Bergen
Norway · Europe · 285K people
Fjord-side city known for dramatic scenery and near-constant rain.
Ranked #102 of 303 overall · 60.39, 5.32
Overview
Bergen sits in Norway, on the European continent, home to roughly 285,000 people. Bergen is coastal, with the sea shaping daily life and the local economy. Bergen stands out for how safe it feels compared to cities of a similar size. People who choose to settle in Bergen tend to point to a strong sense of safety, solid infrastructure for remote work, and reliable healthcare as the deciding factors. Against its 103 tracked peers in Europe, Bergen's 6.9/10 overall score sits 0.0 points below the regional average of 6.9, though a lower average score doesn't rule it out — it depends entirely on which criteria matter most to you. On CityMatch, Bergen scores 6.9/10 overall across cost of living, safety, environment, transport, climate, healthcare and internet, ranking #102 of 303 cities in our database. Its strongest single criterion is safety at 9/10, while cost of living is its softest spot at 2/10 — the full breakdown, honest trade-offs, and who this city actually suits are below.
Full scorecard
Expect a real premium on rent and daily costs.
Consistently rated among the safer picks.
One of the cleaner cities in our data.
Workable without being exceptional.
A genuine trade-off if climate matters to you.
A strong pick if healthcare matters most to you.
Fast, reliable connectivity.
Is Bergen right for you?
Set your own priorities and see where it ranks against every city in the dataset.
Run the recommender →How are these scores calculated?
Every city on CityMatch is scored 1-10 on seven criteria — cost of living, safety, environment, transport, climate, healthcare and internet — and those seven numbers are combined into the overall score shown throughout the site using a consistent, automated formula (an equal-weighted average by default, or your own weighting via the recommender tool). The same method is applied identically to every city, so scores are comparable across the full database.
Sources & data provenance
The current dataset is an internally curated starter dataset built for this version of the site, reflecting each city's general reputation on each criterion rather than a live feed from a single external provider. It is not yet sourced from a specific third-party API. If that changes, this section will be updated to name the exact sources in use.
Last updated: 17 July 2026
Strengths & trade-offs
Strengths
A 9/10 safety score puts Bergen among the more reassuring cities to walk around, day or night.
Air quality and environment score 9/10 here — outdoor time doesn't come with a mental asterisk.
Healthcare scores 9/10, a meaningful factor for families, retirees, or anyone planning to stay long-term.
Trade-offs
Cost of living is the toughest line item, at 2/10 — budget accordingly, especially on rent.
Climate is the hardest trade-off here at 3/10 — expect genuinely difficult weather for part of the year.
Is Bergen safe?
Bergen scores 9/10 on safety — one of the more reassuring cities in our database. Most residents and visitors report feeling comfortable with ordinary city awareness rather than specific precautions.
At night
Walking at night is generally low-stress here, though sticking to lit, populated streets is always sensible advice anywhere.
For tourists
Tourists rarely report serious issues beyond the ordinary pickpocket risk that exists in any well-visited city — normal vigilance in crowded areas is enough.
For families
Combined with a healthcare score of 9/10 and environment score of 9/10, Bergen looks like a genuinely solid pick for raising a family.
For solo travelers
Cities scoring this well on safety (9/10) are generally considered comfortable for solo travelers, though — as anywhere — checking current, specific local advice before a trip is always worth the ten minutes it takes.
On public transport
Public transport feels safe here too — safety (9/10) and transport quality (7/10) are both strong, a combination that generally makes getting around without a car low-stress.
Practical tips
- →Standard city awareness is genuinely enough here — no need for unusual precautions.
- →Keep half an eye on belongings in busy tourist spots, the same as anywhere.
What's the climate like in Bergen?
At 3/10, Bergen's climate score is among the lower end of our database; this is worth weighing seriously if weather affects your day-to-day mood.
Seasonal character
Expect a genuinely challenging season — whether that's extreme heat, cold, or a prolonged wet period depends on the region, but it's a real factor in daily life here.
Comfort level
Comfort is inconsistent enough that climate should factor into any decision to move here, not just visit.
Best time to live here
Timing matters a lot — the toughest stretch of the year is worth identifying and planning around specifically before moving or booking a long stay.
Note: this reflects our single aggregate 1-10 climate score rather than month-by-month temperature, humidity or rainfall data, which we don't currently track — treat it as a general read rather than a forecast.
Quality of life in Bergen
Put together, quality of life in Bergen is shaped less by any single number and more by the combination: bergen doesn't lean strongly toward any particular pace — it's neither a nightlife-driven city nor a notably sleepy one, more of a middle-ground, live-and-let-live kind of place, paired with an outdoor/environment picture that's generally favorable and transport that's genuinely workable.
Pace & lifestyle
Bergen doesn't lean strongly toward any particular pace — it's neither a nightlife-driven city nor a notably sleepy one, more of a middle-ground, live-and-let-live kind of place.
Nature & outdoors
Outdoor time is reasonably pleasant, with environment (9/10) and climate (3/10) scores that don't get in the way, without being a specific draw either.
Getting around
Transport (7/10) covers most needs reasonably well, with occasional gaps a bike or rideshare fills in easily.
Culture & leisure
Bergen isn't specifically marketed on culture or nightlife in our data, which usually means a more everyday, less tourist-oriented pace of life — good for routine, less exciting for a short visit.
Based on its actual score profile, Bergen tends to suit people who prioritize safety and environment & air quality over cost of living — see "Who Bergen suits" above for the specific profiles that fit best.
How clean is Bergen?
Cleanliness-adjacent signals are strong here: an environment score of 9/10 suggests air quality and general upkeep most visitors would notice positively.
Public spaces
We don't track a separate public-space or waste-management metric, but cities that score this well on air quality tend to also invest visibly in upkeep — a reasonable, if indirect, signal.
Infrastructure maintenance
General infrastructure maintenance isn't a criterion we score independently, so treat any specific claims about road quality, public bins, or graffiti with caution unless they come from a recent, first-hand source.
The "environment" score behind all of this is CityMatch's single combined measure of air quality and general environmental conditions — 10 meaning consistently clean air, 1 meaning significant pollution. It doesn't separately break out waste management, noise, or visual upkeep, which aren't part of our current dataset.
Who Bergen suits
Safety-first mover
Safety-first movers — people relocating somewhere unfamiliar who weigh personal safety above all (fit score 7.7/10 here).
Expat
Expats — expatriates relocating for work who lean on safety, healthcare and internet to stay settled and connected (fit score 7.7/10 here).
Retiree
Retirees — retirees prioritizing healthcare, climate and a calm environment over nightlife or internet speed (fit score 6.5/10 here).
Young family
Young familys — households with kids prioritizing safety, healthcare and clean air (fit score 7.2/10 here).
In depth
Cost of living
Bergen is an expensive place to live by our data — 2/10 on cost of living — so this is not the city to pick primarily to save money.
Safety
At 9/10 on our safety score, Bergen ranks among the more secure cities we track, which tends to matter most for families and first-time movers.
Climate
Bergen's 3/10 climate score reflects genuinely difficult stretches of weather for a meaningful part of the year.
Quality of life
Quality of life in Bergen is uneven rather than uniformly good or bad — a 6.9/10 average built on a clear high point in safety and a clear weak point in cost of living. The average across all seven criteria is 6.9/10.
Transport
At 7/10 for transport, Bergen covers the basics reasonably well without being a transit showcase.
Internet & remote work
At 9/10 for internet, Bergen is squarely in "video-call without worrying about it" territory.
Why choose Bergen?
The short version: choose Bergen for its safety, and go in with clear eyes about cost of living. Its 6.9/10 overall score reflects that balance rather than an unqualified recommendation.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Bergen safe?
Yes — Bergen scores 9/10 on safety, among the higher end of the 303 cities we track. Normal city awareness is enough for most visitors and residents.
What budget do I need to live in Bergen?
Bergen is expensive by our data, scoring just 2/10 on cost of living — among the priciest cities we track. This isn't the city to pick primarily to save money.
Is Bergen good for families?
Bergen works well for families: safety (9/10), healthcare (9/10) and environment (9/10) average out to a strong combination for raising kids.
Is Bergen a good city for students?
Bergen isn't an obvious student pick: affordability (2/10) and transport (7/10) average out lower than the cities we specifically tag for students.
Is Bergen suitable for digital nomads?
Remote work is possible in Bergen, but it's not an obvious pick — internet (9/10) and cost of living (2/10) are less favorable than our dedicated digital-nomad cities.
What's the climate like in Bergen?
Bergen scores just 3/10 on climate — genuinely harsh weather is part of the deal for part of the year here.
Is Bergen pleasant to live in year-round?
Not entirely — Bergen's climate score of 3/10 reflects a difficult stretch of weather for part of the year, even if other seasons are pleasant.
Is Bergen a good choice for a first move abroad?
It's a reasonable choice for a first move: safety, healthcare, transport and environment average out to 8.5/10 here, a fairly forgiving combination for someone settling in for the first time.
Is the internet good enough for remote work in Bergen?
Yes — Bergen scores 9/10 on internet and connectivity, comfortably enough for video calls and day-to-day remote work.
Is Bergen a good place to retire?
It has real appeal for retirees: healthcare, climate and safety average out to 7.0/10 here — the three criteria that tend to matter most for that stage of life.
What are good alternatives to Bergen?
Based on continent, tags and overall score, Oslo and Reykjavik are the closest matches to Bergen in our database — worth comparing directly if you're still deciding.
Is Bergen worth living in?
Reasonably — Bergen scores 6.9/10 overall, a solid if unremarkable all-round profile. Whether it's "worth it" depends more on which specific criteria matter most to you than on the average alone.
Who should move to Bergen?
Based on its score profile, Bergen suits people who value safety and environment & air quality more than the average mover — see the "Who Bergen suits" section above for the specific profiles (families, digital nomads, students, etc.) that fit best.
Is Bergen walkable, and is public transport good?
Reasonably — Bergen scores 7/10 on transport, covering most day-to-day needs without being a standout transit city.
What's the biggest advantage of living in Bergen?
Safety is Bergen's standout strength, scoring 9/10 — the highest of its seven criteria on CityMatch.
What's the biggest downside of living in Bergen?
Cost of living is the clearest trade-off, scoring just 2/10 — the lowest of Bergen's seven criteria, and worth weighing against its strengths.