🙂A single person spends $2,557 per month in Baerum vs $2,773 in Stavanger, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,928 per month in Baerum vs $4,121 in Stavanger, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $5,298 per month in Baerum vs $5,469 in Stavanger, rent included.
🙂Baerum is about 8% cheaper than Stavanger, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Baerum and Stavanger sit above the global median – Baerum by 91%, Stavanger by 108%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baerum
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.61NOK 247
$25.15NOK 242
1.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102NOK 983
$124NOK 1,192
-17.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.15NOK 127
$15.47NOK 149
-15.00%
Cappuccino
$4.98NOK 47.93
$5.09NOK 49.03
-2.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52NOK 24.29
$3.97NOK 38.22
-36.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16NOK 20.84
$3.42NOK 32.96
-36.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.84NOK 85.2
$11.30NOK 109
-21.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.47NOK 91.2
$10.04NOK 96.7
-5.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baerum
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.29NOK 22.01
$2.43NOK 23.44
-5.76%
White Bread(500g)
$3.58NOK 34.48
$3.04NOK 29.25
17.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.21NOK 30.89
$4.50NOK 43.33
-28.67%
Eggs
$4.97NOK 47.90
$4.44NOK 42.75
11.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.42NOK 110
$12.96NOK 125
-11.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.31NOK 157
$16.11NOK 155
1.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$31.23NOK 301
$27.22NOK 262
14.73%
Apples(1kg)
$3.56NOK 34.26
$3.47NOK 33.44
2.59%
Banana(1kg)
$2.33NOK 22.42
$2.54NOK 24.42
-8.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.27NOK 31.51
$3.10NOK 29.88
5.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.98NOK 38.38
$4.76NOK 45.84
-16.39%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21NOK 21.26
$2.16NOK 20.77
2.31%
Onion(1kg)
$2.14NOK 20.66
$3.09NOK 29.74
-30.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.83NOK 27.27
$2.61NOK 25.09
8.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.83NOK 17.58
$1.74NOK 16.76
5.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.10NOK 136
$14.94NOK 144
-5.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.21NOK 175
$17.99NOK 173
1.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.49NOK 33.58
$3.49NOK 33.64
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01NOK 38.66
$4.14NOK 39.88
-3.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Baerum
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.15NOK 39.95
$4.67NOK 44.97
-11.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$72.7NOK 701
$68.4NOK 659
6.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.29NOK 99.1
$15.04NOK 145
-31.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.41NOK 13.54
$2.15NOK 20.75
-34.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.77NOK 412
$101NOK 975
-57.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.12NOK 20.41
$2.18NOK 20.98
-2.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8KNOK 258.3K
$34.5KNOK 332.2K
-22.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3KNOK 233.9K
$33.2KNOK 319.5K
-26.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baerum
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$306NOK 2,949
$191NOK 1,840
60.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.10NOK 386
$43.05NOK 415
-6.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.04NOK 366
$81.9NOK 789
-53.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baerum
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.3NOK 485
$56.0NOK 539
-10.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.74NOK 344
$34.99NOK 337
2.14%
Cinema Ticket
$15.21NOK 146
$19.39NOK 187
-21.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baerum
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$272NOK 2,622
$315NOK 3,035
-13.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6KNOK 140.9K
$12.8KNOK 123.1K
14.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baerum
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105NOK 1,014
$119NOK 1,150
-11.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.64NOK 449
$59.8NOK 576
-21.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.4NOK 958
$107NOK 1,028
-6.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152NOK 1,465
$161NOK 1,550
-5.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baerum
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,232NOK 11.9K
$1,617NOK 15.6K
-23.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$909NOK 8,758
$1,134NOK 10.9K
-19.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,148NOK 20.7K
$2,719NOK 26.2K
-21.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,608NOK 15.5K
$1,738NOK 16.7K
-7.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,734NOK 55.2K
$5,982NOK 57.6K
-4.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,915NOK 37.7K
$5,156NOK 49.7K
-24.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baerum
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,193NOK 50.0K
$4,945NOK 47.6K
5.00%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Stavanger: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,232 in Baerum 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 5% 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 $102 in Baerum versus $124 in Stavanger. Groceries tell a different story – $472 in Baerum vs $466 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 8%, 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 $3,836 per month in Baerum and $4,159 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 and in Stavanger?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,557 in Baerum and $2,773 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 6% less in Baerum. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Baerum or in Stavanger?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Baerum, where all-in costs run around $2,557, than in Stavanger at $2,773. 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.