🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,436 in Karmøy versus $2,709 in Stavanger.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,783 in Karmøy versus $4,113 in Stavanger.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,130 in Karmøy versus $5,516 in Stavanger.
🌍Living in Karmøy costs roughly 10% less than in Stavanger, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Karmøy82% above, Stavanger103% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.53NOK 245
$25.19NOK 242
1.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101NOK 971
$121NOK 1,160
-16.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.68NOK 131
$15.28NOK 147
-10.47%
Cappuccino
$5.01NOK 48.06
$5.14NOK 49.25
-2.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18NOK 30.52
$3.91NOK 37.50
-18.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81NOK 26.92
$3.29NOK 31.59
-14.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.17NOK 97.6
$11.23NOK 108
-9.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.45NOK 90.7
$10.04NOK 96.3
-5.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19NOK 21.03
$2.34NOK 22.45
-6.41%
White Bread(500g)
$3.41NOK 32.74
$3.12NOK 29.92
9.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.31NOK 31.74
$4.59NOK 44.01
-27.89%
Eggs
$4.32NOK 41.41
$4.35NOK 41.68
-0.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.23NOK 117
$13.30NOK 128
-8.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.75NOK 141
$16.55NOK 159
-10.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.84NOK 267
$27.18NOK 261
2.43%
Apples(1kg)
$3.47NOK 33.25
$3.43NOK 32.90
1.17%
Banana(1kg)
$2.49NOK 23.88
$2.52NOK 24.21
-1.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.33NOK 31.90
$3.07NOK 29.46
8.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.49NOK 43.04
$4.60NOK 44.08
-2.39%
Potato(1kg)
$2.40NOK 23.07
$2.13NOK 20.48
12.68%
Onion(1kg)
$2.45NOK 23.53
$3.02NOK 28.95
-18.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.82NOK 27.08
$2.57NOK 24.68
9.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.85NOK 17.73
$1.77NOK 16.99
4.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.12NOK 135
$15.02NOK 144
-5.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.83NOK 171
$18.00NOK 173
-0.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.45NOK 33.11
$3.55NOK 34.04
-2.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.11NOK 39.38
$4.16NOK 39.94
-1.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.16NOK 39.91
$4.44NOK 42.58
-6.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$72.5NOK 696
$67.3NOK 645
7.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.09NOK 96.8
$14.99NOK 144
-32.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.39NOK 13.36
$2.16NOK 20.72
-35.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$45.94NOK 441
$102NOK 978
-54.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09NOK 20.07
$2.12NOK 20.35
-1.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7KNOK 342.0K
$33.9KNOK 325.2K
5.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7KNOK 371.3K
$32.9KNOK 316.0K
17.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$240NOK 2,301
$193NOK 1,855
24.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.78NOK 362
$42.48NOK 407
-11.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.0NOK 528
$81.0NOK 777
-32.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.1NOK 480
$55.9NOK 536
-10.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.57NOK 341
$35.09NOK 337
1.37%
Cinema Ticket
$16.74NOK 161
$18.85NOK 181
-11.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$282NOK 2,708
$321NOK 3,079
-12.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.2KNOK 97.8K
$12.9KNOK 123.6K
-20.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.1NOK 922
$117NOK 1,126
-18.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.7NOK 506
$58.0NOK 556
-9.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107NOK 1,028
$103NOK 991
3.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150NOK 1,440
$158NOK 1,518
-5.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,192NOK 11.4K
$1,633NOK 15.7K
-27.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$900NOK 8,634
$1,134NOK 10.9K
-20.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,823NOK 17.5K
$2,713NOK 26.0K
-32.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,555NOK 14.9K
$1,748NOK 16.8K
-11.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,139NOK 49.3K
$6,159NOK 59.1K
-16.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,582NOK 34.3K
$5,339NOK 51.2K
-32.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karmøy
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,029NOK 38.6K
$4,993NOK 47.9K
-19.30%
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: July 20, 2026
Last update for Stavanger: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,192 in Karmøy and $1,633 in Stavanger. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stavanger pays 24% 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: $101 in Karmøy vs $121 in Stavanger for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $455 vs $468 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 in Stavanger?
Karmøy and Stavanger differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($2,436 vs $2,709 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 24% 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: $1,192 in Karmøy versus $1,633 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 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 $321 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 $2,436 in Karmøy versus $2,709 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 11% less than in Stavanger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.