🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,742 in Karmøy versus $3,218 in Stavanger.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,097 in Karmøy versus $4,673 in Stavanger.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,453 in Karmøy versus $6,128 in Stavanger.
🌍Living in Karmøy costs roughly 15% less than in Stavanger, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Karmøy99% above, Stavanger133% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.51NOK 200
$25.27NOK 234
-14.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$106NOK 979
$97.7NOK 906
7.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.74NOK 146
$16.20NOK 150
-2.84%
Cappuccino
$5.61NOK 52.1
$6.50NOK 60.3
-13.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25NOK 39.41
$5.65NOK 52.4
-24.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12NOK 28.91
$4.62NOK 42.85
-32.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.61NOK 108
$13.72NOK 127
-15.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.87NOK 101
$12.21NOK 113
-10.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.60NOK 24.15
$2.39NOK 22.16
8.79%
White Bread(500g)
$3.58NOK 33.21
$3.69NOK 34.25
-2.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.84NOK 35.58
$4.04NOK 37.50
-4.95%
Eggs
$5.10NOK 47.35
$5.03NOK 46.67
1.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.47NOK 125
$15.21NOK 141
-11.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.21NOK 141
$17.62NOK 163
-13.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$30.51NOK 283
$35.78NOK 332
-14.73%
Apples(1kg)
$3.48NOK 32.33
$3.58NOK 33.17
-2.79%
Banana(1kg)
$2.66NOK 24.64
$2.90NOK 26.88
-8.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.46NOK 32.06
$3.63NOK 33.71
-4.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.23NOK 48.53
$4.87NOK 45.18
7.39%
Potato(1kg)
$2.66NOK 24.65
$2.62NOK 24.32
1.53%
Onion(1kg)
$2.97NOK 27.57
$3.24NOK 30.03
-8.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.11NOK 28.82
$2.85NOK 26.41
9.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.44NOK 22.64
$2.31NOK 21.43
5.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.92NOK 166
$17.75NOK 165
0.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.56NOK 154
$18.90NOK 175
-12.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.62NOK 33.61
$4.03NOK 37.43
-10.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30NOK 39.86
$4.53NOK 42.06
-5.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.79NOK 44.39
$4.75NOK 44.10
0.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$84.6NOK 785
$87.1NOK 808
-2.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.39NOK 115
$6.21NOK 57.6
99.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92NOK 17.77
$1.80NOK 16.70
6.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$71.1NOK 660
$105NOK 971
-32.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.30NOK 21.31
$2.29NOK 21.25
0.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.8KNOK 453.1K
$50.3KNOK 466.2K
-2.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.5KNOK 412.5K
$43.0KNOK 398.5K
3.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$275NOK 2,553
$261NOK 2,424
5.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.22NOK 308
$35.80NOK 332
-7.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.1NOK 529
$85.6NOK 794
-33.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.4NOK 468
$52.1NOK 484
-3.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.15NOK 345
$37.84NOK 351
-1.82%
Cinema Ticket
$17.99NOK 167
$22.77NOK 211
-20.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$245NOK 2,270
$332NOK 3,079
-26.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.1KNOK 112.5K
$14.2KNOK 132.2K
-14.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102NOK 944
$127NOK 1,182
-20.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.2NOK 530
$61.6NOK 571
-7.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$126NOK 1,173
$156NOK 1,447
-18.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$160NOK 1,484
$206NOK 1,914
-22.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,223NOK 11.3K
$1,757NOK 16.3K
-30.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,051NOK 9,752
$1,393NOK 12.9K
-24.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,025NOK 18.8K
$2,793NOK 25.9K
-27.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,683NOK 15.6K
$2,062NOK 19.1K
-18.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,326NOK 58.7K
$6,206NOK 57.6K
1.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,315NOK 40.0K
$5,375NOK 49.9K
-19.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,071NOK 37.8K
$5,012NOK 46.5K
-18.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.96
5.27
-5.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Karmøy: September 7, 2026
Last update for Stavanger: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,223 in Karmøy and $1,757 in Stavanger. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stavanger pays 23% 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: $105 in Karmøy vs $98.0 in Stavanger. Groceries flip the comparison at $494 vs $533, with Karmøy 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
Karmøy vs Stavanger: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Karmøy and in Stavanger?
Karmøy and Stavanger differ by about 17% in total monthly costs ($2,742 vs $3,218 including rent). Karmøy is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 23% 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Karmøy and in Stavanger?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,223 in Karmøy versus $1,757 in Stavanger. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Karmøy and in Stavanger?
A monthly transit pass in Karmøy runs roughly 3% less than in Stavanger. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Karmøy and Stavanger?
Childcare runs $245 in Karmøy versus $332 in Stavanger. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Karmøy is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Karmøy and Stavanger?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Karmøy or Stavanger safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Karmøy 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.
Where should expats move: Karmøy or Stavanger?
Expats usually find Karmøy 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.