🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,690 in Kongsberg versus $2,948 in Bergen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,006 in Kongsberg versus $4,449 in Bergen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,323 in Kongsberg versus $5,950 in Bergen.
🌍Living in Kongsberg costs roughly 9% less than in Bergen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kongsberg97% above, Bergen115% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.13NOK 199
$24.70NOK 233
-14.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.0NOK 697
$139NOK 1,310
-46.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.39NOK 154
$15.86NOK 149
3.34%
Cappuccino
$5.30NOK 49.92
$5.68NOK 53.5
-6.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09NOK 38.50
$5.31NOK 49.99
-22.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40NOK 32.05
$4.53NOK 42.68
-24.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.78NOK 111
$12.85NOK 121
-8.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.66NOK 100
$10.60NOK 99.9
0.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.64NOK 24.85
$2.33NOK 21.94
13.30%
White Bread(500g)
$3.18NOK 29.94
$3.90NOK 36.76
-18.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.71NOK 44.38
$3.57NOK 33.67
31.93%
Eggs
$5.10NOK 48.08
$6.62NOK 62.4
-22.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.08NOK 104
$15.02NOK 141
-26.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.49NOK 118
$17.61NOK 166
-29.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.77NOK 177
$35.64NOK 336
-47.33%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29NOK 31.01
$4.02NOK 37.87
-18.16%
Banana(1kg)
$2.66NOK 25.06
$2.83NOK 26.64
-6.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.53NOK 33.29
$3.67NOK 34.53
-3.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.93NOK 46.41
$5.50NOK 51.8
-10.36%
Potato(1kg)
$2.69NOK 25.37
$2.55NOK 23.99
5.49%
Onion(1kg)
$2.54NOK 23.91
$3.30NOK 31.09
-23.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.07NOK 28.94
$2.94NOK 27.69
4.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.46NOK 23.17
$1.91NOK 17.95
28.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.05NOK 170
$18.18NOK 171
-0.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.19NOK 153
$18.23NOK 172
-11.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.50NOK 32.98
$3.52NOK 33.19
-0.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99NOK 37.57
$4.39NOK 41.31
-9.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.18NOK 29.95
$5.12NOK 48.19
-37.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$96.1NOK 906
$90.2NOK 850
6.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.44NOK 117
$12.62NOK 119
-1.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.85NOK 17.40
$1.96NOK 18.42
-5.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$31.91NOK 301
$74.5NOK 702
-57.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.34NOK 22.07
$2.37NOK 22.33
-1.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.9KNOK 460.8K
$49.1KNOK 462.4K
-0.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.8KNOK 421.9K
$44.2KNOK 416.8K
1.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$323NOK 3,045
$288NOK 2,716
12.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.89NOK 272
$31.45NOK 296
-8.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.3NOK 530
$78.6NOK 741
-28.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.47NOK 447
$45.85NOK 432
3.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$56.7NOK 534
$43.68NOK 411
29.74%
Cinema Ticket
$19.37NOK 182
$19.64NOK 185
-1.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$250NOK 2,355
$245NOK 2,309
1.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,926NOK 37.0K
$12.2KNOK 115.2K
-67.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.5NOK 890
$107NOK 1,007
-11.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.1NOK 529
$54.3NOK 511
3.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$135NOK 1,275
$125NOK 1,181
7.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158NOK 1,489
$170NOK 1,601
-7.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,088NOK 10.2K
$1,496NOK 14.1K
-27.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,058NOK 9,970
$1,104NOK 10.4K
-4.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,046NOK 19.3K
$2,481NOK 23.4K
-17.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,712NOK 16.1K
$1,780NOK 16.8K
-3.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,368NOK 60.0K
$7,757NOK 73.1K
-17.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,275NOK 40.3K
$4,967NOK 46.8K
-13.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,695NOK 34.8K
$4,712NOK 44.4K
-21.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.98
5.31
-6.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kongsberg: September 13, 2026
Last update for Bergen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,088 in Kongsberg and $1,496 in Bergen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bergen pays 28% 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: $74.0 in Kongsberg vs $139 in Bergen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $433 vs $534 per month, with Kongsberg 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
Kongsberg vs Bergen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bergen cheaper than Kongsberg?
Kongsberg 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: Kongsberg or Bergen?
On paper, salaries run 28% 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 Kongsberg and Bergen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,088 in Kongsberg versus $1,496 in Bergen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $250 in Kongsberg versus $245 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 Kongsberg and in Bergen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Bergen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Kongsberg or in Bergen?
At $2,690 in Kongsberg versus $2,948 in Bergen, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Kongsberg but tight or insufficient in Bergen. The gap between the two cities makes Kongsberg the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Kongsberg or Bergen more family-friendly?
For families, Kongsberg 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, Kongsberg or Bergen?
Safety-wise, Kongsberg 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 Kongsberg 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.