🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,218 in Arendal versus $2,906 in Staten Island, NY.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,391 in Arendal versus $4,519 in Staten Island, NY.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Arendal versus $6,131 in Staten Island, NY.
🙂Living in Arendal costs roughly 24% less than in Staten Island, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Arendal66% above, Staten Island, NY117% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arendal
Staten Island, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.87NOK 169
$21.96$21.96
-18.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.4NOK 713
$101$101
-25.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.93NOK 141
$11.84$11.84
26.10%
Cappuccino
$5.17NOK 48.85
$5.81$5.81
-11.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18NOK 30.02
$2.36$2.36
34.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06NOK 28.97
$1.56$1.56
96.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.16NOK 106
$8.03$8.03
38.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.17NOK 96.2
$7.86$7.86
29.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arendal
Staten Island, NY
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.37NOK 22.37
$1.55$1.55
52.90%
White Bread(500g)
$3.06NOK 28.92
$4.51$4.51
-32.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.59NOK 33.98
$8.14$8.14
-55.90%
Eggs
$4.33NOK 40.97
$6.70$6.70
-35.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.22NOK 125
$17.68$17.68
-25.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.42NOK 146
$13.04$13.04
18.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.81NOK 263
$20.33$20.33
36.79%
Apples(1kg)
$3.44NOK 32.54
$6.54$6.54
-47.40%
Banana(1kg)
$2.52NOK 23.81
$2.60$2.60
-3.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.01NOK 28.42
$5.92$5.92
-49.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.75NOK 44.90
$6.39$6.39
-25.67%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12NOK 20.09
$3.85$3.85
-44.94%
Onion(1kg)
$2.93NOK 27.65
$4.06$4.06
-27.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.52NOK 23.86
$2.77$2.77
-9.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.78NOK 16.81
$2.79$2.79
-36.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.98NOK 142
$18.95$18.95
-20.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.12NOK 171
$14.77$14.77
22.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.33NOK 31.47
$1.84$1.84
80.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02NOK 38.03
$3.77$3.77
6.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Arendal
Staten Island, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.83NOK 36.20
$2.95$2.95
29.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$103NOK 974
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.88NOK 74.5
$3.04$3.04
159.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05NOK 19.35
$2.22$2.22
-7.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.93NOK 283
$42.52$42.52
-29.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.10NOK 19.89
$0.89$0.89
135.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5KNOK 326.4K
$34.7K$34.7K
-0.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7KNOK 309.4K
$27.6K$27.6K
18.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arendal
Staten Island, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187NOK 1,765
$216$216
-13.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.07NOK 332
$59.3$59.3
-40.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.6NOK 696
$63.4$63.4
16.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arendal
Staten Island, NY
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.98NOK 416
$118$118
-62.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$53.8NOK 508
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.98NOK 113
$20.13$20.13
-40.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arendal
Staten Island, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$302NOK 2,850
$1,999$1,999
-84.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.1KNOK 95.2K
$16.3K$16.3K
-38.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arendal
Staten Island, NY
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.5NOK 903
$67.1$67.1
42.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.1NOK 559
$37.41$37.41
58.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105NOK 990
$115$115
-8.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156NOK 1,475
$103$103
51.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arendal
Staten Island, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,100NOK 10.4K
$1,783$1,783
-38.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$695NOK 6,569
$1,389$1,389
-49.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,295NOK 12.2K
$3,271$3,271
-60.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,145NOK 10.8K
$2,677$2,677
-57.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,174NOK 30.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,170NOK 20.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arendal
Staten Island, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,262NOK 40.3K
$6,188$6,188
-31.13%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Staten Island, NY: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,100 in Arendal and $1,783 in Staten Island, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Staten Island, NY pays 45% 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: $75.0 in Arendal vs $101 in Staten Island, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $459 vs $513 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
What is the total cost difference between living in Arendal and Staten Island, NY?
Arendal and Staten Island, NY differ by about 31% in total monthly costs ($2,218 vs $2,906 including rent). Arendal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Staten Island, NY earns 45% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Arendal and Staten Island, NY?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,100 in Arendal versus $1,783 in Staten Island, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Arendal and Staten Island, NY?
Childcare runs $302 in Arendal versus $1,999 in Staten Island, NY. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Arendal – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $101 in Staten Island, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,218 in Arendal versus $2,906 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.
How does quality of life compare between Arendal and Staten Island, NY?
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.
Is Arendal or Staten Island, NY safer for residents?
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.
Where should expats move: Arendal or Staten Island, NY?
Expats usually find Arendal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Staten Island, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.