Cost of Living Comparison Between Lillehammer and Bergen Cost of Living Comparison Between Lillehammer and Bergen

Monthly Cost of Living

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: Lillehammer 49% above, Bergen 98% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lillehammer
Bergen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.31 NOK 157
$25.72 NOK 248
-36.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.9 NOK 789
$103 NOK 993
-20.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.30 NOK 138
$19.51 NOK 188
-26.70%
Cappuccino
$4.80 NOK 46.24
$5.42 NOK 52.2
-11.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 NOK 26.40
$3.20 NOK 30.82
-14.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 NOK 21.19
$2.89 NOK 27.87
-23.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.25 NOK 89.1
$11.82 NOK 114
-21.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.76 NOK 65.1
$9.78 NOK 94.2
-30.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lillehammer
Bergen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.04 NOK 19.65
$2.65 NOK 25.54
-23.02%
White Bread (500g)
$2.06 NOK 19.84
$3.28 NOK 31.58
-37.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.05 NOK 19.76
$2.88 NOK 27.77
-28.82%
Eggs
$3.00 NOK 28.92
$4.90 NOK 47.23
-38.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.33 NOK 119
$14.20 NOK 137
-13.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.27 NOK 98.9
$16.06 NOK 155
-36.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$28.05 NOK 270
$28.21 NOK 272
-0.57%
Apples (1kg)
$3.48 NOK 33.57
$3.94 NOK 37.99
-11.68%
Banana (1kg)
$2.07 NOK 19.98
$2.96 NOK 28.52
-30.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.66 NOK 25.66
$3.75 NOK 36.17
-29.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.48 NOK 23.92
$5.62 NOK 54.2
-55.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.55 NOK 14.90
$2.73 NOK 26.29
-43.22%
Onion (1kg)
$2.04 NOK 19.66
$2.91 NOK 28.04
-29.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.31 NOK 12.59
$2.80 NOK 27.00
-53.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.39 NOK 23.03
$2.14 NOK 20.64
11.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.06 NOK 135
$16.95 NOK 163
-17.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.41 NOK 148
$17.26 NOK 166
-10.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.48 NOK 33.55
$3.30 NOK 31.80
5.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.70 NOK 45.29
$4.38 NOK 42.18
7.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Lillehammer
Bergen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.55 NOK 24.60
$4.47 NOK 43.07
-42.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.2 NOK 512
$81.2 NOK 783
-34.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.70 NOK 54.9
$15.23 NOK 147
-62.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 NOK 9.57
$2.25 NOK 21.66
-56.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$50.8 NOK 489
$72.5 NOK 699
-29.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.16 NOK 20.82
$2.13 NOK 20.51
1.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K NOK 302.3K
$35.3K NOK 340.4K
-11.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.3K NOK 339.6K
$43.1K NOK 415.0K
-18.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lillehammer
Bergen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$325 NOK 3,130
$242 NOK 2,333
34.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.77 NOK 402
$38.51 NOK 371
8.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.78 NOK 345
$64.7 NOK 623
-44.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lillehammer
Bergen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.97 NOK 481
$53.9 NOK 520
-7.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.32 NOK 340
$40.36 NOK 389
-12.49%
Cinema Ticket
$12.21 NOK 118
$20.20 NOK 195
-39.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lillehammer
Bergen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$300 NOK 2,890
$286 NOK 2,753
4.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,625 NOK 83.1K
$12.6K NOK 121.0K
-31.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lillehammer
Bergen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.1 NOK 887
$91.1 NOK 878
1.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.59 NOK 295
$55.5 NOK 535
-44.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.9 NOK 692
$111 NOK 1,071
-35.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 NOK 1,261
$145 NOK 1,400
-9.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lillehammer
Bergen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$993 NOK 9,562
$1,284 NOK 12.4K
-22.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$609 NOK 5,868
$976 NOK 9,397
-37.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,796 NOK 17.3K
$2,019 NOK 19.4K
-11.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$910 NOK 8,768
$1,558 NOK 15.0K
-41.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,747 NOK 55.4K
$7,575 NOK 73.0K
-24.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,510 NOK 24.2K
$4,645 NOK 44.7K
-45.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lillehammer
Bergen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,013 NOK 19.4K
$4,344 NOK 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.

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