🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,992 in Lillehammer versus $2,650 in Bergen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,975 in Lillehammer versus $3,988 in Bergen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,957 in Lillehammer versus $5,327 in Bergen.
🌍Living in Lillehammer costs roughly 25% less than in Bergen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lillehammer49% above, Bergen98% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lillehammer
Bergen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.31NOK 157
$25.72NOK 248
-36.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.9NOK 789
$103NOK 993
-20.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.30NOK 138
$19.51NOK 188
-26.70%
Cappuccino
$4.80NOK 46.24
$5.42NOK 52.2
-11.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74NOK 26.40
$3.20NOK 30.82
-14.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20NOK 21.19
$2.89NOK 27.87
-23.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.25NOK 89.1
$11.82NOK 114
-21.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.76NOK 65.1
$9.78NOK 94.2
-30.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lillehammer
Bergen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.04NOK 19.65
$2.65NOK 25.54
-23.02%
White Bread(500g)
$2.06NOK 19.84
$3.28NOK 31.58
-37.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.05NOK 19.76
$2.88NOK 27.77
-28.82%
Eggs
$3.00NOK 28.92
$4.90NOK 47.23
-38.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.33NOK 119
$14.20NOK 137
-13.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.27NOK 98.9
$16.06NOK 155
-36.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.05NOK 270
$28.21NOK 272
-0.57%
Apples(1kg)
$3.48NOK 33.57
$3.94NOK 37.99
-11.68%
Banana(1kg)
$2.07NOK 19.98
$2.96NOK 28.52
-30.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.66NOK 25.66
$3.75NOK 36.17
-29.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.48NOK 23.92
$5.62NOK 54.2
-55.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55NOK 14.90
$2.73NOK 26.29
-43.22%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04NOK 19.66
$2.91NOK 28.04
-29.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31NOK 12.59
$2.80NOK 27.00
-53.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.39NOK 23.03
$2.14NOK 20.64
11.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.06NOK 135
$16.95NOK 163
-17.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41NOK 148
$17.26NOK 166
-10.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.48NOK 33.55
$3.30NOK 31.80
5.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.70NOK 45.29
$4.38NOK 42.18
7.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Lillehammer
Bergen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.55NOK 24.60
$4.47NOK 43.07
-42.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.2NOK 512
$81.2NOK 783
-34.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.70NOK 54.9
$15.23NOK 147
-62.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99NOK 9.57
$2.25NOK 21.66
-56.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$50.8NOK 489
$72.5NOK 699
-29.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.16NOK 20.82
$2.13NOK 20.51
1.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4KNOK 302.3K
$35.3KNOK 340.4K
-11.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.3KNOK 339.6K
$43.1KNOK 415.0K
-18.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lillehammer
Bergen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$325NOK 3,130
$242NOK 2,333
34.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.77NOK 402
$38.51NOK 371
8.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.78NOK 345
$64.7NOK 623
-44.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lillehammer
Bergen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.97NOK 481
$53.9NOK 520
-7.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.32NOK 340
$40.36NOK 389
-12.49%
Cinema Ticket
$12.21NOK 118
$20.20NOK 195
-39.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lillehammer
Bergen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$300NOK 2,890
$286NOK 2,753
4.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,625NOK 83.1K
$12.6KNOK 121.0K
-31.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lillehammer
Bergen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.1NOK 887
$91.1NOK 878
1.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.59NOK 295
$55.5NOK 535
-44.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.9NOK 692
$111NOK 1,071
-35.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131NOK 1,261
$145NOK 1,400
-9.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lillehammer
Bergen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$993NOK 9,562
$1,284NOK 12.4K
-22.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$609NOK 5,868
$976NOK 9,397
-37.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,796NOK 17.3K
$2,019NOK 19.4K
-11.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$910NOK 8,768
$1,558NOK 15.0K
-41.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,747NOK 55.4K
$7,575NOK 73.0K
-24.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,510NOK 24.2K
$4,645NOK 44.7K
-45.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lillehammer
Bergen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,013NOK 19.4K
$4,344NOK 41.8K
-53.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.32
4.85
-10.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lillehammer: July 12, 2026
Last update for Bergen: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $993 in Lillehammer and $1,284 in Bergen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bergen pays 116% 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: $82.0 in Lillehammer vs $103 in Bergen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $387 vs $489 per month, with Lillehammer 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
Lillehammer vs Bergen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bergen cheaper than Lillehammer?
Lillehammer is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lillehammer or Bergen?
On paper, salaries run 116% 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 Lillehammer and Bergen?
Rent for a central apartment: $993 in Lillehammer versus $1,284 in Bergen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $300 in Lillehammer versus $286 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 Lillehammer and in Bergen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Bergen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Lillehammer or in Bergen?
At $1,992 in Lillehammer versus $2,650 in Bergen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lillehammer but tight or insufficient in Bergen. The gap between the two cities makes Lillehammer the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lillehammer or Bergen more family-friendly?
For families, Lillehammer 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, Lillehammer or Bergen?
Safety-wise, Lillehammer 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 Lillehammer gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Bergen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Lillehammer vs other spots: cost of living compared