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: $2,490 in Karmøy versus $2,744 in Stavanger.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,838 in Karmøy versus $4,187 in Stavanger.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,185 in Karmøy versus $5,629 in Stavanger.

Living in Karmøy costs roughly 9% less than in Stavanger, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Karmøy 86% above, Stavanger 105% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.81 NOK 235
$25.49 NOK 241
-2.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.6 NOK 941
$121 NOK 1,142
-17.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.60 NOK 129
$15.31 NOK 145
-11.17%
Cappuccino
$4.83 NOK 45.66
$5.17 NOK 48.88
-6.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19 NOK 30.20
$4.04 NOK 38.23
-21.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 NOK 27.76
$3.47 NOK 32.77
-15.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.93 NOK 93.9
$11.15 NOK 105
-10.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.38 NOK 88.7
$10.27 NOK 97.1
-8.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.25 NOK 21.30
$2.45 NOK 23.13
-8.16%
White Bread (500g)
$3.32 NOK 31.41
$3.02 NOK 28.53
9.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.33 NOK 31.49
$4.56 NOK 43.13
-26.97%
Eggs
$4.42 NOK 41.83
$4.46 NOK 42.19
-0.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.17 NOK 115
$13.11 NOK 124
-7.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.81 NOK 140
$16.72 NOK 158
-11.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$28.09 NOK 266
$27.15 NOK 257
3.46%
Apples (1kg)
$3.53 NOK 33.35
$3.58 NOK 33.85
-1.40%
Banana (1kg)
$2.50 NOK 23.61
$2.56 NOK 24.22
-2.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.37 NOK 31.89
$2.98 NOK 28.21
13.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.50 NOK 42.53
$4.61 NOK 43.59
-2.39%
Potato (1kg)
$2.48 NOK 23.44
$2.09 NOK 19.76
18.66%
Onion (1kg)
$2.50 NOK 23.59
$3.09 NOK 29.21
-19.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.76 NOK 26.14
$2.50 NOK 23.68
10.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 NOK 18.16
$1.81 NOK 17.11
6.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.83 NOK 131
$15.37 NOK 145
-10.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.34 NOK 173
$19.14 NOK 181
-4.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.26 NOK 30.83
$3.63 NOK 34.29
-10.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08 NOK 38.61
$4.13 NOK 39.06
-1.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.31 NOK 40.74
$4.66 NOK 44.07
-7.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.7 NOK 687
$67.1 NOK 634
8.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.02 NOK 94.7
$14.97 NOK 141
-33.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.45 NOK 13.69
$2.12 NOK 20.05
-31.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$46.91 NOK 443
$99.8 NOK 943
-52.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 NOK 19.67
$2.15 NOK 20.31
-3.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K NOK 331.8K
$34.0K NOK 321.3K
3.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K NOK 371.0K
$32.8K NOK 309.8K
19.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$244 NOK 2,306
$191 NOK 1,809
27.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.96 NOK 359
$42.73 NOK 404
-11.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.4 NOK 523
$81.9 NOK 774
-32.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.25 NOK 466
$55.8 NOK 528
-11.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.82 NOK 329
$35.64 NOK 337
-2.30%
Cinema Ticket
$16.76 NOK 158
$19.51 NOK 184
-14.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$282 NOK 2,668
$318 NOK 3,009
-11.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.3K NOK 97.0K
$12.8K NOK 120.7K
-19.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.9 NOK 906
$119 NOK 1,126
-19.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.7 NOK 488
$58.3 NOK 551
-11.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 NOK 1,009
$106 NOK 998
1.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154 NOK 1,451
$157 NOK 1,486
-2.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,219 NOK 11.5K
$1,604 NOK 15.2K
-23.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$877 NOK 8,293
$1,115 NOK 10.5K
-21.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,789 NOK 16.9K
$2,756 NOK 26.1K
-35.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,532 NOK 14.5K
$1,738 NOK 16.4K
-11.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,260 NOK 59.2K
$6,190 NOK 58.5K
1.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,632 NOK 43.8K
$5,435 NOK 51.4K
-14.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,169 NOK 39.4K
$4,992 NOK 47.2K
-16.50%
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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Stavanger: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,219 in Karmøy and $1,604 in Stavanger. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Stavanger pays 20% 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: $100 in Karmøy vs $121 in Stavanger for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $458 vs $472 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 10% in total monthly costs ($2,490 vs $2,744 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 20% 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: $1,219 in Karmøy versus $1,604 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 8% 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 $282 in Karmøy versus $318 in Stavanger. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,490 in Karmøy versus $2,744 in Stavanger, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Karmøy but tight or insufficient in Stavanger. The gap between the two cities makes Karmøy the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
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 10% 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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