Cost of Living Comparison Between Kongsberg and Bergen Cost of Living Comparison Between Kongsberg and Bergen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,388 in Kongsberg versus $2,622 in Bergen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,537 in Kongsberg versus $3,948 in Bergen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,687 in Kongsberg versus $5,274 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: Kongsberg 78% above, Bergen 95% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.05 NOK 209
$25.22 NOK 239
-12.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1 NOK 665
$102 NOK 965
-31.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.43 NOK 127
$18.97 NOK 180
-29.20%
Cappuccino
$4.82 NOK 45.73
$5.55 NOK 52.6
-13.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 NOK 23.35
$3.17 NOK 30.10
-22.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 NOK 20.98
$3.01 NOK 28.56
-26.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.13 NOK 86.6
$11.86 NOK 113
-23.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.07 NOK 95.6
$9.58 NOK 90.9
5.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.20 NOK 20.90
$2.69 NOK 25.50
-18.22%
White Bread (500g)
$3.14 NOK 29.85
$3.44 NOK 32.66
-8.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.31 NOK 31.38
$2.88 NOK 27.34
14.93%
Eggs
$4.79 NOK 45.45
$5.03 NOK 47.75
-4.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.56 NOK 100
$13.96 NOK 132
-24.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.80 NOK 112
$15.99 NOK 152
-26.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.13 NOK 172
$27.79 NOK 264
-34.76%
Apples (1kg)
$3.11 NOK 29.47
$3.79 NOK 35.95
-17.94%
Banana (1kg)
$2.26 NOK 21.45
$2.95 NOK 27.98
-23.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.30 NOK 31.34
$3.59 NOK 34.03
-8.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.16 NOK 39.50
$5.70 NOK 54.1
-27.02%
Potato (1kg)
$2.27 NOK 21.56
$2.62 NOK 24.85
-13.36%
Onion (1kg)
$2.16 NOK 20.50
$2.87 NOK 27.29
-24.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.98 NOK 28.28
$2.91 NOK 27.63
2.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 NOK 17.87
$2.14 NOK 20.34
-12.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.04 NOK 162
$16.78 NOK 159
1.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.62 NOK 148
$17.96 NOK 170
-13.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.18 NOK 30.14
$3.44 NOK 32.68
-7.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 NOK 35.72
$4.32 NOK 40.97
-12.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.51 NOK 23.84
$4.44 NOK 42.14
-43.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$91.6 NOK 869
$80.0 NOK 759
14.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$9.92 NOK 94.2
$15.23 NOK 145
-34.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.40 NOK 13.33
$2.27 NOK 21.55
-38.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.84 NOK 283
$72.5 NOK 688
-58.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.11 NOK 20.07
$2.21 NOK 20.93
-4.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K NOK 362.9K
$35.9K NOK 340.3K
6.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.3K NOK 391.9K
$42.9K NOK 407.0K
-3.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 NOK 2,078
$243 NOK 2,311
-10.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.18 NOK 258
$38.80 NOK 368
-29.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.57 NOK 366
$65.3 NOK 620
-40.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.84 NOK 416
$54.2 NOK 514
-19.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$53.3 NOK 506
$39.54 NOK 375
34.75%
Cinema Ticket
$20.31 NOK 193
$20.20 NOK 192
0.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$312 NOK 2,961
$282 NOK 2,677
10.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,700 NOK 35.1K
$12.6K NOK 119.9K
-70.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.0 NOK 844
$90.9 NOK 863
-2.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.9 NOK 502
$55.9 NOK 531
-5.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$158 NOK 1,501
$112 NOK 1,064
41.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$160 NOK 1,515
$147 NOK 1,391
8.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,021 NOK 9,694
$1,295 NOK 12.3K
-21.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$910 NOK 8,642
$973 NOK 9,238
-6.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,720 NOK 16.3K
$1,994 NOK 18.9K
-13.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,589 NOK 15.1K
$1,568 NOK 14.9K
1.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,266 NOK 59.5K
$7,844 NOK 74.4K
-20.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,167 NOK 39.5K
$4,587 NOK 43.5K
-9.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,562 NOK 33.8K
$4,531 NOK 43.0K
-21.39%
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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Bergen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,021 in Kongsberg and $1,295 in Bergen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bergen pays 27% 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: $70.0 in Kongsberg vs $102 in Bergen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $394 vs $490 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 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Kongsberg or Bergen?
On paper, Bergen earns 27% 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: $1,021 in Kongsberg versus $1,295 in Bergen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $312 in Kongsberg versus $282 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 $2,388 in Kongsberg versus $2,622 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.

Kongsberg vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities