🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,300 in Kongsberg versus $2,688 in Bergen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,510 in Kongsberg versus $3,981 in Bergen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,721 in Kongsberg versus $5,273 in Bergen.
🙂Living in Kongsberg costs roughly 14% less than in Bergen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kongsberg72% above, Bergen101% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.91NOK 204
$25.64NOK 239
-14.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.9NOK 661
$102NOK 948
-30.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.25NOK 123
$18.93NOK 176
-30.01%
Cappuccino
$4.99NOK 46.54
$5.60NOK 52.2
-10.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45NOK 22.85
$3.11NOK 28.95
-21.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24NOK 20.88
$2.90NOK 27.05
-22.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.06NOK 84.5
$11.69NOK 109
-22.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.00NOK 93.2
$9.43NOK 87.9
6.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.09NOK 19.46
$2.75NOK 25.64
-24.00%
White Bread(500g)
$3.05NOK 28.40
$3.30NOK 30.73
-7.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.30NOK 30.74
$2.81NOK 26.16
17.44%
Eggs
$4.69NOK 43.72
$4.86NOK 45.27
-3.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.45NOK 97.4
$14.19NOK 132
-26.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.04NOK 112
$15.59NOK 145
-22.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.33NOK 171
$28.20NOK 263
-35.00%
Apples(1kg)
$3.16NOK 29.49
$3.87NOK 36.11
-18.35%
Banana(1kg)
$2.28NOK 21.24
$3.06NOK 28.54
-25.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.26NOK 30.39
$3.61NOK 33.64
-9.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.22NOK 39.31
$5.57NOK 51.9
-24.24%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21NOK 20.61
$2.70NOK 25.18
-18.15%
Onion(1kg)
$2.15NOK 20.00
$2.86NOK 26.65
-24.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.88NOK 26.83
$2.78NOK 25.89
3.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.90NOK 17.67
$2.12NOK 19.77
-10.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.13NOK 160
$16.39NOK 153
4.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.32NOK 152
$18.35NOK 171
-11.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.17NOK 29.53
$3.27NOK 30.52
-3.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89NOK 36.24
$4.39NOK 40.95
-11.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.54NOK 23.70
$4.43NOK 41.24
-42.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$89.4NOK 833
$81.3NOK 758
9.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.03NOK 93.5
$15.40NOK 144
-34.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.38NOK 12.85
$2.29NOK 21.30
-39.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.84NOK 278
$73.1NOK 681
-59.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.12NOK 19.74
$2.15NOK 20.02
-1.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4KNOK 357.8K
$35.0KNOK 326.4K
9.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.0KNOK 372.4K
$42.3KNOK 394.4K
-5.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$215NOK 2,006
$245NOK 2,284
-12.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.74NOK 259
$38.87NOK 362
-28.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.36NOK 348
$64.9NOK 605
-42.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.95NOK 410
$55.3NOK 515
-20.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$53.6NOK 500
$39.54NOK 369
35.63%
Cinema Ticket
$19.86NOK 185
$20.55NOK 192
-3.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$302NOK 2,815
$279NOK 2,597
8.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,684NOK 34.3K
$13.0KNOK 120.8K
-71.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.4NOK 824
$89.8NOK 837
-1.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.7NOK 482
$55.2NOK 515
-6.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$159NOK 1,482
$114NOK 1,061
39.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$163NOK 1,515
$144NOK 1,340
13.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000NOK 9,319
$1,287NOK 12.0K
-22.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$882NOK 8,224
$967NOK 9,014
-8.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,721NOK 16.0K
$1,994NOK 18.6K
-13.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,562NOK 14.6K
$1,573NOK 14.7K
-0.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,290NOK 58.6K
$7,978NOK 74.4K
-21.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,376NOK 40.8K
$5,002NOK 46.6K
-12.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,682NOK 34.3K
$4,447NOK 41.4K
-17.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.38
4.85
-9.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kongsberg: April 26, 2026
Last update for Bergen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Kongsberg and $1,287 in Bergen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bergen pays 21% 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: $71.0 in Kongsberg vs $102 in Bergen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $395 vs $489 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, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Kongsberg or Bergen?
On paper, Bergen earns 21% 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 Kongsberg and Bergen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Kongsberg versus $1,287 in Bergen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $302 in Kongsberg versus $279 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 Bergen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Bergen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Kongsberg or Bergen?
At $2,300 in Kongsberg versus $2,688 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 17% less than in Bergen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.