🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,424 in Harstad versus $2,773 in Stavanger.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,691 in Harstad versus $4,121 in Stavanger.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,957 in Harstad versus $5,469 in Stavanger.
🌍Living in Harstad costs roughly 13% less than in Stavanger, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Harstad81% above, Stavanger108% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Harstad
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.40NOK 129
$25.15NOK 243
-46.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$120NOK 1,160
$124NOK 1,194
-2.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.02NOK 145
$15.47NOK 149
-2.91%
Cappuccino
$6.02NOK 58.1
$5.09NOK 49.13
18.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60NOK 34.74
$3.97NOK 38.30
-9.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97NOK 28.70
$3.42NOK 33.02
-13.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.02NOK 106
$11.30NOK 109
-2.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.02NOK 106
$10.04NOK 96.9
9.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Harstad
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.33NOK 22.53
$2.43NOK 23.48
-4.12%
White Bread(500g)
$3.19NOK 30.77
$3.04NOK 29.31
4.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.01NOK 29.07
$4.50NOK 43.42
-33.11%
Eggs
$4.15NOK 40.01
$4.44NOK 42.83
-6.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.49NOK 101
$12.96NOK 125
-19.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.21NOK 147
$16.11NOK 156
-5.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$37.47NOK 362
$27.22NOK 263
37.66%
Apples(1kg)
$3.96NOK 38.26
$3.47NOK 33.51
14.12%
Banana(1kg)
$2.76NOK 26.61
$2.54NOK 24.47
8.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.46NOK 33.42
$3.10NOK 29.94
11.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.66NOK 44.96
$4.76NOK 45.93
-2.10%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08NOK 20.05
$2.16NOK 20.81
-3.70%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07NOK 19.99
$3.09NOK 29.80
-33.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.73NOK 26.35
$2.61NOK 25.14
4.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70NOK 16.44
$1.74NOK 16.80
-2.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.71NOK 142
$14.94NOK 144
-1.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.23NOK 147
$17.99NOK 174
-15.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.65NOK 35.22
$3.49NOK 33.71
4.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68NOK 45.21
$4.14NOK 39.96
13.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Harstad
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$6.00NOK 57.9
$4.67NOK 45.06
28.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5NOK 777
$68.4NOK 660
17.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.88NOK 124
$15.04NOK 145
-14.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.44NOK 13.94
$2.15NOK 20.79
-33.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$51.3NOK 495
$101NOK 977
-49.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.21NOK 21.33
$2.18NOK 21.02
1.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1KNOK 319.3K
$34.5KNOK 332.8K
-4.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1KNOK 290.9K
$33.2KNOK 320.1K
-9.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Harstad
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$162NOK 1,562
$191NOK 1,843
-15.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.61NOK 315
$43.05NOK 416
-24.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.5NOK 738
$81.9NOK 791
-6.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Harstad
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.10NOK 474
$56.0NOK 540
-12.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.81NOK 336
$34.99NOK 338
-0.51%
Cinema Ticket
$16.86NOK 163
$19.39NOK 187
-13.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Harstad
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$335NOK 3,230
$315NOK 3,041
6.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,004NOK 48.3K
$12.8KNOK 123.4K
-60.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Harstad
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.3NOK 746
$119NOK 1,153
-35.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.68NOK 315
$59.8NOK 577
-45.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117NOK 1,125
$107NOK 1,030
9.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133NOK 1,284
$161NOK 1,554
-17.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Harstad
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,302NOK 12.6K
$1,617NOK 15.6K
-19.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,020NOK 9,847
$1,134NOK 10.9K
-10.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,218NOK 21.4K
$2,719NOK 26.2K
-18.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,495NOK 14.4K
$1,738NOK 16.8K
-13.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,722NOK 55.2K
$5,982NOK 57.7K
-4.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,857NOK 37.2K
$5,156NOK 49.8K
-25.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Harstad
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,409NOK 32.9K
$4,945NOK 47.7K
-31.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.27
4.51
-5.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Harstad: July 13, 2026
Last update for Stavanger: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,302 in Harstad and $1,617 in Stavanger. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stavanger pays 45% 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: $120 in Harstad vs $124 in Stavanger. Groceries flip the comparison at $477 vs $466, with Stavanger cheaper for home cooking.
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
Harstad vs Stavanger: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stavanger cheaper than Harstad?
Harstad is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Harstad or Stavanger?
On paper, salaries run 45% 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 Harstad and Stavanger?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,302 in Harstad versus $1,617 in Stavanger. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Harstad and in Stavanger?
Shoppers in Stavanger pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Harstad or in Stavanger?
Dining out is cheaper in Harstad – a meal for two runs $120 versus $124 in Stavanger. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Harstad or in Stavanger?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Harstad is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Harstad or Stavanger more family-friendly?
For families, Harstad 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, Harstad or Stavanger?
Safety-wise, Harstad 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 Harstad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Stavanger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.