🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,297 in Holmestrand versus $2,689 in Stavanger.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,561 in Holmestrand versus $4,070 in Stavanger.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,826 in Holmestrand versus $5,451 in Stavanger.
🙂Living in Holmestrand costs roughly 15% less than in Stavanger, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Holmestrand71% above, Stavanger100% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Holmestrand
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.11NOK 181
$25.39NOK 241
-24.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.4NOK 943
$120NOK 1,138
-17.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.51NOK 128
$15.31NOK 145
-11.76%
Cappuccino
$4.90NOK 46.47
$5.03NOK 47.77
-2.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06NOK 19.52
$3.88NOK 36.83
-46.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07NOK 19.69
$3.47NOK 32.89
-40.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.18NOK 87.1
$10.98NOK 104
-16.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.51NOK 90.3
$10.21NOK 96.9
-6.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Holmestrand
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.59NOK 15.11
$2.31NOK 21.93
-31.17%
White Bread(500g)
$3.27NOK 30.99
$3.12NOK 29.59
4.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.06NOK 19.60
$4.58NOK 43.48
-55.02%
Eggs
$4.01NOK 38.07
$4.48NOK 42.52
-10.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.84NOK 103
$12.90NOK 122
-15.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.95NOK 132
$16.73NOK 159
-16.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$40.21NOK 382
$27.83NOK 264
44.48%
Apples(1kg)
$1.98NOK 18.77
$3.48NOK 33.01
-43.10%
Banana(1kg)
$2.33NOK 22.15
$2.64NOK 25.03
-11.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.32NOK 31.51
$3.11NOK 29.53
6.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36NOK 22.41
$4.68NOK 44.37
-49.57%
Potato(1kg)
$0.77NOK 7.33
$2.08NOK 19.77
-62.98%
Onion(1kg)
$1.29NOK 12.22
$3.08NOK 29.27
-58.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.01NOK 28.55
$2.47NOK 23.47
21.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.83NOK 17.33
$1.83NOK 17.38
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.13NOK 134
$14.97NOK 142
-5.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.61NOK 177
$18.46NOK 175
0.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01NOK 28.60
$3.68NOK 34.89
-18.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92NOK 37.21
$4.10NOK 38.90
-4.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Holmestrand
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.13NOK 39.19
$4.58NOK 43.47
-9.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.0NOK 692
$68.6NOK 651
6.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.90NOK 84.4
$15.31NOK 145
-41.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.95NOK 9.01
$2.06NOK 19.57
-53.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$102NOK 970
$100NOK 953
1.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.12NOK 20.12
$2.11NOK 20.01
0.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.3KNOK 363.7K
$34.4KNOK 326.1K
11.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KNOK 326.1K
$32.4KNOK 307.3K
6.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Holmestrand
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$216NOK 2,052
$190NOK 1,806
13.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.01NOK 418
$42.20NOK 401
4.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.22NOK 353
$83.1NOK 789
-55.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Holmestrand
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.95NOK 465
$55.9NOK 531
-12.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.80NOK 330
$35.16NOK 334
-1.02%
Cinema Ticket
$14.91NOK 142
$19.57NOK 186
-23.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Holmestrand
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$310NOK 2,941
$321NOK 3,048
-3.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.3KNOK 97.3K
$13.0KNOK 123.1K
-20.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Holmestrand
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110NOK 1,040
$116NOK 1,098
-5.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.87NOK 284
$58.0NOK 550
-48.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.2NOK 932
$107NOK 1,017
-8.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133NOK 1,264
$160NOK 1,519
-16.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Holmestrand
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,213NOK 11.5K
$1,595NOK 15.1K
-23.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$906NOK 8,597
$1,126NOK 10.7K
-19.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,846NOK 17.5K
$2,732NOK 25.9K
-32.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,527NOK 14.5K
$1,774NOK 16.8K
-13.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,481NOK 61.5K
$6,036NOK 57.3K
7.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,913NOK 37.1K
$5,366NOK 50.9K
-27.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Holmestrand
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$5,104NOK 48.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2
4.51
-55.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Holmestrand: June 9, 2026
Last update for Stavanger: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,213 in Holmestrand and $1,595 in Stavanger. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $99.0 in Holmestrand vs $120 in Stavanger for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $444 vs $473 per month, with Holmestrand cheaper across the board.
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
Holmestrand vs Stavanger: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Holmestrand or Stavanger?
Holmestrand wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Stavanger. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Holmestrand the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Holmestrand vs Stavanger?
You'd need roughly $3,445 in Holmestrand and $4,033 in Stavanger to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Holmestrand vs Stavanger?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,213 in Holmestrand versus $1,595 in Stavanger. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Holmestrand and Stavanger?
Childcare runs $310 in Holmestrand versus $321 in Stavanger. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Holmestrand or Stavanger?
Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Stavanger. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Holmestrand or Stavanger?
At $2,297 in Holmestrand versus $2,689 in Stavanger, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Holmestrand but tight or insufficient in Stavanger. The gap between the two cities makes Holmestrand the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Holmestrand or Stavanger?
Both work as nomad bases, but Holmestrand delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,297 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Holmestrand hard to pass up.
How safe is Holmestrand compared to Stavanger?
Safety-wise, Holmestrand 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Holmestrand gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Stavanger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Holmestrand vs other spots: cost of living compared