🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,742 in Porsgrunn versus $2,907 in Bergen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,904 in Porsgrunn versus $4,400 in Bergen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,066 in Porsgrunn versus $5,894 in Bergen.
🌍Living in Porsgrunn costs roughly 6% less than in Bergen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Porsgrunn100% above, Bergen112% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Porsgrunn
Bergen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.25NOK 197
$25.49NOK 237
-16.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$108NOK 1,000
$141NOK 1,305
-23.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.19NOK 150
$16.21NOK 150
-0.12%
Cappuccino
$5.86NOK 54.4
$5.63NOK 52.3
4.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62NOK 33.65
$5.28NOK 49.00
-31.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12NOK 28.92
$4.74NOK 43.97
-34.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.67NOK 108
$12.91NOK 120
-9.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.69NOK 99.3
$10.52NOK 97.7
1.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Porsgrunn
Bergen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.57NOK 23.88
$2.48NOK 23.00
3.63%
White Bread(500g)
$4.32NOK 40.10
$3.83NOK 35.57
12.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.60NOK 42.72
$3.58NOK 33.20
28.49%
Eggs
$5.92NOK 55.0
$6.70NOK 62.2
-11.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.91NOK 138
$15.27NOK 142
-2.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.40NOK 143
$17.52NOK 163
-12.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$29.64NOK 275
$35.05NOK 325
-15.44%
Apples(1kg)
$3.43NOK 31.89
$4.22NOK 39.14
-18.72%
Banana(1kg)
$2.67NOK 24.81
$2.71NOK 25.17
-1.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.57NOK 33.18
$3.72NOK 34.55
-4.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.83NOK 54.1
$5.61NOK 52.1
3.92%
Potato(1kg)
$2.73NOK 25.37
$2.56NOK 23.73
6.64%
Onion(1kg)
$2.92NOK 27.07
$3.48NOK 32.27
-16.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.12NOK 28.99
$3.03NOK 28.12
2.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.53NOK 23.50
$1.99NOK 18.44
27.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.32NOK 179
$17.89NOK 166
7.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.94NOK 157
$18.74NOK 174
-9.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.49NOK 32.39
$3.62NOK 33.58
-3.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.24NOK 39.37
$4.24NOK 39.39
-
🚌 Getting Around
Porsgrunn
Bergen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.74NOK 25.45
$5.17NOK 47.97
-47.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$50.2NOK 466
$90.2NOK 837
-44.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.44NOK 115
$12.70NOK 118
-2.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.89NOK 17.59
$1.90NOK 17.68
-0.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$70.6NOK 656
$73.1NOK 679
-3.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.28NOK 21.16
$2.24NOK 20.82
1.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.9KNOK 463.2K
$49.8KNOK 462.0K
0.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.3KNOK 429.8K
$43.8KNOK 406.7K
5.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Porsgrunn
Bergen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$421NOK 3,912
$286NOK 2,653
47.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.19NOK 308
$31.94NOK 297
3.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.6NOK 534
$78.6NOK 729
-26.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Porsgrunn
Bergen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$44.64NOK 414
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$43.59NOK 405
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.48NOK 181
$19.25NOK 179
1.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Porsgrunn
Bergen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$250NOK 2,318
$241NOK 2,234
3.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0KNOK 148.6K
$11.9KNOK 110.9K
33.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Porsgrunn
Bergen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101NOK 938
$107NOK 991
-5.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.2NOK 578
$54.3NOK 504
14.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$134NOK 1,244
$123NOK 1,141
9.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161NOK 1,499
$169NOK 1,571
-4.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Porsgrunn
Bergen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$835NOK 7,754
$1,514NOK 14.1K
-44.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$950NOK 8,818
$1,119NOK 10.4K
-15.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,600NOK 14.9K
$2,489NOK 23.1K
-35.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,273NOK 11.8K
$1,758NOK 16.3K
-27.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,741NOK 71.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,935NOK 45.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Porsgrunn
Bergen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$4,828NOK 44.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.8
5.31
-28.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Porsgrunn: August 30, 2026
Last update for Bergen: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $835 in Porsgrunn and $1,514 in Bergen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $108 in Porsgrunn vs $141 in Bergen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $515 vs $538 per month, with Porsgrunn 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
Porsgrunn vs Bergen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bergen cheaper than Porsgrunn?
Porsgrunn is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $4,113 in Porsgrunn and $4,361 in Bergen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Porsgrunn and Bergen?
Rent for a central apartment: $835 in Porsgrunn versus $1,514 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 Porsgrunn versus $241 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 Porsgrunn and in Bergen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Bergen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Porsgrunn or in Bergen?
At $2,742 in Porsgrunn versus $2,907 in Bergen, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Porsgrunn but tight or insufficient in Bergen. The gap between the two cities makes Porsgrunn the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Porsgrunn or Bergen more family-friendly?
For families, Porsgrunn 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, Porsgrunn or Bergen?
Safety-wise, Porsgrunn 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 Porsgrunn gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Bergen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.