🙂A single person spends $2,189 per month in Halden vs $2,689 in Stavanger, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,588 per month in Halden vs $4,070 in Stavanger, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,987 per month in Halden vs $5,451 in Stavanger, rent included.
🙂Halden is about 19% cheaper than Stavanger, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Halden and Stavanger sit above the global median – Halden by 63%, Stavanger by 100%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Halden
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.15NOK 191
$25.39NOK 241
-20.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101NOK 963
$120NOK 1,138
-15.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.06NOK 115
$15.31NOK 145
-21.23%
Cappuccino
$4.57NOK 43.37
$5.03NOK 47.77
-9.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64NOK 34.58
$3.88NOK 36.83
-6.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11NOK 29.49
$3.47NOK 32.89
-10.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.07NOK 95.6
$10.98NOK 104
-8.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.16NOK 87.0
$10.21NOK 96.9
-10.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Halden
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.21NOK 20.98
$2.31NOK 21.93
-4.33%
White Bread(500g)
$3.11NOK 29.51
$3.12NOK 29.59
-0.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.86NOK 27.19
$4.58NOK 43.48
-37.55%
Eggs
$4.23NOK 40.15
$4.48NOK 42.52
-5.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.47NOK 118
$12.90NOK 122
-3.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.61NOK 139
$16.73NOK 159
-12.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$31.51NOK 299
$27.83NOK 264
13.22%
Apples(1kg)
$3.52NOK 33.41
$3.48NOK 33.01
1.15%
Banana(1kg)
$2.50NOK 23.74
$2.64NOK 25.03
-5.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.29NOK 31.21
$3.11NOK 29.53
5.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.40NOK 41.79
$4.68NOK 44.37
-5.98%
Potato(1kg)
$2.52NOK 23.95
$2.08NOK 19.77
21.15%
Onion(1kg)
$2.71NOK 25.73
$3.08NOK 29.27
-12.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.79NOK 26.51
$2.47NOK 23.47
12.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.65NOK 15.62
$1.83NOK 17.38
-9.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.85NOK 141
$14.97NOK 142
-0.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.04NOK 162
$18.46NOK 175
-7.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.61NOK 24.76
$3.68NOK 34.89
-29.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91NOK 37.10
$4.10NOK 38.90
-4.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Halden
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.37NOK 41.51
$4.58NOK 43.47
-4.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$61.2NOK 581
$68.6NOK 651
-10.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.09NOK 95.7
$15.31NOK 145
-34.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.44NOK 13.66
$2.06NOK 19.57
-30.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.16NOK 400
$100NOK 953
-57.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.10NOK 19.94
$2.11NOK 20.01
-0.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.6KNOK 338.4K
$34.4KNOK 326.1K
3.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.4KNOK 412.0K
$32.4KNOK 307.3K
34.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Halden
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$306NOK 2,904
$190NOK 1,806
60.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.87NOK 284
$42.20NOK 401
-29.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.15NOK 381
$83.1NOK 789
-51.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Halden
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.0NOK 513
$55.9NOK 531
-3.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.37NOK 336
$35.16NOK 334
0.60%
Cinema Ticket
$15.58NOK 148
$19.57NOK 186
-20.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Halden
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$274NOK 2,600
$321NOK 3,048
-14.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0KNOK 142.5K
$13.0KNOK 123.1K
15.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Halden
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.9NOK 911
$116NOK 1,098
-17.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.8NOK 615
$58.0NOK 550
11.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$125NOK 1,189
$107NOK 1,017
16.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122NOK 1,160
$160NOK 1,519
-23.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Halden
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$927NOK 8,800
$1,595NOK 15.1K
-41.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$654NOK 6,204
$1,126NOK 10.7K
-41.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,953NOK 18.5K
$2,732NOK 25.9K
-28.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,643NOK 15.6K
$1,774NOK 16.8K
-7.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,032NOK 57.2K
$6,036NOK 57.3K
-0.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,516NOK 42.9K
$5,366NOK 50.9K
-15.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Halden
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,500NOK 33.2K
$5,104NOK 48.4K
-31.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.75
4.51
5.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Halden: June 7, 2026
Last update for Stavanger: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $927 in Halden versus $1,595 in Stavanger. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 46% higher in Stavanger, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Halden versus $120 in Stavanger. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $453 vs $473 – making Halden the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Halden vs Stavanger: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Halden and Stavanger compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,189 in Halden, $2,689 in Stavanger – roughly 23% apart. Stavanger costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Halden compared to Stavanger?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,284 per month in Halden and $4,033 in Stavanger. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Halden and Stavanger?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Halden, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 4% more in Stavanger, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Halden and $120 in Stavanger. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Halden, where all-in costs run around $2,189, than in Stavanger at $2,689. In Halden it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stavanger it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Halden and Stavanger?
It depends on your priorities. Stavanger has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,189 in Halden to $2,689 in Stavanger. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Halden or Stavanger safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Halden and Stavanger?
If budget matters most, go with Halden. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Stavanger makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.