🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,843 in Holmestrand versus $2,942 in Bergen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,373 in Holmestrand versus $4,473 in Bergen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,903 in Holmestrand versus $6,004 in Bergen.
🌍Living in Holmestrand costs roughly 3% less than in Bergen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Holmestrand106% above, Bergen113% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Holmestrand
Bergen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.68NOK 201
$24.62NOK 228
-11.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$130NOK 1,203
$140NOK 1,294
-7.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.34NOK 152
$16.47NOK 153
-0.79%
Cappuccino
$5.91NOK 54.8
$5.92NOK 54.9
-0.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.23NOK 39.27
$5.17NOK 48.00
-18.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36NOK 31.21
$4.63NOK 42.96
-27.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.75NOK 109
$12.94NOK 120
-9.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$13.11NOK 122
$10.70NOK 99.3
22.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Holmestrand
Bergen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.66NOK 24.69
$2.48NOK 22.99
7.26%
White Bread(500g)
$4.16NOK 38.60
$3.82NOK 35.42
8.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.66NOK 43.25
$3.47NOK 32.20
34.29%
Eggs
$6.17NOK 57.3
$6.75NOK 62.6
-8.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.72NOK 137
$15.20NOK 141
-3.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.47NOK 144
$17.60NOK 163
-12.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$30.67NOK 285
$35.27NOK 327
-13.04%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31NOK 30.72
$4.13NOK 38.35
-19.85%
Banana(1kg)
$2.68NOK 24.85
$2.86NOK 26.52
-6.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.65NOK 33.84
$3.60NOK 33.43
1.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.18NOK 57.3
$5.80NOK 53.8
6.55%
Potato(1kg)
$2.62NOK 24.32
$2.52NOK 23.33
3.97%
Onion(1kg)
$2.85NOK 26.44
$3.34NOK 31.01
-14.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.14NOK 29.13
$2.93NOK 27.19
7.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.51NOK 23.28
$2.06NOK 19.07
21.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.52NOK 181
$18.04NOK 167
8.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.62NOK 154
$18.63NOK 173
-10.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.49NOK 32.41
$3.56NOK 33.06
-1.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38NOK 40.60
$4.27NOK 39.64
2.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Holmestrand
Bergen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.84NOK 44.94
$5.21NOK 48.37
-7.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$85.3NOK 791
$89.0NOK 826
-4.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.18NOK 113
$12.91NOK 120
-5.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.93NOK 17.87
$1.90NOK 17.66
1.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$72.4NOK 671
$75.3NOK 698
-3.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.24NOK 20.79
$2.36NOK 21.94
-5.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.1KNOK 455.6K
$49.9KNOK 463.0K
-1.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.0KNOK 417.5K
$44.8KNOK 415.9K
0.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Holmestrand
Bergen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$423NOK 3,920
$296NOK 2,747
42.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.30NOK 300
$31.98NOK 297
1.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.9NOK 528
$78.9NOK 732
-27.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Holmestrand
Bergen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.7NOK 470
$45.57NOK 423
11.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.04NOK 353
$44.44NOK 412
-14.40%
Cinema Ticket
$19.34NOK 179
$19.31NOK 179
0.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Holmestrand
Bergen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$247NOK 2,288
$250NOK 2,323
-1.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1KNOK 149.4K
$12.3KNOK 114.1K
31.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Holmestrand
Bergen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102NOK 950
$109NOK 1,013
-6.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.7NOK 582
$55.7NOK 516
12.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$135NOK 1,256
$122NOK 1,128
11.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$160NOK 1,480
$171NOK 1,588
-6.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Holmestrand
Bergen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,229NOK 11.4K
$1,542NOK 14.3K
-20.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,053NOK 9,764
$1,118NOK 10.4K
-5.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062NOK 19.1K
$2,485NOK 23.1K
-17.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,724NOK 16.0K
$1,767NOK 16.4K
-2.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,541NOK 60.7K
$7,803NOK 72.4K
-16.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,202NOK 39.0K
$4,910NOK 45.5K
-14.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Holmestrand
Bergen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$4,848NOK 45.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.96
5.31
-6.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Holmestrand: September 7, 2026
Last update for Bergen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,229 in Holmestrand and $1,542 in Bergen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $130 in Holmestrand vs $140 in Bergen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $519 vs $539 per month, with Holmestrand 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
Holmestrand vs Bergen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bergen cheaper than Holmestrand?
Holmestrand is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $4,265 in Holmestrand and $4,412 in Bergen 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 Holmestrand and Bergen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,229 in Holmestrand versus $1,542 in Bergen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $247 in Holmestrand versus $250 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 Holmestrand and in Bergen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Bergen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 enough to cover costs in Holmestrand or in Bergen?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Holmestrand is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Holmestrand or Bergen more family-friendly?
For families, Holmestrand 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, Holmestrand or Bergen?
Safety-wise, Holmestrand 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 Holmestrand gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Bergen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Holmestrand vs other spots: cost of living compared