🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,682 in Fredrikstad versus $2,773 in Stavanger.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,010 in Fredrikstad versus $4,121 in Stavanger.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,338 in Fredrikstad versus $5,469 in Stavanger.
🌍Living in Fredrikstad costs roughly 3% less than in Stavanger, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Fredrikstad101% above, Stavanger108% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fredrikstad
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.97NOK 173
$25.15NOK 242
-28.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$114NOK 1,093
$124NOK 1,192
-8.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.91NOK 115
$15.47NOK 149
-23.01%
Cappuccino
$5.34NOK 51.4
$5.09NOK 49.03
4.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97NOK 38.21
$3.97NOK 38.22
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74NOK 26.44
$3.42NOK 32.96
-19.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.01NOK 106
$11.30NOK 109
-2.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.29NOK 99.1
$10.04NOK 96.7
2.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fredrikstad
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19NOK 21.07
$2.43NOK 23.44
-9.88%
White Bread(500g)
$4.25NOK 40.97
$3.04NOK 29.25
39.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.27NOK 31.50
$4.50NOK 43.33
-27.33%
Eggs
$5.22NOK 50.3
$4.44NOK 42.75
17.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.78NOK 113
$12.96NOK 125
-9.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.02NOK 154
$16.11NOK 155
-0.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$34.17NOK 329
$27.22NOK 262
25.53%
Apples(1kg)
$4.51NOK 43.45
$3.47NOK 33.44
29.97%
Banana(1kg)
$3.52NOK 33.91
$2.54NOK 24.42
38.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.50NOK 43.34
$3.10NOK 29.88
45.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.04NOK 48.57
$4.76NOK 45.84
5.88%
Potato(1kg)
$2.75NOK 26.49
$2.16NOK 20.77
27.31%
Onion(1kg)
$2.66NOK 25.61
$3.09NOK 29.74
-13.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.64NOK 25.47
$2.61NOK 25.09
1.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.85NOK 17.79
$1.74NOK 16.76
6.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.87NOK 143
$14.94NOK 144
-0.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.86NOK 211
$17.99NOK 173
21.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.43NOK 33.00
$3.49NOK 33.64
-1.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.11NOK 58.9
$4.14NOK 39.88
47.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Fredrikstad
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.87NOK 37.30
$4.67NOK 44.97
-17.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.7NOK 613
$68.4NOK 659
-6.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.22NOK 59.9
$15.04NOK 145
-58.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.46NOK 14.02
$2.15NOK 20.75
-32.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$52.3NOK 503
$101NOK 975
-48.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.27NOK 21.90
$2.18NOK 20.98
4.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1KNOK 337.9K
$34.5KNOK 332.2K
1.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1KNOK 376.6K
$33.2KNOK 319.5K
17.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fredrikstad
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$339NOK 3,268
$191NOK 1,840
77.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.93NOK 365
$43.05NOK 415
-11.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.0NOK 549
$81.9NOK 789
-30.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fredrikstad
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.85NOK 470
$56.0NOK 539
-12.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.15NOK 377
$34.99NOK 337
11.89%
Cinema Ticket
$22.16NOK 213
$19.39NOK 187
14.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fredrikstad
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$284NOK 2,734
$315NOK 3,035
-9.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.2KNOK 98.2K
$12.8KNOK 123.1K
-20.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fredrikstad
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$154NOK 1,483
$119NOK 1,150
28.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.2NOK 580
$59.8NOK 576
0.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$166NOK 1,604
$107NOK 1,028
56.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133NOK 1,278
$161NOK 1,550
-17.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fredrikstad
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,266NOK 12.2K
$1,617NOK 15.6K
-21.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$943NOK 9,086
$1,134NOK 10.9K
-16.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,100NOK 20.2K
$2,719NOK 26.2K
-22.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,541NOK 14.8K
$1,738NOK 16.7K
-11.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,874NOK 56.6K
$5,982NOK 57.6K
-1.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,915NOK 37.7K
$5,156NOK 49.7K
-24.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fredrikstad
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,227NOK 31.1K
$4,945NOK 47.6K
-34.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.25
4.51
-5.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fredrikstad: July 12, 2026
Last update for Stavanger: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,266 in Fredrikstad and $1,617 in Stavanger. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stavanger pays 53% 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: $114 in Fredrikstad vs $124 in Stavanger. Groceries flip the comparison at $523 vs $466, with Stavanger cheaper for home cooking.
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
Fredrikstad vs Stavanger: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stavanger cheaper than Fredrikstad?
Fredrikstad is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Fredrikstad or Stavanger?
On paper, salaries run 53% lower in Stavanger. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Fredrikstad and Stavanger?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,266 in Fredrikstad versus $1,617 in Stavanger. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $284 in Fredrikstad versus $315 in Stavanger. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Fredrikstad and in Stavanger?
Shoppers in Stavanger pay roughly 12% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Fredrikstad or in Stavanger?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Fredrikstad is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Fredrikstad or Stavanger more family-friendly?
For families, Fredrikstad is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Stavanger, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Fredrikstad or Stavanger?
Safety-wise, Fredrikstad and Stavanger are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Fredrikstad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Stavanger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Fredrikstad vs other spots: cost of living compared