How Much Does It Cost to Live in Bergen?
Bergen is a city and municipality in Hordaland on the west coast of Norway and the second largest city of this country, too.
It is one of the more expensive cities in this country.
Generally speaking, apart from costs of accommodation, all other living costs in Norway vary only slightly across the country, so most products and services you need are priced very similarly, regardless of where you live.
As expected, the most expensive thing in Bergen is rent. Once you have that covered, most other things are easier to manage.
Cost of Living Breakdown in Bergen
RESTAURANTS
Food can be quite expensive if you eat at a restaurant. For example, eating in an inexpensive restaurant will cost you a bit over 20$ – for one person. If you want to save some money, it might be best to just have dinner at a restaurant once a month. A meal for two at a mid-range restaurant will cost you just short of 100$.
| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $21.03 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $93.46 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $2.85 |
MARKETS
Cooking by yourself and buying groceries can also be a great problem if you have a limited budget, but if you have a shopping list, and you’re smart about your groceries, following all the daily sales in supermarkets – then you can save a bunch of money. You should go to small food stores, such as:
Bunnpris (which has the best sales, by far), Rema 1000, Ica Maxi and Coop Prix.
| Average Market Prices | |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 Liter) | $2.00 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $2.47 |
| Eggs (12) | $4.19 |
TRANSPORTATION
Public transportation is quite expensive, even with their various discounts, so the easiest way to save money is to invest in a bicycle, though keep in mind that you’ll probably need to take the bus at some point anyway. A one-way ticket for a local transport will cost you around 4.50$ while a monthly pass for public transport is around 95$.
| Average Transport Prices | |
|---|---|
| One Way Ticket | $4.32 |
| Monthly Pass | $94.63 |
| Gasoline | $1.77 |
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Like most other things, utilities are expensive too in Bergen, though it does depend on the amount of electricity you use and on the size of your apartment. For example, for a bit larger apartment, of about 85m2, all basic utilities like heating (very important in Norway), cooling, electricity and gas will cost you around 200$.
| Average Utilities Prices | |
|---|---|
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $201.37 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.09 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $50.03 |
SPORTS & LEISURE
When it comes to fitness and sports, maybe it’s best that you go hiking instead! Just kidding, but you should know that practicing sports or going to the gym in Norway is definitely expensive. A gym or a fitness club membership will cost you around 50$, while going to the cinema and enjoying some movie time has never been more expensive. Prepare to pay a whopping 15$ per ticket.
| Average Leisure Prices | |
|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $47.32 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $36.65 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $14.60 |
CLOTHING & SHOES
Since since some cities are very close to the border with Sweden, a lot of people take the bus to go shopping in the neighboring country. However, since Bergen is not one of the cities close to Sweden, you’ll have to go shopping in Norway. Quality jeans will cost you around 100$, and you won’t find any good running sneakers without cashing out close to 110$.
| Average Clothing Prices | |
|---|---|
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $101.14 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $39.88 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $111.27 |
RENT PER MONTH
Cost of apartments varies across the country, but if you intend to rent something in the center of Bergen, you will have to pay around 600$ for a 200–350m2 room in a shared apartment, and from 1200$ and upwards for a small apartment. A spacious apartment or a house will cost you from 1800$ and upwards.
| Average Rent Prices | |
|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $1182.19 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $931.70 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $1890.49 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Bergen?
Food is definitely the biggest expense for anyone living in Bergen – though this is the situation in most countries and cities around the world.
Food is an everyday necessity and when it’s not cheap, it amounts to a high monthly expense.
The second highest expense for an average person living in Bergen is rent, with very high prices of apartment in the cities and outside of them alike.
Other significant expenses for Norwegian people living in this city are restaurants and transportation, while clothing and shoes draw the least amount of money from them.
Average Costs Breakdown
Bergen: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
It’s widely known around the world that Norway has some of the best salaries and best working conditions in the world.
Though there is no set minimum wage in Bergen, as they differ from sector to sector and there are often different rates to distinguish skilled from unskilled work, the usual minimum wage is around 2400$ which is a decent minimum wage (it has recently been raised to this amount) and most people can earn for a normal life.
An average monthly salary in Bergen is well above 3000$ which is absolutely enough for a comfortable life in this country.
Bergen Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Bergen Safety Review
| OVERALL RISK | LOW |
|---|---|
| TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK | LOW |
| PICKPOCKETS RISK | LOW |
| NATURAL DISASTERS RISK | MEDIUM |
| MUGGING RISK | LOW |
| TERRORISM RISK | MEDIUM |
| SCAMS RISK | LOW |
| WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK | LOW |
| TAP WATER RISK | LOW |
Cost of Living by City in Norway
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
 Oslo |
107.14 |
| Stavanger |
111 |
| Trondheim |
99.73 |
It’s interesting to see how the costs stack up in Bergen, especially with rent being the biggest hurdle. It makes sense, given the city’s charm and appeal, but it’s a tough reality for anyone looking to settle down there. It really puts things into perspective when you have to budget for an expensive place just to enjoy all the beauty and culture it offers. I guess it’s a balance between living in such an incredible city and the ongoing struggle with costs. Anyone considering a move there really needs to plan