🙂A single person spends $2,560 per month in Baerum vs $2,744 in Stavanger, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,853 per month in Baerum vs $4,187 in Stavanger, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $5,146 per month in Baerum vs $5,629 in Stavanger, rent included.
🙂Baerum is about 7% cheaper than Stavanger, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Baerum and Stavanger sit above the global median – Baerum by 91%, Stavanger by 105%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baerum
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.44NOK 236
$25.49NOK 237
-0.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$103NOK 959
$121NOK 1,122
-14.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.54NOK 126
$15.31NOK 142
-11.56%
Cappuccino
$5.07NOK 47.08
$5.17NOK 48.03
-1.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52NOK 23.37
$4.04NOK 37.57
-37.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13NOK 19.75
$3.47NOK 32.20
-38.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.96NOK 83.2
$11.15NOK 104
-19.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.87NOK 91.7
$10.27NOK 95.4
-3.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baerum
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.29NOK 21.27
$2.45NOK 22.73
-6.53%
White Bread(500g)
$3.56NOK 33.07
$3.02NOK 28.03
17.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.16NOK 29.35
$4.56NOK 42.38
-30.70%
Eggs
$5.03NOK 46.70
$4.46NOK 41.46
12.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.44NOK 106
$13.11NOK 122
-12.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.92NOK 148
$16.72NOK 155
-4.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$31.04NOK 288
$27.15NOK 252
14.33%
Apples(1kg)
$3.57NOK 33.14
$3.58NOK 33.26
-0.28%
Banana(1kg)
$2.32NOK 21.51
$2.56NOK 23.80
-9.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.32NOK 30.83
$2.98NOK 27.72
11.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.19NOK 38.89
$4.61NOK 42.83
-9.11%
Potato(1kg)
$2.30NOK 21.33
$2.09NOK 19.42
10.05%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23NOK 20.68
$3.09NOK 28.70
-27.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.85NOK 26.50
$2.50NOK 23.27
14.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.82NOK 16.90
$1.81NOK 16.81
0.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.05NOK 131
$15.37NOK 143
-8.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.53NOK 181
$19.14NOK 178
2.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.47NOK 32.22
$3.63NOK 33.70
-4.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03NOK 37.45
$4.13NOK 38.39
-2.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Baerum
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.13NOK 38.41
$4.66NOK 43.31
-11.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.5NOK 683
$67.1NOK 623
9.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.95NOK 92.4
$14.97NOK 139
-33.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.44NOK 13.42
$2.12NOK 19.70
-32.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.95NOK 399
$99.8NOK 927
-56.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.13NOK 19.75
$2.15NOK 19.96
-0.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9KNOK 258.8K
$34.0KNOK 315.8K
-18.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6KNOK 228.9K
$32.8KNOK 304.4K
-24.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baerum
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$305NOK 2,829
$191NOK 1,778
59.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.01NOK 381
$42.73NOK 397
-4.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.37NOK 347
$81.9NOK 761
-54.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baerum
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.5NOK 469
$55.8NOK 519
-9.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.85NOK 333
$35.64NOK 331
0.59%
Cinema Ticket
$15.44NOK 143
$19.51NOK 181
-20.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baerum
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$268NOK 2,488
$318NOK 2,957
-15.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9KNOK 138.5K
$12.8KNOK 118.6K
16.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baerum
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105NOK 977
$119NOK 1,107
-11.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.13NOK 438
$58.3NOK 542
-19.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.7NOK 926
$106NOK 981
-5.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152NOK 1,410
$157NOK 1,460
-3.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baerum
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,216NOK 11.3K
$1,604NOK 14.9K
-24.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$908NOK 8,438
$1,115NOK 10.4K
-18.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,140NOK 19.9K
$2,756NOK 25.6K
-22.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,613NOK 15.0K
$1,738NOK 16.1K
-7.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,036NOK 56.1K
$6,190NOK 57.5K
-2.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,455NOK 41.4K
$5,435NOK 50.5K
-18.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baerum
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,515NOK 51.2K
$4,992NOK 46.4K
10.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.38
4.51
-2.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Baerum: June 2, 2026
Last update for Stavanger: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,216 in Baerum 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 10% higher in Baerum, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $103 in Baerum versus $121 in Stavanger. Groceries tell a different story – $473 in Baerum vs $472 in Stavanger – so Stavanger 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
Is Stavanger cheaper than Baerum?
Yes – Stavanger is pricier by about 7%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,840 per month in Baerum and $4,117 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 Baerum, 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 vs Stavanger?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,560 in Baerum and $2,744 in Stavanger. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 10% less in Baerum. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Baerum or Stavanger?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Baerum, where all-in costs run around $2,560, than in Stavanger at $2,744. In Baerum it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stavanger it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Baerum or Stavanger more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Baerum – 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 Baerum. 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.