Cost of Living Comparison Between Trondheim and Bergen Cost of Living Comparison Between Trondheim and Bergen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,820 in Trondheim versus $2,612 in Bergen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,233 in Trondheim versus $3,989 in Bergen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,647 in Trondheim versus $5,367 in Bergen.

Living in Trondheim is roughly 8% more expensive than Bergen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Trondheim 112% above, Bergen 96% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Trondheim
Bergen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.46 NOK 213
$25.50 NOK 242
-11.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121 NOK 1,142
$101 NOK 953
19.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.03 NOK 133
$19.48 NOK 184
-27.98%
Cappuccino
$4.75 NOK 45.01
$5.59 NOK 53.0
-15.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 NOK 33.44
$3.22 NOK 30.50
9.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 NOK 27.46
$3.04 NOK 28.83
-4.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$10.83 NOK 103
$11.42 NOK 108
-5.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.73 NOK 111
$9.86 NOK 93.4
18.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trondheim
Bergen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.54 NOK 24.01
$2.63 NOK 24.96
-3.42%
White Bread (500g)
$3.55 NOK 33.62
$3.41 NOK 32.29
4.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.77 NOK 35.67
$2.90 NOK 27.49
30.00%
Eggs
$4.66 NOK 44.09
$4.99 NOK 47.31
-6.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.28 NOK 116
$13.94 NOK 132
-11.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.03 NOK 142
$15.90 NOK 151
-5.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$28.68 NOK 272
$27.89 NOK 264
2.83%
Apples (1kg)
$3.92 NOK 37.13
$3.89 NOK 36.87
0.77%
Banana (1kg)
$2.98 NOK 28.23
$3.08 NOK 29.18
-3.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.65 NOK 25.14
$3.62 NOK 34.34
-26.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.28 NOK 50.0
$5.76 NOK 54.6
-8.33%
Potato (1kg)
$3.05 NOK 28.86
$2.64 NOK 24.99
15.53%
Onion (1kg)
$3.22 NOK 30.54
$2.88 NOK 27.32
11.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.15 NOK 29.82
$2.89 NOK 27.41
9.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.48 NOK 23.46
$2.14 NOK 20.31
15.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.22 NOK 144
$16.57 NOK 157
-8.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.70 NOK 177
$17.71 NOK 168
5.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.62 NOK 34.32
$3.32 NOK 31.44
9.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62 NOK 43.76
$4.22 NOK 40.00
9.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Trondheim
Bergen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.75 NOK 45.03
$4.47 NOK 42.30
6.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$94.2 NOK 892
$79.3 NOK 751
18.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$15.30 NOK 145
$15.50 NOK 147
-1.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.28 NOK 21.63
$2.23 NOK 21.12
2.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$87.9 NOK 833
$73.3 NOK 695
19.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 NOK 21.27
$2.21 NOK 20.94
1.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K NOK 297.8K
$35.1K NOK 332.9K
-10.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.4K NOK 401.5K
$43.4K NOK 411.2K
-2.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trondheim
Bergen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$321 NOK 3,037
$244 NOK 2,312
31.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.79 NOK 396
$38.98 NOK 369
7.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.7 NOK 726
$64.7 NOK 612
18.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trondheim
Bergen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.45 NOK 412
$54.2 NOK 514
-19.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.26 NOK 438
$40.42 NOK 383
14.45%
Cinema Ticket
$17.34 NOK 164
$19.90 NOK 189
-12.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trondheim
Bergen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$331 NOK 3,136
$288 NOK 2,730
14.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,613 NOK 81.6K
$12.9K NOK 121.9K
-33.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trondheim
Bergen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$111 NOK 1,055
$89.3 NOK 846
24.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.27 NOK 467
$56.2 NOK 532
-12.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$128 NOK 1,209
$113 NOK 1,066
13.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 NOK 1,233
$147 NOK 1,390
-11.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trondheim
Bergen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,364 NOK 12.9K
$1,268 NOK 12.0K
7.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,074 NOK 10.2K
$979 NOK 9,277
9.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,211 NOK 20.9K
$2,054 NOK 19.5K
7.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,677 NOK 15.9K
$1,549 NOK 14.7K
8.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,258 NOK 59.3K
$7,700 NOK 72.9K
-18.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,944 NOK 46.8K
$4,716 NOK 44.7K
4.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trondheim
Bergen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,271 NOK 40.5K
$4,514 NOK 42.8K
-5.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.32
4.85
-10.93%

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

Last update for Trondheim: June 14, 2026

Last update for Bergen: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,364 in Trondheim and $1,268 in Bergen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bergen pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $121 in Trondheim vs $101 in Bergen. Groceries flip the comparison at $490 vs $490, with Trondheim 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
Trondheim vs Bergen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bergen cheaper than Trondheim?
Bergen is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Trondheim or Bergen?
On paper, Bergen earns 6% 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 Trondheim and Bergen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,364 in Trondheim versus $1,268 in Bergen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $331 in Trondheim versus $288 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 Trondheim and Bergen?
Shoppers in Trondheim pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Trondheim or Bergen?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Bergen is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Trondheim or Bergen more family-friendly?
For families, Bergen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Trondheim, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Trondheim or Bergen?
Safety-wise, Trondheim 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 Bergen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Trondheim. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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