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: $2,189 in Halden versus $2,622 in Bergen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,588 in Halden versus $3,948 in Bergen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,987 in Halden versus $5,274 in Bergen.

Living in Halden costs roughly 17% less than in Bergen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Halden 63% above, Bergen 95% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Halden
Bergen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.15 NOK 191
$25.22 NOK 239
-20.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 NOK 963
$102 NOK 965
-0.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.06 NOK 115
$18.97 NOK 180
-36.43%
Cappuccino
$4.57 NOK 43.37
$5.55 NOK 52.6
-17.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64 NOK 34.58
$3.17 NOK 30.10
14.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 NOK 29.49
$3.01 NOK 28.56
3.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$10.07 NOK 95.6
$11.86 NOK 113
-15.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.16 NOK 87.0
$9.58 NOK 90.9
-4.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Halden
Bergen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.21 NOK 20.98
$2.69 NOK 25.50
-17.84%
White Bread (500g)
$3.11 NOK 29.51
$3.44 NOK 32.66
-9.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.86 NOK 27.19
$2.88 NOK 27.34
-0.69%
Eggs
$4.23 NOK 40.15
$5.03 NOK 47.75
-15.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.47 NOK 118
$13.96 NOK 132
-10.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.61 NOK 139
$15.99 NOK 152
-8.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$31.51 NOK 299
$27.79 NOK 264
13.39%
Apples (1kg)
$3.52 NOK 33.41
$3.79 NOK 35.95
-7.12%
Banana (1kg)
$2.50 NOK 23.74
$2.95 NOK 27.98
-15.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.29 NOK 31.21
$3.59 NOK 34.03
-8.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.40 NOK 41.79
$5.70 NOK 54.1
-22.81%
Potato (1kg)
$2.52 NOK 23.95
$2.62 NOK 24.85
-3.82%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 NOK 25.73
$2.87 NOK 27.29
-5.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.79 NOK 26.51
$2.91 NOK 27.63
-4.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 NOK 15.62
$2.14 NOK 20.34
-22.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.85 NOK 141
$16.78 NOK 159
-11.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.04 NOK 162
$17.96 NOK 170
-5.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.61 NOK 24.76
$3.44 NOK 32.68
-24.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 NOK 37.10
$4.32 NOK 40.97
-9.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Halden
Bergen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.37 NOK 41.51
$4.44 NOK 42.14
-1.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$61.2 NOK 581
$80.0 NOK 759
-23.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.09 NOK 95.7
$15.23 NOK 145
-33.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 NOK 13.66
$2.27 NOK 21.55
-36.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.16 NOK 400
$72.5 NOK 688
-41.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.10 NOK 19.94
$2.21 NOK 20.93
-4.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.6K NOK 338.4K
$35.9K NOK 340.3K
-0.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.4K NOK 412.0K
$42.9K NOK 407.0K
1.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Halden
Bergen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$306 NOK 2,904
$243 NOK 2,311
25.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.87 NOK 284
$38.80 NOK 368
-23.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.15 NOK 381
$65.3 NOK 620
-38.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Halden
Bergen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.0 NOK 513
$54.2 NOK 514
-0.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.37 NOK 336
$39.54 NOK 375
-10.55%
Cinema Ticket
$15.58 NOK 148
$20.20 NOK 192
-22.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Halden
Bergen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$274 NOK 2,600
$282 NOK 2,677
-2.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K NOK 142.5K
$12.6K NOK 119.9K
18.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Halden
Bergen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.9 NOK 911
$90.9 NOK 863
5.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.8 NOK 615
$55.9 NOK 531
15.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 NOK 1,189
$112 NOK 1,064
11.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 NOK 1,160
$147 NOK 1,391
-16.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Halden
Bergen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$927 NOK 8,800
$1,295 NOK 12.3K
-28.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$654 NOK 6,204
$973 NOK 9,238
-32.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,953 NOK 18.5K
$1,994 NOK 18.9K
-2.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,643 NOK 15.6K
$1,568 NOK 14.9K
4.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,032 NOK 57.2K
$7,844 NOK 74.4K
-23.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,516 NOK 42.9K
$4,587 NOK 43.5K
-1.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Halden
Bergen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,500 NOK 33.2K
$4,531 NOK 43.0K
-22.76%
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Bergen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $927 in Halden and $1,295 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: $101 in Halden vs $102 in Bergen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $453 vs $490 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 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Halden or Bergen?
On paper, Bergen earns 29% less. 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: $927 in Halden versus $1,295 in Bergen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $274 in Halden versus $282 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 Bergen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Bergen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for Halden or Bergen?
At $2,189 in Halden versus $2,622 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 20% 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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