🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,692 in Fredrikstad versus $2,744 in Stavanger.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,055 in Fredrikstad versus $4,187 in Stavanger.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,418 in Fredrikstad versus $5,629 in Stavanger.
🙂Living in Fredrikstad costs roughly 2% less than in Stavanger, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Fredrikstad101% above, Stavanger105% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fredrikstad
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.53NOK 172
$25.49NOK 237
-27.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$110NOK 1,018
$121NOK 1,122
-9.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.98NOK 111
$15.31NOK 142
-21.75%
Cappuccino
$5.16NOK 47.91
$5.17NOK 48.03
-0.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90NOK 36.25
$4.04NOK 37.57
-3.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80NOK 25.98
$3.47NOK 32.20
-19.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.30NOK 105
$11.15NOK 104
1.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.19NOK 94.7
$10.27NOK 95.4
-0.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fredrikstad
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17NOK 20.17
$2.45NOK 22.73
-11.43%
White Bread(500g)
$4.45NOK 41.36
$3.02NOK 28.03
47.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.23NOK 30.00
$4.56NOK 42.38
-29.17%
Eggs
$5.46NOK 50.8
$4.46NOK 41.46
22.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.89NOK 110
$13.11NOK 122
-9.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.75NOK 146
$16.72NOK 155
-5.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$33.73NOK 313
$27.15NOK 252
24.24%
Apples(1kg)
$4.74NOK 44.06
$3.58NOK 33.26
32.40%
Banana(1kg)
$3.45NOK 32.09
$2.56NOK 23.80
34.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.50NOK 41.83
$2.98NOK 27.72
51.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.06NOK 47.00
$4.61NOK 42.83
9.76%
Potato(1kg)
$2.89NOK 26.81
$2.09NOK 19.42
38.28%
Onion(1kg)
$2.75NOK 25.58
$3.09NOK 28.70
-11.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.73NOK 25.40
$2.50NOK 23.27
9.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.82NOK 16.94
$1.81NOK 16.81
0.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.09NOK 140
$15.37NOK 143
-1.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.89NOK 213
$19.14NOK 178
19.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.32NOK 30.80
$3.63NOK 33.70
-8.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.01NOK 55.8
$4.13NOK 38.39
45.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Fredrikstad
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.90NOK 36.22
$4.66NOK 43.31
-16.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$62.3NOK 579
$67.1NOK 623
-7.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.15NOK 57.1
$14.97NOK 139
-58.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.46NOK 13.56
$2.12NOK 19.70
-31.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$53.8NOK 500
$99.8NOK 927
-46.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32NOK 21.58
$2.15NOK 19.96
7.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3KNOK 328.0K
$34.0KNOK 315.8K
3.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.8KNOK 351.5K
$32.8KNOK 304.4K
15.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fredrikstad
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$336NOK 3,119
$191NOK 1,778
75.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.13NOK 354
$42.73NOK 397
-10.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.0NOK 520
$81.9NOK 761
-31.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fredrikstad
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.08NOK 447
$55.8NOK 519
-13.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.46NOK 367
$35.64NOK 331
10.72%
Cinema Ticket
$21.86NOK 203
$19.51NOK 181
12.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fredrikstad
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$283NOK 2,629
$318NOK 2,957
-11.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.1KNOK 93.9K
$12.8KNOK 118.6K
-20.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fredrikstad
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$149NOK 1,383
$119NOK 1,107
24.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.3NOK 569
$58.3NOK 542
5.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$166NOK 1,539
$106NOK 981
56.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134NOK 1,242
$157NOK 1,460
-14.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fredrikstad
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,288NOK 12.0K
$1,604NOK 14.9K
-19.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$953NOK 8,851
$1,115NOK 10.4K
-14.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048NOK 19.0K
$2,756NOK 25.6K
-25.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,537NOK 14.3K
$1,738NOK 16.1K
-11.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,150NOK 57.1K
$6,190NOK 57.5K
-0.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,533NOK 42.1K
$5,435NOK 50.5K
-16.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fredrikstad
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,416NOK 31.7K
$4,992NOK 46.4K
-31.58%
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Stavanger: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,288 in Fredrikstad and $1,604 in Stavanger. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stavanger pays 46% 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: $110 in Fredrikstad vs $121 in Stavanger. Groceries flip the comparison at $526 vs $472, 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 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Fredrikstad or Stavanger?
On paper, Stavanger earns 46% less. 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: $1,288 in Fredrikstad versus $1,604 in Stavanger. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $283 in Fredrikstad versus $318 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 Stavanger?
Shoppers in Stavanger pay roughly 11% 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 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 2% 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