🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,470 in Harstad versus $2,709 in Stavanger.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,732 in Harstad versus $4,113 in Stavanger.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,993 in Harstad versus $5,516 in Stavanger.
🌍Living in Harstad costs roughly 9% less than in Stavanger, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Harstad85% above, Stavanger103% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Harstad
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.58NOK 130
$25.19NOK 241
-46.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121NOK 1,156
$121NOK 1,158
-0.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.25NOK 146
$15.28NOK 146
-0.20%
Cappuccino
$6.21NOK 59.4
$5.14NOK 49.15
20.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62NOK 34.61
$3.91NOK 37.42
-7.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12NOK 29.83
$3.29NOK 31.53
-5.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.99NOK 105
$11.23NOK 107
-2.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.23NOK 108
$10.04NOK 96.1
11.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Harstad
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.45NOK 23.41
$2.34NOK 22.41
4.70%
White Bread(500g)
$3.30NOK 31.58
$3.12NOK 29.86
5.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.02NOK 28.88
$4.59NOK 43.92
-34.20%
Eggs
$4.14NOK 39.66
$4.35NOK 41.60
-4.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.47NOK 100
$13.30NOK 127
-21.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.42NOK 148
$16.55NOK 158
-6.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$37.05NOK 355
$27.18NOK 260
36.31%
Apples(1kg)
$4.05NOK 38.80
$3.43NOK 32.83
18.08%
Banana(1kg)
$2.66NOK 25.51
$2.52NOK 24.16
5.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.53NOK 33.77
$3.07NOK 29.40
14.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.65NOK 44.48
$4.60NOK 44.00
1.09%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06NOK 19.70
$2.13NOK 20.44
-3.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98NOK 18.93
$3.02NOK 28.89
-34.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.67NOK 25.57
$2.57NOK 24.63
3.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.76NOK 16.85
$1.77NOK 16.96
-0.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.92NOK 143
$15.02NOK 144
-0.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.83NOK 152
$18.00NOK 172
-12.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.48NOK 33.29
$3.55NOK 33.97
-1.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.70NOK 44.96
$4.16NOK 39.87
12.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Harstad
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$6.11NOK 58.5
$4.44NOK 42.49
37.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.3NOK 759
$67.3NOK 644
17.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.53NOK 120
$14.99NOK 143
-16.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.40NOK 13.42
$2.16NOK 20.68
-35.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$50.8NOK 486
$102NOK 976
-50.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.14NOK 20.50
$2.12NOK 20.31
0.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3KNOK 319.0K
$33.9KNOK 324.6K
-1.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4KNOK 291.0K
$32.9KNOK 315.4K
-7.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Harstad
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$162NOK 1,552
$193NOK 1,851
-16.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.24NOK 309
$42.48NOK 407
-24.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.7NOK 734
$81.0NOK 775
-5.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Harstad
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.64NOK 466
$55.9NOK 535
-12.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.38NOK 339
$35.09NOK 336
0.83%
Cinema Ticket
$16.78NOK 161
$18.85NOK 180
-10.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Harstad
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$334NOK 3,194
$321NOK 3,073
3.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,159NOK 49.4K
$12.9KNOK 123.4K
-59.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Harstad
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.0NOK 718
$117NOK 1,124
-36.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.21NOK 318
$58.0NOK 555
-42.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118NOK 1,131
$103NOK 989
14.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136NOK 1,303
$158NOK 1,515
-14.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Harstad
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,298NOK 12.4K
$1,633NOK 15.6K
-20.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,006NOK 9,627
$1,134NOK 10.9K
-11.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,189NOK 20.9K
$2,713NOK 26.0K
-19.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,471NOK 14.1K
$1,748NOK 16.7K
-15.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,805NOK 55.6K
$6,159NOK 59.0K
-5.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,967NOK 38.0K
$5,339NOK 51.1K
-25.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Harstad
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,370NOK 32.3K
$4,993NOK 47.8K
-32.51%
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 20, 2026
Last update for Stavanger: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,298 in Harstad and $1,633 in Stavanger. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stavanger pays 48% 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: $121 in Harstad vs $121 in Stavanger. Groceries flip the comparison at $480 vs $468, 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 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Harstad or Stavanger?
On paper, salaries run 48% 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: $1,298 in Harstad versus $1,633 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 $121 versus $121 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 10% less than in Stavanger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.