Cost of Living Comparison Between Karmøy and Stavanger Cost of Living Comparison Between Karmøy and Stavanger

Monthly Cost of Living

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: Karmøy 99% above, Stavanger 133% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.51 NOK 200
$25.27 NOK 234
-14.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$106 NOK 979
$97.7 NOK 906
7.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.74 NOK 146
$16.20 NOK 150
-2.84%
Cappuccino
$5.61 NOK 52.1
$6.50 NOK 60.3
-13.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 NOK 39.41
$5.65 NOK 52.4
-24.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12 NOK 28.91
$4.62 NOK 42.85
-32.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.61 NOK 108
$13.72 NOK 127
-15.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.87 NOK 101
$12.21 NOK 113
-10.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.60 NOK 24.15
$2.39 NOK 22.16
8.79%
White Bread (500g)
$3.58 NOK 33.21
$3.69 NOK 34.25
-2.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.84 NOK 35.58
$4.04 NOK 37.50
-4.95%
Eggs
$5.10 NOK 47.35
$5.03 NOK 46.67
1.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.47 NOK 125
$15.21 NOK 141
-11.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.21 NOK 141
$17.62 NOK 163
-13.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$30.51 NOK 283
$35.78 NOK 332
-14.73%
Apples (1kg)
$3.48 NOK 32.33
$3.58 NOK 33.17
-2.79%
Banana (1kg)
$2.66 NOK 24.64
$2.90 NOK 26.88
-8.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.46 NOK 32.06
$3.63 NOK 33.71
-4.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.23 NOK 48.53
$4.87 NOK 45.18
7.39%
Potato (1kg)
$2.66 NOK 24.65
$2.62 NOK 24.32
1.53%
Onion (1kg)
$2.97 NOK 27.57
$3.24 NOK 30.03
-8.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.11 NOK 28.82
$2.85 NOK 26.41
9.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.44 NOK 22.64
$2.31 NOK 21.43
5.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.92 NOK 166
$17.75 NOK 165
0.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.56 NOK 154
$18.90 NOK 175
-12.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.62 NOK 33.61
$4.03 NOK 37.43
-10.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 NOK 39.86
$4.53 NOK 42.06
-5.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.79 NOK 44.39
$4.75 NOK 44.10
0.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$84.6 NOK 785
$87.1 NOK 808
-2.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$12.39 NOK 115
$6.21 NOK 57.6
99.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 NOK 17.77
$1.80 NOK 16.70
6.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$71.1 NOK 660
$105 NOK 971
-32.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.30 NOK 21.31
$2.29 NOK 21.25
0.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.8K NOK 453.1K
$50.3K NOK 466.2K
-2.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.5K NOK 412.5K
$43.0K NOK 398.5K
3.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$275 NOK 2,553
$261 NOK 2,424
5.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.22 NOK 308
$35.80 NOK 332
-7.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.1 NOK 529
$85.6 NOK 794
-33.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.4 NOK 468
$52.1 NOK 484
-3.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.15 NOK 345
$37.84 NOK 351
-1.82%
Cinema Ticket
$17.99 NOK 167
$22.77 NOK 211
-20.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$245 NOK 2,270
$332 NOK 3,079
-26.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K NOK 112.5K
$14.2K NOK 132.2K
-14.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 NOK 944
$127 NOK 1,182
-20.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.2 NOK 530
$61.6 NOK 571
-7.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 NOK 1,173
$156 NOK 1,447
-18.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$160 NOK 1,484
$206 NOK 1,914
-22.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,223 NOK 11.3K
$1,757 NOK 16.3K
-30.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,051 NOK 9,752
$1,393 NOK 12.9K
-24.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,025 NOK 18.8K
$2,793 NOK 25.9K
-27.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,683 NOK 15.6K
$2,062 NOK 19.1K
-18.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,326 NOK 58.7K
$6,206 NOK 57.6K
1.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,315 NOK 40.0K
$5,375 NOK 49.9K
-19.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,071 NOK 37.8K
$5,012 NOK 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.

Karmøy vs other spots: cost of living compared

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