🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,030 in Fredrikstad versus $3,179 in Stavanger.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,355 in Fredrikstad versus $4,668 in Stavanger.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,681 in Fredrikstad versus $6,158 in Stavanger.
🌍Living in Fredrikstad costs roughly 5% less than in Stavanger, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Fredrikstad121% above, Stavanger131% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fredrikstad
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.41NOK 218
$26.10NOK 243
-10.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$119NOK 1,110
$100NOK 932
19.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.56NOK 117
$15.98NOK 149
-21.40%
Cappuccino
$6.72NOK 62.6
$6.53NOK 60.9
2.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.87NOK 54.7
$5.57NOK 51.9
5.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.60NOK 42.82
$4.55NOK 42.35
1.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.33NOK 115
$13.62NOK 127
-9.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.41NOK 87.7
$12.09NOK 113
-22.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fredrikstad
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.42NOK 22.54
$2.49NOK 23.19
-2.81%
White Bread(500g)
$4.34NOK 40.42
$3.60NOK 33.58
20.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.56NOK 33.13
$3.96NOK 36.86
-10.10%
Eggs
$6.10NOK 56.9
$4.97NOK 46.34
22.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.26NOK 124
$14.64NOK 136
-9.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$18.44NOK 172
$17.53NOK 163
5.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$35.83NOK 334
$35.75NOK 333
0.22%
Apples(1kg)
$4.68NOK 43.62
$3.70NOK 34.49
26.49%
Banana(1kg)
$3.55NOK 33.03
$2.86NOK 26.62
24.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.46NOK 41.58
$3.58NOK 33.32
24.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.21NOK 48.57
$4.90NOK 45.61
6.33%
Potato(1kg)
$2.95NOK 27.45
$2.60NOK 24.27
13.46%
Onion(1kg)
$2.83NOK 26.35
$3.17NOK 29.53
-10.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.96NOK 27.61
$2.90NOK 27.05
2.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.40NOK 22.37
$2.31NOK 21.54
3.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$16.07NOK 150
$17.65NOK 164
-8.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.17NOK 207
$19.17NOK 179
15.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.58NOK 33.35
$3.85NOK 35.86
-7.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28NOK 39.88
$4.61NOK 42.91
-7.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Fredrikstad
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.16NOK 38.72
$4.89NOK 45.59
-14.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$66.8NOK 622
$87.1NOK 812
-23.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.99NOK 121
$6.48NOK 60.4
100.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.69NOK 15.76
$1.78NOK 16.62
-5.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$72.7NOK 677
$105NOK 980
-30.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.39NOK 22.29
$2.32NOK 21.66
3.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.7KNOK 397.8K
$48.7KNOK 454.0K
-12.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$50.0KNOK 466.3K
$41.8KNOK 389.7K
19.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fredrikstad
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$338NOK 3,153
$257NOK 2,397
31.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.68NOK 435
$35.59NOK 332
31.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.5NOK 619
$84.9NOK 791
-21.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fredrikstad
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.1NOK 550
$52.6NOK 490
12.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.58NOK 387
$36.90NOK 344
12.68%
Cinema Ticket
$20.69NOK 193
$22.33NOK 208
-7.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fredrikstad
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$174NOK 1,621
$325NOK 3,029
-46.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.1KNOK 103.3K
$14.4KNOK 134.0K
-22.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fredrikstad
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$162NOK 1,508
$126NOK 1,173
28.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$79.4NOK 740
$60.7NOK 566
30.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$144NOK 1,343
$155NOK 1,445
-7.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114NOK 1,061
$203NOK 1,893
-43.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fredrikstad
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,391NOK 13.0K
$1,746NOK 16.3K
-20.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,125NOK 10.5K
$1,387NOK 12.9K
-18.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,851NOK 17.2K
$2,840NOK 26.5K
-34.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,510NOK 14.1K
$2,044NOK 19.0K
-26.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,312NOK 58.8K
$6,241NOK 58.1K
1.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,204NOK 39.2K
$5,530NOK 51.5K
-23.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fredrikstad
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,454NOK 32.2K
$5,111NOK 47.6K
-32.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.95
5.27
-6.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fredrikstad: September 1, 2026
Last update for Stavanger: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,391 in Fredrikstad and $1,746 in Stavanger. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stavanger pays 48% 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: $119 in Fredrikstad vs $100 in Stavanger for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $560 vs $530 per month, with Stavanger cheaper across the board.
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, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Fredrikstad or Stavanger?
On paper, salaries run 48% 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: $1,391 in Fredrikstad versus $1,746 in Stavanger. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $174 in Fredrikstad versus $325 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 6% 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 5% 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