Cost of Living Comparison Between Oslo and Kongsberg Cost of Living Comparison Between Oslo and Kongsberg

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,482 per month in Oslo vs $2,742 in Kongsberg, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,887 per month in Oslo vs $3,956 in Kongsberg, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,292 per month in Oslo vs $5,170 in Kongsberg, rent included.

Oslo costs about 27% more than Kongsberg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Oslo and Kongsberg sit above the global median – Oslo by 153%, Kongsberg by 100%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oslo
Kongsberg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.52 NOK 200
$21.34 NOK 198
0.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$127 NOK 1,181
$75.1 NOK 698
69.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.83 NOK 147
$16.15 NOK 150
-1.98%
Cappuccino
$6.01 NOK 55.8
$5.27 NOK 48.91
14.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.17 NOK 38.71
$4.15 NOK 38.57
0.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 NOK 31.81
$3.48 NOK 32.32
-1.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.58 NOK 108
$11.76 NOK 109
-1.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.62 NOK 117
$10.51 NOK 97.6
20.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oslo
Kongsberg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.57 NOK 23.89
$2.65 NOK 24.56
-3.02%
White Bread (500g)
$4.31 NOK 40.04
$3.26 NOK 30.29
32.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.59 NOK 42.61
$4.52 NOK 41.95
1.55%
Eggs
$5.96 NOK 55.4
$4.96 NOK 46.01
20.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.97 NOK 139
$11.00 NOK 102
36.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.70 NOK 146
$12.70 NOK 118
23.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$30.01 NOK 279
$19.12 NOK 178
56.96%
Apples (1kg)
$3.48 NOK 32.33
$3.18 NOK 29.53
9.43%
Banana (1kg)
$2.67 NOK 24.82
$2.69 NOK 24.94
-0.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.63 NOK 33.67
$3.43 NOK 31.86
5.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.97 NOK 55.4
$5.08 NOK 47.12
17.52%
Potato (1kg)
$2.74 NOK 25.48
$2.75 NOK 25.54
-0.36%
Onion (1kg)
$2.94 NOK 27.30
$2.59 NOK 24.05
13.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.21 NOK 29.80
$3.19 NOK 29.65
0.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.46 NOK 22.79
$2.53 NOK 23.45
-2.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.43 NOK 180
$17.90 NOK 166
8.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.63 NOK 154
$16.16 NOK 150
2.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.46 NOK 32.15
$3.48 NOK 32.28
-0.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.29 NOK 39.85
$4.09 NOK 38.00
4.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Oslo
Kongsberg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.95 NOK 46.00
$3.18 NOK 29.53
55.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$83.6 NOK 776
$94.6 NOK 878
-11.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$12.10 NOK 112
$11.96 NOK 111
1.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 NOK 17.82
$1.82 NOK 16.86
5.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$71.7 NOK 666
$32.42 NOK 301
121.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.27 NOK 21.10
$2.37 NOK 21.97
-4.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.0K NOK 464.3K
$48.8K NOK 453.5K
2.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.3K NOK 420.2K
$45.3K NOK 420.4K
-0.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oslo
Kongsberg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$431 NOK 4,001
$328 NOK 3,041
31.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.70 NOK 304
$28.37 NOK 263
15.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.7 NOK 526
$57.6 NOK 535
-1.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oslo
Kongsberg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.6 NOK 553
$46.48 NOK 432
28.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 NOK 268
$58.3 NOK 541
-50.42%
Cinema Ticket
$19.06 NOK 177
$19.34 NOK 180
-1.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oslo
Kongsberg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$251 NOK 2,335
$249 NOK 2,316
0.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K NOK 147.0K
$3,900 NOK 36.2K
305.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oslo
Kongsberg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 NOK 952
$94.0 NOK 873
9.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.1 NOK 576
$56.0 NOK 520
10.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 NOK 1,283
$136 NOK 1,264
1.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161 NOK 1,492
$159 NOK 1,480
0.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oslo
Kongsberg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,079 NOK 19.3K
$1,079 NOK 10.0K
92.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,577 NOK 14.6K
$1,051 NOK 9,760
50.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,043 NOK 28.3K
$2,041 NOK 19.0K
49.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,251 NOK 20.9K
$1,701 NOK 15.8K
32.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$12.1K NOK 112.6K
$6,291 NOK 58.4K
92.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,880 NOK 63.9K
$4,236 NOK 39.3K
62.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oslo
Kongsberg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,469 NOK 41.5K
$3,606 NOK 33.5K
23.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.96
4.96
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Oslo: August 29, 2026

Last update for Kongsberg: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,079 in Oslo versus $1,079 in Kongsberg. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 24% higher in Oslo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $127 in Oslo versus $75.0 in Kongsberg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $518 vs $436 – making Kongsberg the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Oslo vs Kongsberg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kongsberg cheaper than Oslo?
Yes – Oslo is pricier by about 27%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,223 per month in Oslo and $4,113 in Kongsberg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kongsberg, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Oslo and in Kongsberg?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,482 in Oslo and $2,742 in Kongsberg. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 13% less in Kongsberg. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Oslo or in Kongsberg?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Kongsberg, where all-in costs run around $2,742, than in Oslo at $3,482. In Kongsberg it covers expenses comfortably, while in Oslo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Oslo or Kongsberg more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kongsberg – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Oslo or Kongsberg?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kongsberg. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Oslo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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