🙂A single person spends $2,628 per month in Halden vs $3,202 in Stavanger, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $4,035 per month in Halden vs $4,642 in Stavanger, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $5,441 per month in Halden vs $6,082 in Stavanger, rent included.
🙂Halden is about 18% cheaper than Stavanger, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Halden and Stavanger sit above the global median – Halden by 92%, Stavanger by 134%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Halden
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.40NOK 202
$25.74NOK 243
-16.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$109NOK 1,025
$97.4NOK 917
11.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.62NOK 119
$16.15NOK 152
-21.86%
Cappuccino
$4.93NOK 46.47
$6.37NOK 60.0
-22.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73NOK 35.14
$5.34NOK 50.3
-30.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16NOK 29.77
$4.43NOK 41.75
-28.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.47NOK 98.6
$13.88NOK 131
-24.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.93NOK 93.5
$12.16NOK 115
-18.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Halden
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.40NOK 22.61
$2.50NOK 23.55
-4.00%
White Bread(500g)
$4.12NOK 38.85
$3.60NOK 33.96
14.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.34NOK 40.93
$3.96NOK 37.33
9.60%
Eggs
$4.85NOK 45.66
$5.05NOK 47.55
-3.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.83NOK 140
$15.10NOK 142
-1.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.49NOK 146
$17.22NOK 162
-10.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$30.80NOK 290
$35.93NOK 339
-14.28%
Apples(1kg)
$3.41NOK 32.11
$3.71NOK 34.97
-8.09%
Banana(1kg)
$2.64NOK 24.88
$2.78NOK 26.20
-5.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.61NOK 33.98
$3.49NOK 32.84
3.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.12NOK 38.82
$5.04NOK 47.53
-18.25%
Potato(1kg)
$2.62NOK 24.66
$2.51NOK 23.69
4.38%
Onion(1kg)
$2.91NOK 27.41
$3.12NOK 29.43
-6.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.18NOK 29.97
$2.91NOK 27.45
9.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.12NOK 19.99
$2.42NOK 22.84
-12.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.60NOK 147
$17.89NOK 169
-12.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.16NOK 162
$18.83NOK 177
-8.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.76NOK 26.04
$3.94NOK 37.16
-29.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01NOK 37.74
$4.51NOK 42.46
-11.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Halden
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.94NOK 46.56
$4.82NOK 45.41
2.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$44.93NOK 423
$87.4NOK 824
-48.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.30NOK 116
$6.37NOK 60.0
93.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.84NOK 17.32
$1.72NOK 16.18
6.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$70.1NOK 660
$106NOK 1,003
-34.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.17NOK 20.47
$2.25NOK 21.21
-3.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.2KNOK 472.6K
$49.6KNOK 467.6K
1.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.7KNOK 431.0K
$42.3KNOK 398.5K
8.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Halden
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$425NOK 4,001
$251NOK 2,362
69.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.85NOK 300
$35.70NOK 336
-10.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.0NOK 537
$83.6NOK 788
-31.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Halden
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.1NOK 547
$52.5NOK 495
10.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.86NOK 300
$37.19NOK 350
-14.33%
Cinema Ticket
$16.72NOK 158
$22.57NOK 213
-25.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Halden
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$244NOK 2,301
$330NOK 3,112
-26.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8KNOK 148.5K
$14.5KNOK 136.6K
8.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Halden
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$100NOK 944
$131NOK 1,230
-23.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.7NOK 591
$60.9NOK 574
2.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138NOK 1,304
$158NOK 1,492
-12.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131NOK 1,233
$210NOK 1,978
-37.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Halden
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$961NOK 9,055
$1,708NOK 16.1K
-43.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$858NOK 8,082
$1,391NOK 13.1K
-38.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,943NOK 18.3K
$2,794NOK 26.3K
-30.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,691NOK 15.9K
$2,084NOK 19.6K
-18.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,168NOK 20.4K
$6,179NOK 58.2K
-64.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,923NOK 18.1K
$5,479NOK 51.6K
-64.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Halden
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,561NOK 33.6K
$5,006NOK 47.2K
-28.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.75
5.27
-9.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Halden: September 13, 2026
Last update for Stavanger: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $961 in Halden versus $1,708 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 41% 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 $109 in Halden versus $97.0 in Stavanger. Groceries tell a different story – $492 in Halden vs $532 in Stavanger – so Halden wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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: $2,628 in Halden, $3,202 in Stavanger – roughly 22% 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 $3,942 per month in Halden and $4,803 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 8% 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 $109 in Halden and $97.0 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 $2,628, than in Stavanger at $3,202. 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 $2,628 in Halden to $3,202 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.