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