🙂A single person spends $2,242 per month in Alesund vs $2,744 in Stavanger, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,326 per month in Alesund vs $4,187 in Stavanger, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,409 per month in Alesund vs $5,629 in Stavanger, rent included.
🙂Alesund is about 18% cheaper than Stavanger, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Alesund and Stavanger sit above the global median – Alesund by 67%, Stavanger by 105%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alesund
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.85NOK 184
$25.49NOK 237
-22.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.4NOK 794
$121NOK 1,122
-29.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.95NOK 120
$15.31NOK 142
-15.41%
Cappuccino
$3.95NOK 36.66
$5.17NOK 48.03
-23.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02NOK 18.79
$4.04NOK 37.57
-50.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19NOK 20.32
$3.47NOK 32.20
-36.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.94NOK 102
$11.15NOK 104
-1.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.25NOK 85.9
$10.27NOK 95.4
-9.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alesund
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.39NOK 22.22
$2.45NOK 22.73
-2.45%
White Bread(500g)
$2.95NOK 27.39
$3.02NOK 28.03
-2.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.89NOK 26.82
$4.56NOK 42.38
-36.62%
Eggs
$3.99NOK 37.02
$4.46NOK 41.46
-10.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.13NOK 131
$13.11NOK 122
7.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.66NOK 127
$16.72NOK 155
-18.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.52NOK 209
$27.15NOK 252
-17.05%
Apples(1kg)
$2.74NOK 25.45
$3.58NOK 33.26
-23.46%
Banana(1kg)
$2.33NOK 21.63
$2.56NOK 23.80
-8.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.16NOK 20.09
$2.98NOK 27.72
-27.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.68NOK 34.19
$4.61NOK 42.83
-20.17%
Potato(1kg)
$2.69NOK 24.96
$2.09NOK 19.42
28.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.73NOK 16.05
$3.09NOK 28.70
-44.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.80NOK 26.05
$2.50NOK 23.27
12.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.14NOK 19.89
$1.81NOK 16.81
18.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.59NOK 126
$15.37NOK 143
-11.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.84NOK 175
$19.14NOK 178
-1.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.28NOK 30.49
$3.63NOK 33.70
-9.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.24NOK 39.40
$4.13NOK 38.39
2.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Alesund
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.53NOK 42.09
$4.66NOK 43.31
-2.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.5NOK 609
$67.1NOK 623
-2.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.10NOK 112
$14.97NOK 139
-19.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07NOK 19.26
$2.12NOK 19.70
-2.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$73.6NOK 684
$99.8NOK 927
-26.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.19NOK 20.35
$2.15NOK 19.96
1.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0KNOK 334.2K
$34.0KNOK 315.8K
5.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.3KNOK 402.3K
$32.8KNOK 304.4K
32.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alesund
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$242NOK 2,251
$191NOK 1,778
26.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.19NOK 364
$42.73NOK 397
-8.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.94NOK 380
$81.9NOK 761
-50.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alesund
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0NOK 539
$55.8NOK 519
3.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.85NOK 277
$35.64NOK 331
-16.25%
Cinema Ticket
$17.00NOK 158
$19.51NOK 181
-12.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alesund
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266NOK 2,468
$318NOK 2,957
-16.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,461NOK 22.9K
$12.8KNOK 118.6K
-80.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alesund
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.1NOK 781
$119NOK 1,107
-29.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.85NOK 407
$58.3NOK 542
-24.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110NOK 1,022
$106NOK 981
4.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136NOK 1,264
$157NOK 1,460
-13.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alesund
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$968NOK 8,988
$1,604NOK 14.9K
-39.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$782NOK 7,262
$1,115NOK 10.4K
-29.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,384NOK 12.9K
$2,756NOK 25.6K
-49.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,166NOK 10.8K
$1,738NOK 16.1K
-32.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,672NOK 43.4K
$6,190NOK 57.5K
-24.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,516NOK 23.4K
$5,435NOK 50.5K
-53.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alesund
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,349NOK 40.4K
$4,992NOK 46.4K
-12.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.03
4.51
-10.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Alesund: May 30, 2026
Last update for Stavanger: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $968 in Alesund versus $1,604 in Stavanger. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 15% higher in Stavanger, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Alesund versus $121 in Stavanger. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $425 vs $472 – making Alesund the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Alesund vs Stavanger: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Alesund and Stavanger compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,242 in Alesund, $2,744 in Stavanger – roughly 22% apart. Stavanger costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Alesund compared to Stavanger?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,363 per month in Alesund and $4,117 in Stavanger. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Alesund and Stavanger?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Alesund, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Alesund and $121 in Stavanger. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Alesund or Stavanger?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,242 in Alesund and $2,744 in Stavanger. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Alesund, where all-in costs run around $2,242, than in Stavanger at $2,744. In Alesund it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stavanger it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Alesund and Stavanger?
It depends on your priorities. Stavanger has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,242 in Alesund to $2,744 in Stavanger. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Alesund or Stavanger safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Alesund and Stavanger?
If budget matters most, go with Alesund. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Stavanger makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.