🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,391 in Sandefjord versus $2,605 in Bergen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,522 in Sandefjord versus $3,923 in Bergen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,654 in Sandefjord versus $5,240 in Bergen.
🙂Living in Sandefjord costs roughly 8% less than in Bergen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sandefjord78% above, Bergen94% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sandefjord
Bergen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.02NOK 177
$25.78NOK 240
-26.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$103NOK 953
$100NOK 931
2.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.53NOK 126
$18.96NOK 176
-28.64%
Cappuccino
$5.03NOK 46.71
$5.36NOK 49.82
-6.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47NOK 22.96
$3.21NOK 29.86
-23.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13NOK 19.83
$3.03NOK 28.14
-29.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.37NOK 87.1
$11.53NOK 107
-18.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.15NOK 94.3
$9.67NOK 89.8
4.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sandefjord
Bergen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.20NOK 20.41
$2.64NOK 24.50
-16.67%
White Bread(500g)
$3.02NOK 28.06
$3.36NOK 31.20
-10.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.80NOK 26.02
$2.90NOK 26.92
-3.45%
Eggs
$3.69NOK 34.31
$5.11NOK 47.45
-27.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.51NOK 107
$13.96NOK 130
-17.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.60NOK 154
$16.06NOK 149
3.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$35.29NOK 328
$28.05NOK 261
25.81%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71NOK 25.16
$3.75NOK 34.84
-27.73%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23NOK 20.69
$2.94NOK 27.29
-24.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.35NOK 21.80
$3.61NOK 33.56
-34.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.67NOK 34.11
$5.52NOK 51.3
-33.51%
Potato(1kg)
$2.11NOK 19.57
$2.72NOK 25.24
-22.43%
Onion(1kg)
$2.22NOK 20.62
$2.77NOK 25.73
-19.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.64NOK 24.56
$2.85NOK 26.45
-7.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.90NOK 17.61
$2.15NOK 19.95
-11.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.49NOK 135
$16.93NOK 157
-14.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.56NOK 126
$18.39NOK 171
-26.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.70NOK 34.41
$3.35NOK 31.08
10.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.23NOK 39.33
$4.27NOK 39.68
-0.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Sandefjord
Bergen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.95NOK 45.96
$4.56NOK 42.40
8.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$71.8NOK 667
$80.5NOK 748
-10.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.06NOK 93.5
$15.36NOK 143
-34.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.40NOK 13.01
$2.28NOK 21.15
-38.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$63.4NOK 589
$72.7NOK 675
-12.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.21NOK 20.49
$2.16NOK 20.11
2.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.6KNOK 330.9K
$35.0KNOK 325.2K
1.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KNOK 332.4K
$43.6KNOK 404.7K
-17.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sandefjord
Bergen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$220NOK 2,039
$238NOK 2,207
-7.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.75NOK 397
$38.16NOK 355
12.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.61NOK 359
$64.1NOK 595
-39.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sandefjord
Bergen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.95NOK 445
$55.2NOK 513
-13.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.33NOK 328
$40.59NOK 377
-12.96%
Cinema Ticket
$12.87NOK 120
$19.99NOK 186
-35.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sandefjord
Bergen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$287NOK 2,662
$281NOK 2,610
1.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,768NOK 44.3K
$12.9KNOK 120.1K
-63.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sandefjord
Bergen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103NOK 954
$90.5NOK 841
13.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.87NOK 435
$55.0NOK 510
-14.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9NOK 928
$111NOK 1,034
-10.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140NOK 1,305
$147NOK 1,369
-4.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sandefjord
Bergen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,205NOK 11.2K
$1,275NOK 11.8K
-5.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$970NOK 9,011
$997NOK 9,263
-2.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,447NOK 13.4K
$2,004NOK 18.6K
-27.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,256NOK 11.7K
$1,576NOK 14.6K
-20.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,998NOK 74.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,773NOK 44.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sandefjord
Bergen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,123NOK 38.3K
$4,646NOK 43.2K
-11.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.38
4.85
-9.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sandefjord: June 1, 2026
Last update for Bergen: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,205 in Sandefjord and $1,275 in Bergen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bergen pays 13% 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: $103 in Sandefjord vs $100 in Bergen. Groceries flip the comparison at $454 vs $490, with Sandefjord cheaper for home cooking.
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
Sandefjord vs Bergen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bergen cheaper than Sandefjord?
Sandefjord is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Sandefjord or Bergen?
On paper, Bergen earns 13% less. 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 Sandefjord and Bergen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,205 in Sandefjord versus $1,275 in Bergen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $287 in Sandefjord versus $281 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 Sandefjord and Bergen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Bergen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 enough to cover costs in Sandefjord or Bergen?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Sandefjord is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Sandefjord or Bergen more family-friendly?
For families, Sandefjord 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, Sandefjord or Bergen?
Safety-wise, Sandefjord 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 Sandefjord gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Bergen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Sandefjord vs other spots: cost of living compared