😐A single person spends $3,237 per month in Baerum vs $3,179 in Stavanger, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,958 per month in Baerum vs $4,668 in Stavanger, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $6,679 per month in Baerum vs $6,158 in Stavanger, rent included.
😐Baerum costs about 2% more than Stavanger, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Baerum and Stavanger sit above the global median – Baerum by 136%, Stavanger by 131%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baerum
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.09NOK 197
$26.10NOK 243
-19.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$130NOK 1,213
$100NOK 932
30.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.22NOK 151
$15.98NOK 149
1.50%
Cappuccino
$5.94NOK 55.3
$6.53NOK 60.9
-9.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.15NOK 38.69
$5.57NOK 51.9
-25.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55NOK 33.05
$4.55NOK 42.35
-21.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.95NOK 111
$13.62NOK 127
-12.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.60NOK 117
$12.09NOK 113
4.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baerum
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.51NOK 23.37
$2.49NOK 23.19
0.80%
White Bread(500g)
$3.82NOK 35.59
$3.60NOK 33.58
6.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.70NOK 43.76
$3.96NOK 36.86
18.69%
Eggs
$5.84NOK 54.4
$4.97NOK 46.34
17.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.92NOK 102
$14.64NOK 136
-25.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.69NOK 146
$17.53NOK 163
-10.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$30.26NOK 282
$35.75NOK 333
-15.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.74NOK 25.50
$3.70NOK 34.49
-25.95%
Banana(1kg)
$2.10NOK 19.59
$2.86NOK 26.62
-26.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12NOK 19.77
$3.58NOK 33.32
-40.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.22NOK 39.34
$4.90NOK 45.61
-13.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.67NOK 15.59
$2.60NOK 24.27
-35.77%
Onion(1kg)
$2.89NOK 26.90
$3.17NOK 29.53
-8.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.19NOK 29.70
$2.90NOK 27.05
10.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.51NOK 23.34
$2.31NOK 21.54
8.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.29NOK 180
$17.65NOK 164
9.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.53NOK 154
$19.17NOK 179
-13.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.48NOK 32.46
$3.85NOK 35.86
-9.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26NOK 39.68
$4.61NOK 42.91
-7.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Baerum
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.47NOK 41.62
$4.89NOK 45.59
-8.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$87.1NOK 812
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.37NOK 115
$6.48NOK 60.4
90.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.86NOK 17.30
$1.78NOK 16.62
4.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$70.9NOK 661
$105NOK 980
-32.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.34NOK 21.77
$2.32NOK 21.66
0.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4KNOK 264.2K
$48.7KNOK 454.0K
-41.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4KNOK 236.3K
$41.8KNOK 389.7K
-39.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baerum
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$349NOK 3,254
$257NOK 2,397
35.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.91NOK 307
$35.59NOK 332
-7.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.7NOK 547
$84.9NOK 791
-30.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baerum
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.5NOK 508
$52.6NOK 490
3.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$36.90NOK 344
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.74NOK 147
$22.33NOK 208
-29.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baerum
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$252NOK 2,350
$325NOK 3,029
-22.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6KNOK 145.7K
$14.4KNOK 134.0K
8.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baerum
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104NOK 969
$126NOK 1,173
-17.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.7NOK 584
$60.7NOK 566
3.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137NOK 1,275
$155NOK 1,445
-11.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159NOK 1,485
$203NOK 1,893
-21.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baerum
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,739NOK 16.2K
$1,746NOK 16.3K
-0.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,510NOK 14.1K
$1,387NOK 12.9K
8.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,501NOK 32.6K
$2,840NOK 26.5K
23.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,979NOK 27.8K
$2,044NOK 19.0K
45.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$11.3KNOK 105.0K
$6,241NOK 58.1K
80.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$10.5KNOK 97.9K
$5,530NOK 51.5K
89.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baerum
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,568NOK 51.9K
$5,111NOK 47.6K
8.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.6
5.27
-12.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Baerum: September 1, 2026
Last update for Stavanger: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,739 in Baerum versus $1,746 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 9% higher in Baerum, 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 $130 in Baerum versus $100 in Stavanger. Groceries tell a different story – $476 in Baerum vs $530 in Stavanger – so Baerum wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Baerum vs Stavanger: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is cheaper: Baerum or Stavanger?
Baerum costs about 2% more than Stavanger, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,855 per month in Baerum and $4,768 in Stavanger. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Stavanger, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Baerum and in Stavanger?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,237 in Baerum and $3,179 in Stavanger. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $252 per month in Baerum and $325 in Stavanger. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Baerum or in Stavanger?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,237 in Baerum and $3,179 in Stavanger. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Baerum or Stavanger more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Stavanger – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Baerum or Stavanger?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Stavanger. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Baerum makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.