🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,422 in Karmøy versus $2,741 in Stavanger.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,792 in Karmøy versus $4,135 in Stavanger.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,161 in Karmøy versus $5,530 in Stavanger.
🙂Living in Karmøy costs roughly 12% less than in Stavanger, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Karmøy81% above, Stavanger105% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.28NOK 235
$25.17NOK 234
0.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102NOK 945
$121NOK 1,128
-16.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.41NOK 125
$15.07NOK 140
-11.02%
Cappuccino
$4.88NOK 45.36
$4.98NOK 46.28
-2.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12NOK 29.04
$4.03NOK 37.46
-22.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85NOK 26.51
$3.35NOK 31.18
-14.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.03NOK 93.2
$11.18NOK 104
-10.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.37NOK 87.1
$10.23NOK 95.2
-8.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19NOK 20.38
$2.37NOK 22.02
-7.59%
White Bread(500g)
$3.37NOK 31.37
$3.03NOK 28.22
11.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.20NOK 29.75
$4.48NOK 41.64
-28.57%
Eggs
$4.32NOK 40.17
$4.35NOK 40.46
-0.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.83NOK 110
$13.27NOK 123
-10.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.67NOK 136
$16.31NOK 152
-10.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.42NOK 264
$27.77NOK 258
2.34%
Apples(1kg)
$3.47NOK 32.25
$3.54NOK 32.92
-1.98%
Banana(1kg)
$2.46NOK 22.85
$2.61NOK 24.32
-5.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.25NOK 30.20
$3.00NOK 27.90
8.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.34NOK 40.36
$4.66NOK 43.33
-6.87%
Potato(1kg)
$2.44NOK 22.73
$2.12NOK 19.73
15.09%
Onion(1kg)
$2.58NOK 24.01
$2.97NOK 27.59
-13.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.79NOK 25.93
$2.50NOK 23.27
11.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88NOK 17.52
$1.76NOK 16.39
6.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.77NOK 128
$14.97NOK 139
-8.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.22NOK 169
$18.93NOK 176
-3.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.35NOK 31.12
$3.62NOK 33.68
-7.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93NOK 36.57
$3.98NOK 37.00
-1.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.28NOK 39.80
$4.45NOK 41.34
-3.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.7NOK 686
$67.7NOK 630
8.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.28NOK 95.6
$15.12NOK 141
-32.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.40NOK 13.06
$2.17NOK 20.17
-35.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$47.28NOK 440
$101NOK 942
-53.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00NOK 18.57
$2.14NOK 19.91
-6.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8KNOK 323.6K
$34.2KNOK 317.7K
1.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.2KNOK 355.1K
$32.6KNOK 303.0K
17.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$238NOK 2,210
$193NOK 1,796
23.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.95NOK 353
$42.05NOK 391
-9.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.9NOK 510
$82.6NOK 768
-33.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.2NOK 467
$56.6NOK 527
-11.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.73NOK 323
$36.06NOK 335
-3.69%
Cinema Ticket
$16.37NOK 152
$19.57NOK 182
-16.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$287NOK 2,674
$322NOK 2,992
-10.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.0KNOK 93.2K
$13.2KNOK 122.8K
-24.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.6NOK 889
$120NOK 1,116
-20.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.9NOK 483
$59.8NOK 556
-13.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109NOK 1,011
$105NOK 973
3.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$151NOK 1,401
$158NOK 1,473
-4.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,206NOK 11.2K
$1,639NOK 15.2K
-26.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$903NOK 8,396
$1,140NOK 10.6K
-20.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,792NOK 16.7K
$2,764NOK 25.7K
-35.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,549NOK 14.4K
$1,791NOK 16.7K
-13.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,458NOK 50.8K
$5,956NOK 55.4K
-8.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,019NOK 37.4K
$5,337NOK 49.6K
-24.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,995NOK 37.2K
$4,925NOK 45.8K
-18.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.38
4.51
-2.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Karmøy: April 20, 2026
Last update for Stavanger: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,206 in Karmøy and $1,639 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: $102 in Karmøy vs $121 in Stavanger for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $454 vs $470 per month, with Karmøy 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
Karmøy vs Stavanger: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Karmøy and Stavanger?
Karmøy and Stavanger differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($2,422 vs $2,741 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, Stavanger earns 23% less. 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 Stavanger?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,206 in Karmøy versus $1,639 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 Stavanger?
A monthly transit pass in Karmøy runs roughly 9% 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 $287 in Karmøy versus $322 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 13% less than in Stavanger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.