🙂A single person spends $2,215 per month in Alesund vs $2,773 in Stavanger, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,317 per month in Alesund vs $4,121 in Stavanger, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,418 per month in Alesund vs $5,469 in Stavanger, rent included.
🙂Alesund is about 20% cheaper than Stavanger, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Alesund and Stavanger sit above the global median – Alesund by 66%, Stavanger by 108%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alesund
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.27NOK 195
$25.15NOK 242
-19.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.7NOK 845
$124NOK 1,192
-29.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.72NOK 122
$15.47NOK 149
-17.78%
Cappuccino
$3.94NOK 37.90
$5.09NOK 49.03
-22.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00NOK 19.28
$3.97NOK 38.22
-49.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27NOK 21.82
$3.42NOK 32.96
-33.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.20NOK 108
$11.30NOK 109
-0.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.93NOK 86.0
$10.04NOK 96.7
-11.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alesund
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.43NOK 23.40
$2.43NOK 23.44
-
White Bread(500g)
$2.91NOK 28.07
$3.04NOK 29.25
-4.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.82NOK 27.12
$4.50NOK 43.33
-37.33%
Eggs
$3.94NOK 37.98
$4.44NOK 42.75
-11.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.23NOK 137
$12.96NOK 125
9.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.33NOK 128
$16.11NOK 155
-17.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.52NOK 217
$27.22NOK 262
-17.27%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86NOK 27.57
$3.47NOK 33.44
-17.58%
Banana(1kg)
$2.40NOK 23.08
$2.54NOK 24.42
-5.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.23NOK 21.45
$3.10NOK 29.88
-28.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.48NOK 33.56
$4.76NOK 45.84
-26.89%
Potato(1kg)
$2.71NOK 26.13
$2.16NOK 20.77
25.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79NOK 17.24
$3.09NOK 29.74
-42.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.87NOK 27.60
$2.61NOK 25.09
9.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.04NOK 19.67
$1.74NOK 16.76
17.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.04NOK 135
$14.94NOK 144
-6.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.23NOK 166
$17.99NOK 173
-4.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.30NOK 31.74
$3.49NOK 33.64
-5.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03NOK 38.86
$4.14NOK 39.88
-2.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Alesund
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.49NOK 43.20
$4.67NOK 44.97
-3.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.9NOK 635
$68.4NOK 659
-3.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.11NOK 117
$15.04NOK 145
-19.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.18NOK 21.01
$2.15NOK 20.75
1.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$73.7NOK 710
$101NOK 975
-27.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.17NOK 20.93
$2.18NOK 20.98
-0.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9KNOK 345.8K
$34.5KNOK 332.2K
4.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.8KNOK 421.4K
$33.2KNOK 319.5K
31.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alesund
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$240NOK 2,312
$191NOK 1,840
25.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.04NOK 376
$43.05NOK 415
-9.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.85NOK 384
$81.9NOK 789
-51.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alesund
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.3NOK 552
$56.0NOK 539
2.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.76NOK 296
$34.99NOK 337
-12.09%
Cinema Ticket
$17.47NOK 168
$19.39NOK 187
-9.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alesund
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$268NOK 2,577
$315NOK 3,035
-15.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,464NOK 23.7K
$12.8KNOK 123.1K
-80.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alesund
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.4NOK 822
$119NOK 1,150
-28.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.17NOK 425
$59.8NOK 576
-26.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110NOK 1,060
$107NOK 1,028
3.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135NOK 1,298
$161NOK 1,550
-16.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alesund
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$944NOK 9,093
$1,617NOK 15.6K
-41.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$794NOK 7,645
$1,134NOK 10.9K
-30.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,396NOK 13.4K
$2,719NOK 26.2K
-48.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,144NOK 11.0K
$1,738NOK 16.7K
-34.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,409NOK 42.5K
$5,982NOK 57.6K
-26.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,429NOK 23.4K
$5,156NOK 49.7K
-52.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alesund
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,120NOK 39.7K
$4,945NOK 47.6K
-16.68%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Stavanger: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $944 in Alesund versus $1,617 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 20% 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 $88.0 in Alesund versus $124 in Stavanger. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $419 vs $466 – 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 in Stavanger compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,215 in Alesund, $2,773 in Stavanger – roughly 25% 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 $3,323 per month in Alesund and $4,159 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 $88.0 in Alesund and $124 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 $2,215 in Alesund and $2,773 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 $2,215, than in Stavanger at $2,773. 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 $2,215 in Alesund to $2,773 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.