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: $2,690 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: Kongsberg 97% above, Bergen 115% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.13 NOK 199
$24.70 NOK 233
-14.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.0 NOK 697
$139 NOK 1,310
-46.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.39 NOK 154
$15.86 NOK 149
3.34%
Cappuccino
$5.30 NOK 49.92
$5.68 NOK 53.5
-6.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09 NOK 38.50
$5.31 NOK 49.99
-22.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 NOK 32.05
$4.53 NOK 42.68
-24.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.78 NOK 111
$12.85 NOK 121
-8.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.66 NOK 100
$10.60 NOK 99.9
0.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.64 NOK 24.85
$2.33 NOK 21.94
13.30%
White Bread (500g)
$3.18 NOK 29.94
$3.90 NOK 36.76
-18.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.71 NOK 44.38
$3.57 NOK 33.67
31.93%
Eggs
$5.10 NOK 48.08
$6.62 NOK 62.4
-22.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.08 NOK 104
$15.02 NOK 141
-26.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.49 NOK 118
$17.61 NOK 166
-29.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.77 NOK 177
$35.64 NOK 336
-47.33%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 NOK 31.01
$4.02 NOK 37.87
-18.16%
Banana (1kg)
$2.66 NOK 25.06
$2.83 NOK 26.64
-6.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.53 NOK 33.29
$3.67 NOK 34.53
-3.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.93 NOK 46.41
$5.50 NOK 51.8
-10.36%
Potato (1kg)
$2.69 NOK 25.37
$2.55 NOK 23.99
5.49%
Onion (1kg)
$2.54 NOK 23.91
$3.30 NOK 31.09
-23.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 NOK 28.94
$2.94 NOK 27.69
4.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.46 NOK 23.17
$1.91 NOK 17.95
28.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.05 NOK 170
$18.18 NOK 171
-0.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.19 NOK 153
$18.23 NOK 172
-11.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.50 NOK 32.98
$3.52 NOK 33.19
-0.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99 NOK 37.57
$4.39 NOK 41.31
-9.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.18 NOK 29.95
$5.12 NOK 48.19
-37.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$96.1 NOK 906
$90.2 NOK 850
6.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$12.44 NOK 117
$12.62 NOK 119
-1.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.85 NOK 17.40
$1.96 NOK 18.42
-5.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.91 NOK 301
$74.5 NOK 702
-57.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.34 NOK 22.07
$2.37 NOK 22.33
-1.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.9K NOK 460.8K
$49.1K NOK 462.4K
-0.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.8K NOK 421.9K
$44.2K NOK 416.8K
1.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$323 NOK 3,045
$288 NOK 2,716
12.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.89 NOK 272
$31.45 NOK 296
-8.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.3 NOK 530
$78.6 NOK 741
-28.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.47 NOK 447
$45.85 NOK 432
3.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$56.7 NOK 534
$43.68 NOK 411
29.74%
Cinema Ticket
$19.37 NOK 182
$19.64 NOK 185
-1.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$250 NOK 2,355
$245 NOK 2,309
1.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,926 NOK 37.0K
$12.2K NOK 115.2K
-67.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.5 NOK 890
$107 NOK 1,007
-11.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.1 NOK 529
$54.3 NOK 511
3.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 NOK 1,275
$125 NOK 1,181
7.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158 NOK 1,489
$170 NOK 1,601
-7.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,088 NOK 10.2K
$1,496 NOK 14.1K
-27.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,058 NOK 9,970
$1,104 NOK 10.4K
-4.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,046 NOK 19.3K
$2,481 NOK 23.4K
-17.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,712 NOK 16.1K
$1,780 NOK 16.8K
-3.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,368 NOK 60.0K
$7,757 NOK 73.1K
-17.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,275 NOK 40.3K
$4,967 NOK 46.8K
-13.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kongsberg
Bergen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,695 NOK 34.8K
$4,712 NOK 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.

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