🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,299 in Porsgrunn versus $2,650 in Bergen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,541 in Porsgrunn versus $3,988 in Bergen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,783 in Porsgrunn versus $5,327 in Bergen.
🌍Living in Porsgrunn costs roughly 13% less than in Bergen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Porsgrunn72% above, Bergen98% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Porsgrunn
Bergen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.55NOK 275
$25.72NOK 248
11.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101NOK 975
$103NOK 993
-1.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.18NOK 127
$19.51NOK 188
-32.44%
Cappuccino
$4.95NOK 47.66
$5.42NOK 52.2
-8.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00NOK 19.25
$3.20NOK 30.82
-37.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06NOK 19.83
$2.89NOK 27.87
-28.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.98NOK 86.5
$11.82NOK 114
-24.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.67NOK 93.2
$9.78NOK 94.2
-1.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Porsgrunn
Bergen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.05NOK 19.70
$2.65NOK 25.54
-22.64%
White Bread(500g)
$3.42NOK 32.94
$3.28NOK 31.58
4.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.32NOK 32.00
$2.88NOK 27.77
15.28%
Eggs
$2.47NOK 23.78
$4.90NOK 47.23
-49.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.29NOK 99.1
$14.20NOK 137
-27.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.07NOK 97.0
$16.06NOK 155
-37.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$34.84NOK 336
$28.21NOK 272
23.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.00NOK 19.27
$3.94NOK 37.99
-49.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67NOK 16.07
$2.96NOK 28.52
-43.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.49NOK 23.96
$3.75NOK 36.17
-33.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.80NOK 26.98
$5.62NOK 54.2
-50.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03NOK 9.90
$2.73NOK 26.29
-62.27%
Onion(1kg)
$2.13NOK 20.49
$2.91NOK 28.04
-26.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.35NOK 22.68
$2.80NOK 27.00
-16.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.90NOK 18.28
$2.14NOK 20.64
-11.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.21NOK 137
$16.95NOK 163
-16.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.13NOK 175
$17.26NOK 166
5.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.99NOK 28.76
$3.30NOK 31.80
-9.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00NOK 38.55
$4.38NOK 42.18
-8.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Porsgrunn
Bergen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.37NOK 32.43
$4.47NOK 43.07
-24.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$72.9NOK 702
$81.2NOK 783
-10.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.05NOK 96.9
$15.23NOK 147
-34.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.46NOK 14.03
$2.25NOK 21.66
-35.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$99.3NOK 957
$72.5NOK 699
36.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99NOK 19.14
$2.13NOK 20.51
-6.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.6KNOK 343.1K
$35.3KNOK 340.4K
0.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6KNOK 371.5K
$43.1KNOK 415.0K
-10.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Porsgrunn
Bergen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$220NOK 2,114
$242NOK 2,333
-9.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.23NOK 426
$38.51NOK 371
14.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.49NOK 361
$64.7NOK 623
-42.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Porsgrunn
Bergen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.48NOK 467
$53.9NOK 520
-10.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.12NOK 338
$40.36NOK 389
-12.98%
Cinema Ticket
$14.71NOK 142
$20.20NOK 195
-27.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Porsgrunn
Bergen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312NOK 3,006
$286NOK 2,753
9.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.1KNOK 96.9K
$12.6KNOK 121.0K
-19.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Porsgrunn
Bergen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.5NOK 496
$91.1NOK 878
-43.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.93NOK 288
$55.5NOK 535
-46.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.5NOK 670
$111NOK 1,071
-37.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103NOK 992
$145NOK 1,400
-29.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Porsgrunn
Bergen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,228NOK 11.8K
$1,284NOK 12.4K
-4.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$884NOK 8,519
$976NOK 9,397
-9.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,856NOK 17.9K
$2,019NOK 19.4K
-8.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,516NOK 14.6K
$1,558NOK 15.0K
-2.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,575NOK 73.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,645NOK 44.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Porsgrunn
Bergen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$4,344NOK 41.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.8
4.85
-21.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Porsgrunn: July 12, 2026
Last update for Bergen: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,228 in Porsgrunn and $1,284 in Bergen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $101 in Porsgrunn vs $103 in Bergen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $406 vs $489 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 Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,448 in Porsgrunn and $3,975 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: $1,228 in Porsgrunn 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 $312 in Porsgrunn 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 Porsgrunn and in Bergen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 20% 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 $2,299 in Porsgrunn versus $2,650 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 15% less than in Bergen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.