Cost of Living Comparison Between Grimstad and Stavanger Cost of Living Comparison Between Grimstad and Stavanger

Monthly Cost of Living

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: Grimstad 61% above, Stavanger 133% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Grimstad
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.54 NOK 200
$25.27 NOK 235
-14.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.4 NOK 738
$97.7 NOK 908
-18.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.52 NOK 144
$16.20 NOK 151
-4.20%
Cappuccino
$4.83 NOK 44.89
$6.50 NOK 60.4
-25.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.34 NOK 40.32
$5.65 NOK 52.5
-23.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 NOK 32.72
$4.62 NOK 42.91
-23.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.77 NOK 109
$13.72 NOK 128
-14.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.92 NOK 101
$12.21 NOK 113
-10.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Grimstad
Stavanger
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.60 NOK 24.13
$2.39 NOK 22.19
8.79%
White Bread (500g)
$3.76 NOK 34.89
$3.69 NOK 34.30
1.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.15 NOK 29.25
$4.04 NOK 37.55
-22.03%
Eggs
$3.62 NOK 33.61
$5.03 NOK 46.74
-28.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.35 NOK 124
$15.21 NOK 141
-12.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.60 NOK 136
$17.62 NOK 164
-17.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.16 NOK 234
$35.78 NOK 332
-29.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.18 NOK 20.28
$3.58 NOK 33.21
-39.11%
Banana (1kg)
$2.38 NOK 22.13
$2.90 NOK 26.92
-17.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.50 NOK 32.53
$3.63 NOK 33.75
-3.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.41 NOK 40.96
$4.87 NOK 45.24
-9.45%
Potato (1kg)
$2.78 NOK 25.85
$2.62 NOK 24.35
6.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.98 NOK 27.69
$3.24 NOK 30.07
-8.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.20 NOK 29.76
$2.85 NOK 26.45
12.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 NOK 17.96
$2.31 NOK 21.46
-16.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.65 NOK 183
$17.75 NOK 165
10.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.93 NOK 148
$18.90 NOK 176
-15.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.48 NOK 32.34
$4.03 NOK 37.48
-13.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44 NOK 41.24
$4.53 NOK 42.12
-1.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Grimstad
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.53 NOK 51.4
$4.75 NOK 44.17
16.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$95.2 NOK 885
$87.1 NOK 809
9.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$12.33 NOK 115
$6.21 NOK 57.7
98.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.85 NOK 17.15
$1.80 NOK 16.72
2.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$71.1 NOK 660
$105 NOK 973
-32.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 NOK 20.91
$2.29 NOK 21.28
-1.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.3K NOK 457.6K
$50.3K NOK 466.8K
-1.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.3K NOK 429.7K
$43.0K NOK 399.1K
7.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grimstad
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$317 NOK 2,947
$261 NOK 2,428
21.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.46 NOK 311
$35.80 NOK 333
-6.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.6 NOK 535
$85.6 NOK 796
-32.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Grimstad
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.15 NOK 401
$52.1 NOK 484
-17.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$37.84 NOK 352
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.42 NOK 153
$22.77 NOK 211
-27.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Grimstad
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$254 NOK 2,358
$332 NOK 3,083
-23.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K NOK 151.2K
$14.2K NOK 132.3K
14.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Grimstad
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.7 NOK 908
$127 NOK 1,184
-23.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.4 NOK 505
$61.6 NOK 572
-11.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 NOK 999
$156 NOK 1,449
-31.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158 NOK 1,469
$206 NOK 1,917
-23.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Grimstad
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$919 NOK 8,541
$1,757 NOK 16.3K
-47.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$535 NOK 4,971
$1,393 NOK 12.9K
-61.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,988 NOK 18.5K
$2,793 NOK 25.9K
-28.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,829 NOK 17.0K
$2,062 NOK 19.2K
-11.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,773 NOK 44.3K
$6,206 NOK 57.7K
-23.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,457 NOK 32.1K
$5,375 NOK 49.9K
-35.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Grimstad
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,632 NOK 43.0K
$5,012 NOK 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.

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