🙂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: Kongsberg78% above, Bergen95% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.05NOK 209
$25.22NOK 239
-12.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1NOK 665
$102NOK 965
-31.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.43NOK 127
$18.97NOK 180
-29.20%
Cappuccino
$4.82NOK 45.73
$5.55NOK 52.6
-13.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46NOK 23.35
$3.17NOK 30.10
-22.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21NOK 20.98
$3.01NOK 28.56
-26.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.13NOK 86.6
$11.86NOK 113
-23.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.07NOK 95.6
$9.58NOK 90.9
5.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.20NOK 20.90
$2.69NOK 25.50
-18.22%
White Bread(500g)
$3.14NOK 29.85
$3.44NOK 32.66
-8.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.31NOK 31.38
$2.88NOK 27.34
14.93%
Eggs
$4.79NOK 45.45
$5.03NOK 47.75
-4.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.56NOK 100
$13.96NOK 132
-24.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.80NOK 112
$15.99NOK 152
-26.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.13NOK 172
$27.79NOK 264
-34.76%
Apples(1kg)
$3.11NOK 29.47
$3.79NOK 35.95
-17.94%
Banana(1kg)
$2.26NOK 21.45
$2.95NOK 27.98
-23.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.30NOK 31.34
$3.59NOK 34.03
-8.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.16NOK 39.50
$5.70NOK 54.1
-27.02%
Potato(1kg)
$2.27NOK 21.56
$2.62NOK 24.85
-13.36%
Onion(1kg)
$2.16NOK 20.50
$2.87NOK 27.29
-24.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.98NOK 28.28
$2.91NOK 27.63
2.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88NOK 17.87
$2.14NOK 20.34
-12.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.04NOK 162
$16.78NOK 159
1.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.62NOK 148
$17.96NOK 170
-13.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.18NOK 30.14
$3.44NOK 32.68
-7.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76NOK 35.72
$4.32NOK 40.97
-12.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.51NOK 23.84
$4.44NOK 42.14
-43.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$91.6NOK 869
$80.0NOK 759
14.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.92NOK 94.2
$15.23NOK 145
-34.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.40NOK 13.33
$2.27NOK 21.55
-38.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.84NOK 283
$72.5NOK 688
-58.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11NOK 20.07
$2.21NOK 20.93
-4.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2KNOK 362.9K
$35.9KNOK 340.3K
6.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.3KNOK 391.9K
$42.9KNOK 407.0K
-3.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$219NOK 2,078
$243NOK 2,311
-10.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.18NOK 258
$38.80NOK 368
-29.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.57NOK 366
$65.3NOK 620
-40.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.84NOK 416
$54.2NOK 514
-19.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$53.3NOK 506
$39.54NOK 375
34.75%
Cinema Ticket
$20.31NOK 193
$20.20NOK 192
0.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312NOK 2,961
$282NOK 2,677
10.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,700NOK 35.1K
$12.6KNOK 119.9K
-70.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.0NOK 844
$90.9NOK 863
-2.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.9NOK 502
$55.9NOK 531
-5.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$158NOK 1,501
$112NOK 1,064
41.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$160NOK 1,515
$147NOK 1,391
8.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,021NOK 9,694
$1,295NOK 12.3K
-21.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$910NOK 8,642
$973NOK 9,238
-6.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,720NOK 16.3K
$1,994NOK 18.9K
-13.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,589NOK 15.1K
$1,568NOK 14.9K
1.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,266NOK 59.5K
$7,844NOK 74.4K
-20.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,167NOK 39.5K
$4,587NOK 43.5K
-9.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,562NOK 33.8K
$4,531NOK 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.