Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kolbotn and Bergen

For one person, living is cheaper in Kolbotn: $2,540 a month against $3,093 in Bergen, rent and utilities included – about $6,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kolbotn, Norway
Bergen, Norway
Kolbotn
🇳🇴 Norway
$2,540
/mo nomad
Bergen
🇳🇴 Norway
$3,093
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kolbotn and in Bergen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kolbotn and in Bergen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,540 in Kolbotn versus $3,093 in Bergen.

  • Kolbotn $2,540
  • Bergen $3,093

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,844 in Kolbotn versus $4,619 in Bergen.

  • Kolbotn $3,844
  • Bergen $4,619

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,147 in Kolbotn versus $6,145 in Bergen.

  • Kolbotn $5,147
  • Bergen $6,145

Living in Kolbotn costs roughly 18% less than in Bergen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kolbotn 87% above, Bergen 127% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kolbotn
Bergen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.37 NOK 200
$23.85 NOK 223
-10.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$129 NOK 1,203
$141 NOK 1,319
-8.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.00 NOK 149
$16.30 NOK 152
-1.84%
Cappuccino
$5.87 NOK 54.8
$5.62 NOK 52.4
4.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.54 NOK 42.37
$5.19 NOK 48.46
-12.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 NOK 31.99
$4.57 NOK 42.67
-24.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.92 NOK 111
$12.92 NOK 121
-7.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.78 NOK 119
$10.71 NOK 99.9
19.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kolbotn
Bergen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.11 NOK 19.72
$2.35 NOK 21.90
-10.21%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 NOK 23.01
$3.83 NOK 35.77
-35.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.27 NOK 21.22
$3.45 NOK 32.17
-34.20%
Eggs
$5.09 NOK 47.48
$6.67 NOK 62.3
-23.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.04 NOK 140
$14.89 NOK 139
1.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.10 NOK 150
$17.88 NOK 167
-9.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$31.83 NOK 297
$37.65 NOK 351
-15.46%
Apples (1kg)
$2.92 NOK 27.28
$4.10 NOK 38.29
-28.78%
Banana (1kg)
$2.02 NOK 18.85
$2.80 NOK 26.15
-27.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.64 NOK 33.95
$3.70 NOK 34.54
-1.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.90 NOK 45.78
$5.54 NOK 51.7
-11.55%
Potato (1kg)
$2.16 NOK 20.13
$2.46 NOK 23.01
-12.20%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 NOK 21.55
$3.41 NOK 31.82
-32.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.13 NOK 29.18
$3.08 NOK 28.73
1.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 NOK 15.30
$1.83 NOK 17.10
-10.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.35 NOK 181
$17.65 NOK 165
9.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.73 NOK 156
$19.73 NOK 184
-15.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.62 NOK 33.83
$3.83 NOK 35.73
-5.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22 NOK 39.41
$4.44 NOK 41.43
-4.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Kolbotn
Bergen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.67 NOK 43.63
$5.32 NOK 49.70
-12.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$86.3 NOK 806
$89.0 NOK 831
-3.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$12.09 NOK 113
$12.82 NOK 120
-5.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.85 NOK 17.27
$1.95 NOK 18.23
-5.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$72.9 NOK 680
$74.9 NOK 699
-2.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.23 NOK 20.81
$2.41 NOK 22.47
-7.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.3K NOK 469.7K
$50.1K NOK 467.3K
0.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.8K NOK 417.9K
$44.8K NOK 417.9K
0.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kolbotn
Bergen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$112 NOK 1,046
$292 NOK 2,722
-61.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.57 NOK 201
$33.90 NOK 316
-36.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.8 NOK 511
$85.1 NOK 794
-35.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kolbotn
Bergen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.22 NOK 459
$48.43 NOK 452
1.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.00 NOK 345
$44.06 NOK 411
-16.02%
Cinema Ticket
$15.48 NOK 145
$19.28 NOK 180
-19.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kolbotn
Bergen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$242 NOK 2,256
$251 NOK 2,342
-3.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K NOK 150.0K
$12.0K NOK 111.8K
34.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kolbotn
Bergen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 NOK 978
$108 NOK 1,005
-2.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.0 NOK 569
$56.1 NOK 523
8.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 NOK 1,259
$120 NOK 1,121
12.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159 NOK 1,485
$166 NOK 1,549
-4.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kolbotn
Bergen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,253 NOK 11.7K
$1,627 NOK 15.2K
-22.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,067 NOK 9,958
$1,283 NOK 12.0K
-16.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,044 NOK 19.1K
$2,668 NOK 24.9K
-23.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,493 NOK 13.9K
$1,928 NOK 18.0K
-22.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,511 NOK 60.8K
$8,228 NOK 76.8K
-20.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,158 NOK 38.8K
$5,382 NOK 50.2K
-22.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kolbotn
Bergen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$4,732 NOK 44.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.94
5.27
-6.26%

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

Last update for Kolbotn: October 24, 2026

Last update for Bergen: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kolbotn
$1.1K
Bergen
$1.3K 20.3% $217
Groceries & Markets
Kolbotn
$465
Bergen
$545 17.1% $80
Eating Out
Kolbotn
$406
Bergen
$432 6.3% $26
Clothing & Footwear
Kolbotn
$207
Bergen
$202 2.2% $4.5
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kolbotn
$188
Bergen
$411 118% $222
Getting Around
Kolbotn
$126
Bergen
$133 5.2% $6.5
Sport & Entertainment
Kolbotn
$80
Bergen
$87 8.5% $6.8

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,253 in Kolbotn and $1,627 in Bergen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $129 in Kolbotn vs $141 in Bergen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $465 vs $545 per month, with Kolbotn cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇳🇴 Kolbotn
🇳🇴 Bergen
🕒 Local time
16:32 4:32 PM
16:32 4:32 PM
Same time as Kolbotn
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,500
292,482
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to NOK – Norwegian Krone Converter

Norwegian Krone exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 9.33 NOK (1 NOK = 0.107 USD). 1 EUR = 10.39 NOK (100 NOK = 9.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kolbotn Bergen 310 km
From you
  • Kolbotn
  • Bergen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Kolbotn vs Bergen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kolbotn cheaper than Bergen?
Kolbotn is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, utilities, and eating out. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $3,811 in Kolbotn and $4,640 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 Kolbotn and Bergen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,253 in Kolbotn versus $1,627 in Bergen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $242 in Kolbotn versus $251 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 Kolbotn and in Bergen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 17% 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 Kolbotn or in Bergen?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Kolbotn is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is it better to live in Kolbotn or in Bergen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Kolbotn or Bergen?
Safety-wise, Kolbotn 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 Kolbotn gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Bergen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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