🧮🏙️ Cost of living by city: Oslo vs Bergen vs Trondheim vs Stavanger vs Tromsø
I can't wait to find out how much you should budget for a month in different Norwegian cities! Check out this awesome interactive summary of housing, transport, food, communications and electricity! It'll take into account your profile (single/couple/family/student), season and travel schedule. Next up, we've got some awesome short "portraits" of each city, and a super helpful section on "who it is suitable for".
| Category | NOK/month | Comment |
|---|
Values are DEMO. Replace with live data.
Comparison of 5 cities (your settings)
| City | Total/month | Housing | Transport | Food | Connectivity | Power |
|---|
🗺️ PT zones: "home → office" and travel pass selection
Below is a simple interactive diagram of "terminals" and zones. Select a city and rings (home/office) to see how many zones you need a travel card for and where the break-even point is compared to paying per trip.
🧭 Oslo: "expensive centre" and dense PT
High rents and the best choice of housing formats. Commuting is conveniently covered by PT, and if you spend 2-3 days in the office, the cost-effectiveness of a travel card depends on your zone: if you don't travel much, PAYG is often cheaper. There are more "café lines" in terms of food, but you can save money by bringing lunch from home and buying private brands in supermarkets. Electricity is more noticeable in winter in flats with electric panels.
🌧️ Bergen: rainy, with an emphasis on PT
Due to the weather, many people use their bikes less often, so PT and zoning are more important. Rent is lower than in Oslo, but areas close to the centre are becoming more expensive. When it comes to food and leisure, planning "home" dinners helps: rainy weeks are ideal for saving money without compromising on quality.
🧑🎓 Trondheim: student balance
There are many hybel and student discounts; students spend more time away from home during term time, but this is offset by budget canteens and lunch boxes. For infrequent trips, PAYG is usually the best option, but for 3+ days on campus, consider a travel pass.
🌬️ Stavanger: sea, wind and "wheels for business"
Windy weather and scattered neighbourhoods. PT covers the basic routes, but many find it convenient to combine bikes and buses. EV ownership is beneficial in a number of scenarios if mileage is stable and parking is available; otherwise, car sharing + PT.
❄️ Tromsø: seasonality is the deciding factor
Winter is about heating and short daylight hours; electricity is higher in winter. Rent depends on proximity to the centre and the tourist season. For short trips around the city, PT and walking routes are sufficient, but for "aurora hunting" you need a tour or a car.
🧑💼 Who each city is suitable for
● Oslo. Good for those who value job opportunities, networking events and fast public transport. Expect to spend more on rent and "outside the home".
● Bergen. Comfortable for introverts and remote workers: lower rent, but higher PT costs during rainy weeks.
● Trondheim. Ideal for students/interns: affordable hybel, discounts, short commutes.
● Stavanger. Suitable for families and professionals with office days: reasonable rent, flexibility of "bike + PT", EV may be rational.
Tromsø. For nature lovers and those who enjoy the "northern" lifestyle: take into account seasonal bills and tourist markups.
All calculations and figures in the inserts are approximate DEMOs. The results depend on the area, type of accommodation, season, travel schedule and your habits. This material is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. For accurate results, use calculators with your current values.
FAQ
Look at the "Total/month" column, then at the share of housing and transport. If rent takes up too much of your budget, try a different type of accommodation or neighbourhood. For transport, focus on your actual schedule — if you travel infrequently, PAYG is often more cost-effective than a travel card.
When you travel 3–5 days a week and make transfers. In such scenarios, a monthly travel card stabilises your expenses and gives you a reserve for unplanned trips. If you travel 1–2 days a week, paying per trip is usually more advantageous.
This is a "growing" line item: as the frequency of coffee and lunches increases, it scales faster than the grocery basket. Just remove a couple of lunches and some coffee, and your monthly bill will decrease significantly without any loss of quality.
In flats with electric panels, winter can be 1.5–2 times more expensive than summer. This is especially noticeable in northern cities and in large homes. Plan a reserve for the "cold" months and use simple energy-saving measures.
If you make a lot of video calls and have several devices at home, wired internet provides stability and predictability. If you live alone and don't make many calls, you can start with a mobile plan and add a router later.
For a single person — a hybel or studio; for a couple — a studio or one-bedroom flat; for a family — two-bedroom flats. Don't forget to factor in the deposit/guarantee and actual utility bills, especially in winter.
Start with your priorities: jobs and events — Oslo; budget and study balance — Trondheim; soft economy and the sea — Stavanger; rainy but cosy rhythm — Bergen; northern rhythm and nature — Tromsø. In each city, you can stay within a reasonable budget if you tailor your accommodation, transport and food to your lifestyle.
