?
Rent for a central apartment: $923 in Halden versus $1,304 in Bergen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $272 in Halden versus $284 in Bergen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Halden and in Bergen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Bergen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Halden or in Bergen?
At $2,190 in Halden versus $2,658 in Bergen, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Halden but tight or insufficient in Bergen. The gap between the two cities makes Halden the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Halden or Bergen more family-friendly?
For families, Halden 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, Halden or Bergen?
Safety-wise, Halden and Bergen 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 Halden gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Bergen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Halden vs other spots: cost of living compared

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