🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Holmestrand versus $2,594 in Bergen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,585 in Holmestrand versus $3,948 in Bergen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,811 in Holmestrand versus $5,302 in Bergen.
🙂Living in Holmestrand costs roughly 9% less than in Bergen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Holmestrand76% above, Bergen94% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Holmestrand
Bergen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.88NOK 176
$25.44NOK 237
-25.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101NOK 943
$101NOK 940
0.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.22NOK 123
$19.61NOK 182
-32.59%
Cappuccino
$5.02NOK 46.68
$5.50NOK 51.2
-8.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98NOK 18.38
$3.13NOK 29.10
-36.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05NOK 19.02
$3.03NOK 28.17
-32.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.17NOK 85.3
$11.80NOK 110
-22.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.77NOK 90.9
$9.60NOK 89.3
1.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Holmestrand
Bergen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66NOK 15.43
$2.65NOK 24.65
-37.36%
White Bread(500g)
$3.32NOK 30.87
$3.31NOK 30.83
0.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.05NOK 19.09
$2.91NOK 27.11
-29.55%
Eggs
$3.94NOK 36.68
$4.83NOK 44.96
-18.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.16NOK 104
$13.96NOK 130
-20.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.18NOK 132
$15.71NOK 146
-9.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$41.11NOK 382
$28.27NOK 263
45.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.08NOK 19.30
$3.78NOK 35.17
-44.97%
Banana(1kg)
$2.32NOK 21.57
$3.09NOK 28.72
-24.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.26NOK 30.33
$3.61NOK 33.55
-9.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.49NOK 23.16
$5.57NOK 51.8
-55.30%
Potato(1kg)
$0.79NOK 7.39
$2.71NOK 25.24
-70.85%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34NOK 12.43
$2.75NOK 25.59
-51.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.86NOK 26.60
$2.80NOK 26.07
2.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.85NOK 17.21
$2.11NOK 19.60
-12.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.02NOK 130
$16.40NOK 153
-14.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.81NOK 175
$18.27NOK 170
2.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.00NOK 27.92
$3.31NOK 30.80
-9.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02NOK 37.36
$4.32NOK 40.14
-6.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Holmestrand
Bergen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.35NOK 40.42
$4.51NOK 41.91
-3.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.0NOK 679
$81.4NOK 757
-10.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.66NOK 80.5
$15.23NOK 142
-43.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.97NOK 8.99
$2.23NOK 20.75
-56.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$102NOK 949
$73.6NOK 684
38.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.13NOK 19.78
$2.14NOK 19.90
-0.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2KNOK 355.0K
$34.9KNOK 324.7K
9.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.2KNOK 317.8K
$43.1KNOK 400.6K
-20.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Holmestrand
Bergen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$219NOK 2,032
$240NOK 2,227
-8.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.93NOK 399
$38.14NOK 355
12.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.27NOK 356
$65.2NOK 606
-41.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Holmestrand
Bergen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.71NOK 453
$54.7NOK 509
-10.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.08NOK 336
$39.54NOK 368
-8.75%
Cinema Ticket
$14.94NOK 139
$20.28NOK 189
-26.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Holmestrand
Bergen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303NOK 2,814
$280NOK 2,606
8.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.1KNOK 94.1K
$12.7KNOK 118.2K
-20.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Holmestrand
Bergen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$112NOK 1,038
$91.3NOK 849
22.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.85NOK 287
$55.5NOK 516
-44.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9NOK 929
$112NOK 1,037
-10.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129NOK 1,200
$146NOK 1,358
-11.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Holmestrand
Bergen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,206NOK 11.2K
$1,308NOK 12.2K
-7.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$878NOK 8,168
$971NOK 9,034
-9.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,800NOK 16.7K
$2,048NOK 19.0K
-12.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,543NOK 14.4K
$1,534NOK 14.3K
0.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,023NOK 56.0K
$7,924NOK 73.7K
-24.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,461NOK 41.5K
$4,854NOK 45.1K
-8.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Holmestrand
Bergen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,733NOK 34.7K
$4,333NOK 40.3K
-13.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2
4.85
-58.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Holmestrand: April 21, 2026
Last update for Bergen: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,206 in Holmestrand and $1,308 in Bergen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bergen pays 16% 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 Holmestrand vs $101 in Bergen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $451 vs $487 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, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Holmestrand or Bergen?
On paper, Bergen earns 16% 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 Holmestrand and Bergen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,206 in Holmestrand versus $1,308 in Bergen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $303 in Holmestrand versus $280 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 Bergen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Bergen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Holmestrand or Bergen?
At $2,359 in Holmestrand versus $2,594 in Bergen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Holmestrand but tight or insufficient in Bergen. The gap between the two cities makes Holmestrand the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
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 10% 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