Cost of Living Comparison Between Arendal and Staten Island, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Arendal and Staten Island, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,239 in Arendal versus $2,916 in Staten Island, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,381 in Arendal versus $4,517 in Staten Island, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,523 in Arendal versus $6,119 in Staten Island, NY.

Living in Arendal costs roughly 23% less than in Staten Island, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Arendal 68% above, Staten Island, NY 118% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.10 NOK 174

$22.33 $22.33

-18.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.0 NOK 739

$101 $101

-23.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.00 NOK 144

$12.09 $12.09

24.07%

Cappuccino

$5.07 NOK 48.59

$6.07 $6.07

-16.47%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 NOK 30.33

$2.29 $2.29

37.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 NOK 27.93

$1.63 $1.63

78.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$11.00 NOK 106

$7.90 $7.90

39.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.04 NOK 96.3

$7.76 $7.76

29.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 NOK 22.28

$1.47 $1.47

57.82%

White Bread (500g)

$3.18 NOK 30.52

$4.68 $4.68

-32.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.52 NOK 33.71

$7.98 $7.98

-55.89%

Eggs

$4.38 NOK 42.05

$6.49 $6.49

-32.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 NOK 126

$17.16 $17.16

-23.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.39 NOK 148

$13.10 $13.10

17.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.08 NOK 260

$19.79 $19.79

36.84%

Apples (1kg)

$3.43 NOK 32.91

$6.71 $6.71

-48.88%

Banana (1kg)

$2.61 NOK 25.01

$2.60 $2.60

0.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 NOK 28.58

$5.95 $5.95

-49.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.68 NOK 44.84

$6.25 $6.25

-25.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 NOK 19.67

$3.71 $3.71

-44.74%

Onion (1kg)

$3.06 NOK 29.37

$3.92 $3.92

-21.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 NOK 24.88

$2.73 $2.73

-5.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 NOK 17.30

$2.78 $2.78

-35.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.16 NOK 145

$18.79 $18.79

-19.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.79 NOK 171

$14.89 $14.89

19.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.38 NOK 32.38

$1.83 $1.83

84.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.14 NOK 39.73

$3.89 $3.89

6.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.92 NOK 37.64

$2.82 $2.82

39.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 NOK 1,018

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.86 NOK 75.4

$3.06 $3.06

156.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.08 NOK 19.90

$2.13 $2.13

-2.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.62 NOK 294

$41.40 $41.40

-26.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.06 NOK 19.71

$0.95 $0.95

116.84%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.9K NOK 335.0K

$35.4K $35.4K

-1.34%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.0K NOK 316.9K

$27.9K $27.9K

18.58%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$191 NOK 1,836

$218 $218

-12.27%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$35.04 NOK 336

$59.3 $59.3

-40.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.8 NOK 698

$64.2 $64.2

13.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.42 NOK 416

$114 $114

-62.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.6 NOK 514

Cinema Ticket

$12.04 NOK 115

$19.91 $19.91

-39.53%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$305 NOK 2,925

$1,970 $1,970

-84.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.3K NOK 98.7K

$15.9K $15.9K

-35.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$94.5 NOK 906

$67.9 $67.9

39.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 NOK 566

$37.35 $37.35

57.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 NOK 1,019

$112 $112

-5.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 NOK 1,526

$104 $104

52.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,066 NOK 10.2K

$1,745 $1,745

-38.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$694 NOK 6,660

$1,402 $1,402

-50.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,316 NOK 12.6K

$3,256 $3,256

-59.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,155 NOK 11.1K

$2,623 $2,623

-55.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,144 NOK 30.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,063 NOK 19.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,138 NOK 39.7K

$5,822 $5,822

-28.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.6

6.74

-46.59%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Arendal: July 21, 2026

Last update for Staten Island, NY: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,066 in Arendal and $1,745 in Staten Island, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Staten Island, NY pays 41% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $77.0 in Arendal vs $101 in Staten Island, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $457 vs $510 per month, with Arendal cheaper across the board.

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

Arendal vs Staten Island, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arendal and Staten Island, NY differ by about 30% in total monthly costs ($2,239 vs $2,916 including rent). Arendal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 41% lower in Staten Island, NY. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,066 in Arendal versus $1,745 in Staten Island, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $305 in Arendal versus $1,970 in Staten Island, NY. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Arendal – a meal for two runs $77.0 versus $101 in Staten Island, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,239 in Arendal versus $2,916 in Staten Island, NY, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Arendal but tight or insufficient in Staten Island, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Arendal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Arendal and Staten Island, NY are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Arendal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Staten Island, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.