🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,217 in Grimstad versus $3,218 in Stavanger.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,795 in Grimstad versus $4,673 in Stavanger.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,373 in Grimstad versus $6,128 in Stavanger.
🌍Living in Grimstad costs roughly 31% less than in Stavanger, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Grimstad61% above, Stavanger133% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Grimstad
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.54NOK 200
$25.27NOK 235
-14.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.4NOK 738
$97.7NOK 908
-18.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.52NOK 144
$16.20NOK 151
-4.20%
Cappuccino
$4.83NOK 44.89
$6.50NOK 60.4
-25.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.34NOK 40.32
$5.65NOK 52.5
-23.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52NOK 32.72
$4.62NOK 42.91
-23.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.77NOK 109
$13.72NOK 128
-14.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.92NOK 101
$12.21NOK 113
-10.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Grimstad
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.60NOK 24.13
$2.39NOK 22.19
8.79%
White Bread(500g)
$3.76NOK 34.89
$3.69NOK 34.30
1.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.15NOK 29.25
$4.04NOK 37.55
-22.03%
Eggs
$3.62NOK 33.61
$5.03NOK 46.74
-28.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.35NOK 124
$15.21NOK 141
-12.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.60NOK 136
$17.62NOK 164
-17.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$25.16NOK 234
$35.78NOK 332
-29.68%
Apples(1kg)
$2.18NOK 20.28
$3.58NOK 33.21
-39.11%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38NOK 22.13
$2.90NOK 26.92
-17.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.50NOK 32.53
$3.63NOK 33.75
-3.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.41NOK 40.96
$4.87NOK 45.24
-9.45%
Potato(1kg)
$2.78NOK 25.85
$2.62NOK 24.35
6.11%
Onion(1kg)
$2.98NOK 27.69
$3.24NOK 30.07
-8.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.20NOK 29.76
$2.85NOK 26.45
12.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93NOK 17.96
$2.31NOK 21.46
-16.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.65NOK 183
$17.75NOK 165
10.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.93NOK 148
$18.90NOK 176
-15.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.48NOK 32.34
$4.03NOK 37.48
-13.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44NOK 41.24
$4.53NOK 42.12
-1.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Grimstad
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$5.53NOK 51.4
$4.75NOK 44.17
16.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$95.2NOK 885
$87.1NOK 809
9.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.33NOK 115
$6.21NOK 57.7
98.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.85NOK 17.15
$1.80NOK 16.72
2.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$71.1NOK 660
$105NOK 973
-32.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25NOK 20.91
$2.29NOK 21.28
-1.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.3KNOK 457.6K
$50.3KNOK 466.8K
-1.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.3KNOK 429.7K
$43.0KNOK 399.1K
7.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grimstad
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$317NOK 2,947
$261NOK 2,428
21.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.46NOK 311
$35.80NOK 333
-6.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.6NOK 535
$85.6NOK 796
-32.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Grimstad
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.15NOK 401
$52.1NOK 484
-17.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$37.84NOK 352
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.42NOK 153
$22.77NOK 211
-27.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Grimstad
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$254NOK 2,358
$332NOK 3,083
-23.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3KNOK 151.2K
$14.2KNOK 132.3K
14.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Grimstad
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.7NOK 908
$127NOK 1,184
-23.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.4NOK 505
$61.6NOK 572
-11.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108NOK 999
$156NOK 1,449
-31.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158NOK 1,469
$206NOK 1,917
-23.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Grimstad
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$919NOK 8,541
$1,757NOK 16.3K
-47.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$535NOK 4,971
$1,393NOK 12.9K
-61.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,988NOK 18.5K
$2,793NOK 25.9K
-28.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,829NOK 17.0K
$2,062NOK 19.2K
-11.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,773NOK 44.3K
$6,206NOK 57.7K
-23.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,457NOK 32.1K
$5,375NOK 49.9K
-35.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Grimstad
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,632NOK 43.0K
$5,012NOK 46.6K
-7.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.9
5.27
-7.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Grimstad: September 6, 2026
Last update for Stavanger: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $919 in Grimstad and $1,757 in Stavanger. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stavanger pays 8% 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: $79.0 in Grimstad vs $98.0 in Stavanger for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $449 vs $533 per month, with Grimstad 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
Grimstad vs Stavanger: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stavanger cheaper than Grimstad?
Grimstad is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 45% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Grimstad or Stavanger?
On paper, salaries run 8% 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 Grimstad and Stavanger?
Rent for a central apartment: $919 in Grimstad versus $1,757 in Stavanger. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Grimstad and in Stavanger?
All in, you'll spend $2,217 per month in Grimstad versus $3,218 in Stavanger – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Grimstad runs roughly 9% less than in Stavanger. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Grimstad or in Stavanger?
At $2,217 in Grimstad versus $3,218 in Stavanger, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Grimstad but tight or insufficient in Stavanger. The gap between the two cities makes Grimstad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Grimstad or Stavanger more family-friendly?
For families, Grimstad 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, Grimstad or Stavanger?
Safety-wise, Grimstad 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 Grimstad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Stavanger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.