🙂A single person spends $2,190 per month in Halden vs $2,699 in Stavanger, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,589 per month in Halden vs $4,150 in Stavanger, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,988 per month in Halden vs $5,601 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 65%, Stavanger by 103%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Halden
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.20NOK 192
$25.22NOK 239
-19.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.9NOK 947
$123NOK 1,167
-18.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.94NOK 113
$15.08NOK 143
-20.82%
Cappuccino
$4.57NOK 43.34
$5.02NOK 47.61
-8.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58NOK 33.91
$3.89NOK 36.85
-7.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96NOK 28.04
$3.40NOK 32.26
-12.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.08NOK 95.6
$10.99NOK 104
-8.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.30NOK 88.2
$10.26NOK 97.3
-9.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Halden
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.29NOK 21.73
$2.40NOK 22.72
-4.58%
White Bread(500g)
$3.13NOK 29.64
$3.11NOK 29.46
0.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.00NOK 28.46
$4.64NOK 44.03
-35.34%
Eggs
$4.24NOK 40.16
$4.52NOK 42.88
-6.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.54NOK 119
$12.98NOK 123
-3.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.86NOK 141
$16.24NOK 154
-8.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$31.30NOK 297
$27.67NOK 262
13.12%
Apples(1kg)
$3.54NOK 33.55
$3.53NOK 33.45
0.28%
Banana(1kg)
$2.51NOK 23.78
$2.52NOK 23.92
-0.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.30NOK 31.28
$3.05NOK 28.94
8.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.40NOK 41.72
$4.66NOK 44.17
-5.58%
Potato(1kg)
$2.54NOK 24.13
$2.05NOK 19.44
23.90%
Onion(1kg)
$2.58NOK 24.51
$3.04NOK 28.86
-15.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.73NOK 25.93
$2.58NOK 24.47
5.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.61NOK 15.24
$1.75NOK 16.56
-8.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.90NOK 141
$15.11NOK 143
-1.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.34NOK 155
$17.96NOK 170
-9.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.65NOK 25.14
$3.54NOK 33.60
-25.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87NOK 36.71
$4.08NOK 38.69
-5.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Halden
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.36NOK 41.35
$4.58NOK 43.44
-4.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$59.5NOK 565
$69.1NOK 656
-13.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.08NOK 95.6
$15.37NOK 146
-34.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.43NOK 13.60
$2.07NOK 19.62
-30.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$41.87NOK 397
$103NOK 972
-59.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.15NOK 20.41
$2.21NOK 20.92
-2.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7KNOK 338.4K
$34.7KNOK 329.2K
2.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.0KNOK 408.0K
$32.7KNOK 310.2K
31.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Halden
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$306NOK 2,903
$192NOK 1,821
59.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.76NOK 292
$42.41NOK 402
-27.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.18NOK 381
$80.9NOK 767
-50.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Halden
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.0NOK 503
$55.8NOK 529
-4.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.49NOK 337
$35.17NOK 333
0.91%
Cinema Ticket
$15.82NOK 150
$19.02NOK 180
-16.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Halden
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$272NOK 2,577
$314NOK 2,975
-13.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9KNOK 141.5K
$12.9KNOK 122.1K
15.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Halden
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.4NOK 914
$116NOK 1,096
-16.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.0NOK 635
$58.4NOK 553
14.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$122NOK 1,153
$107NOK 1,018
13.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121NOK 1,147
$157NOK 1,493
-23.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Halden
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$923NOK 8,748
$1,595NOK 15.1K
-42.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$662NOK 6,276
$1,135NOK 10.8K
-41.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,915NOK 18.2K
$2,798NOK 26.5K
-31.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,594NOK 15.1K
$1,777NOK 16.9K
-10.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,937NOK 56.3K
$6,005NOK 56.9K
-1.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,943NOK 37.4K
$5,223NOK 49.5K
-24.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Halden
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,386NOK 32.1K
$4,909NOK 46.6K
-31.02%
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: July 28, 2026
Last update for Stavanger: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $923 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 45% 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 $100 in Halden versus $123 in Stavanger. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $454 vs $468 – 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 in Stavanger compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,190 in Halden, $2,699 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 $3,285 per month in Halden and $4,048 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 3% 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 $100 in Halden and $123 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 $2,190, than in Stavanger at $2,699. 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 $2,190 in Halden to $2,699 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.