Cost of Living Comparison Between Boston, MA and Stavanger Cost of Living Comparison Between Boston, MA and Stavanger

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,127 per month in Boston, MA vs $2,773 in Stavanger, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,943 per month in Boston, MA vs $4,121 in Stavanger, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,759 per month in Boston, MA vs $5,469 in Stavanger, rent included.

Boston, MA costs about 49% more than Stavanger, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Boston, MA and Stavanger sit above the global median – Boston, MA by 209%, Stavanger by 108%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.84 $24.84

$25.15 NOK 242

-1.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$126 $126

$124 NOK 1,192

2.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.26 $11.26

$15.47 NOK 149

-27.21%

Cappuccino

$5.42 $5.42

$5.09 NOK 49.03

6.48%

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

$2.92 $2.92

$3.97 NOK 38.22

-26.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$3.42 NOK 32.96

-32.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.11 $8.11

$11.30 NOK 109

-28.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.80 $8.80

$10.04 NOK 96.7

-12.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$2.43 NOK 23.44

-47.74%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.04 NOK 29.25

36.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.51 $6.51

$4.50 NOK 43.33

44.67%

Eggs

$4.84 $4.84

$4.44 NOK 42.75

9.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.91 $16.91

$12.96 NOK 125

30.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.74 $13.74

$16.11 NOK 155

-14.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.35 $20.35

$27.22 NOK 262

-25.24%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$3.47 NOK 33.44

66.86%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.54 NOK 24.42

-16.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.48 $6.48

$3.10 NOK 29.88

109.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.70 $7.70

$4.76 NOK 45.84

61.76%

Potato (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$2.16 NOK 20.77

113.43%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$3.09 NOK 29.74

23.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.61 NOK 25.09

9.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.74 NOK 16.76

45.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.52 $13.52

$14.94 NOK 144

-9.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.06 $16.06

$17.99 NOK 173

-10.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$3.49 NOK 33.64

-17.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.49 $5.49

$4.14 NOK 39.88

32.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.42 $2.42

$4.67 NOK 44.97

-48.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.0 $89.0

$68.4 NOK 659

30.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$15.04 NOK 145

-82.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.15 NOK 20.75

-17.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.92 $27.92

$101 NOK 975

-72.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$2.18 NOK 20.98

-59.17%

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

$29.4K $29.4K

$34.5K NOK 332.2K

-14.61%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$33.2K NOK 319.5K

-24.40%

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

$193 $193

$191 NOK 1,840

1.14%

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

$57.2 $57.2

$43.05 NOK 415

32.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.4 $78.4

$81.9 NOK 789

-4.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.8 $80.8

$56.0 NOK 539

44.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.81 $30.81

$34.99 NOK 337

-11.95%

Cinema Ticket

$15.80 $15.80

$19.39 NOK 187

-18.51%

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

$2,832 $2,832

$315 NOK 3,035

798.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.9K $27.9K

$12.8K NOK 123.1K

118.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.3 $67.3

$119 NOK 1,150

-43.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.02 $44.02

$59.8 NOK 576

-26.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$107 NOK 1,028

-4.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$161 NOK 1,550

-9.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,402 $3,402

$1,617 NOK 15.6K

110.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,542 $2,542

$1,134 NOK 10.9K

124.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,149 $6,149

$2,719 NOK 26.2K

126.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,037 $4,037

$1,738 NOK 16.7K

132.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.8K $13.8K

$5,982 NOK 57.6K

129.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,581 $6,581

$5,156 NOK 49.7K

27.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,132 $6,132

$4,945 NOK 47.6K

23.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

4.51

42.57%

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

Last update for Boston, MA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Stavanger: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,402 in Boston, MA 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 24% higher in Boston, MA, 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 $126 in Boston, MA versus $124 in Stavanger. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $507 vs $466 – making Stavanger the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Boston, MA vs Stavanger: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Boston, MA costs about 49% more than Stavanger, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,190 per month in Boston, MA and $4,159 in Stavanger. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Boston, MA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $126 in Boston, MA and $124 in Stavanger. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,127 in Boston, MA and $2,773 in Stavanger. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Stavanger costs $2,773 versus $4,127 in Boston, MA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Stavanger. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Boston, MA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.