Cost of Living Comparison Between Kongsberg and Stavanger Cost of Living Comparison Between Kongsberg and Stavanger

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,388 per month in Kongsberg vs $2,689 in Stavanger, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,537 per month in Kongsberg vs $4,070 in Stavanger, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,687 per month in Kongsberg vs $5,451 in Stavanger, rent included.

Kongsberg is about 11% cheaper than Stavanger, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kongsberg and Stavanger sit above the global median – Kongsberg by 78%, Stavanger by 100%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kongsberg
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.05 NOK 209
$25.39 NOK 241
-13.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1 NOK 665
$120 NOK 1,138
-41.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.43 NOK 127
$15.31 NOK 145
-12.28%
Cappuccino
$4.82 NOK 45.73
$5.03 NOK 47.77
-4.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 NOK 23.35
$3.88 NOK 36.83
-36.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 NOK 20.98
$3.47 NOK 32.89
-36.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.13 NOK 86.6
$10.98 NOK 104
-16.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.07 NOK 95.6
$10.21 NOK 96.9
-1.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kongsberg
Stavanger
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.20 NOK 20.90
$2.31 NOK 21.93
-4.76%
White Bread (500g)
$3.14 NOK 29.85
$3.12 NOK 29.59
0.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.31 NOK 31.38
$4.58 NOK 43.48
-27.73%
Eggs
$4.79 NOK 45.45
$4.48 NOK 42.52
6.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.56 NOK 100
$12.90 NOK 122
-18.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.80 NOK 112
$16.73 NOK 159
-29.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.13 NOK 172
$27.83 NOK 264
-34.85%
Apples (1kg)
$3.11 NOK 29.47
$3.48 NOK 33.01
-10.63%
Banana (1kg)
$2.26 NOK 21.45
$2.64 NOK 25.03
-14.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.30 NOK 31.34
$3.11 NOK 29.53
6.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.16 NOK 39.50
$4.68 NOK 44.37
-11.11%
Potato (1kg)
$2.27 NOK 21.56
$2.08 NOK 19.77
9.13%
Onion (1kg)
$2.16 NOK 20.50
$3.08 NOK 29.27
-29.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.98 NOK 28.28
$2.47 NOK 23.47
20.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 NOK 17.87
$1.83 NOK 17.38
2.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.04 NOK 162
$14.97 NOK 142
13.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.62 NOK 148
$18.46 NOK 175
-15.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.18 NOK 30.14
$3.68 NOK 34.89
-13.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 NOK 35.72
$4.10 NOK 38.90
-8.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Kongsberg
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.51 NOK 23.84
$4.58 NOK 43.47
-45.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$91.6 NOK 869
$68.6 NOK 651
33.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$9.92 NOK 94.2
$15.31 NOK 145
-35.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.40 NOK 13.33
$2.06 NOK 19.57
-32.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.84 NOK 283
$100 NOK 953
-70.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.11 NOK 20.07
$2.11 NOK 20.01
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K NOK 362.9K
$34.4K NOK 326.1K
11.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.3K NOK 391.9K
$32.4K NOK 307.3K
27.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kongsberg
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 NOK 2,078
$190 NOK 1,806
15.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.18 NOK 258
$42.20 NOK 401
-35.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.57 NOK 366
$83.1 NOK 789
-53.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kongsberg
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.84 NOK 416
$55.9 NOK 531
-21.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$53.3 NOK 506
$35.16 NOK 334
51.54%
Cinema Ticket
$20.31 NOK 193
$19.57 NOK 186
3.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kongsberg
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$312 NOK 2,961
$321 NOK 3,048
-2.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,700 NOK 35.1K
$13.0K NOK 123.1K
-71.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kongsberg
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.0 NOK 844
$116 NOK 1,098
-23.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.9 NOK 502
$58.0 NOK 550
-8.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$158 NOK 1,501
$107 NOK 1,017
47.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$160 NOK 1,515
$160 NOK 1,519
-0.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kongsberg
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,021 NOK 9,694
$1,595 NOK 15.1K
-35.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$910 NOK 8,642
$1,126 NOK 10.7K
-19.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,720 NOK 16.3K
$2,732 NOK 25.9K
-37.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,589 NOK 15.1K
$1,774 NOK 16.8K
-10.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,266 NOK 59.5K
$6,036 NOK 57.3K
3.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,167 NOK 39.5K
$5,366 NOK 50.9K
-22.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kongsberg
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,562 NOK 33.8K
$5,104 NOK 48.4K
-30.21%
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 Kongsberg: June 6, 2026

Last update for Stavanger: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,021 in Kongsberg versus $1,595 in Stavanger. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 43% higher in Stavanger, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Kongsberg versus $120 in Stavanger. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $394 vs $473 – making Kongsberg the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Kongsberg vs Stavanger: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stavanger cheaper than Kongsberg?
Yes – Stavanger is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,581 per month in Kongsberg and $4,033 in Stavanger. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kongsberg, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Kongsberg vs Stavanger?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,388 in Kongsberg and $2,689 in Stavanger. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 34% less in Kongsberg. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Kongsberg or Stavanger?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Kongsberg, where all-in costs run around $2,388, than in Stavanger at $2,689. In Kongsberg it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stavanger it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Kongsberg or Stavanger more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kongsberg – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Kongsberg or Stavanger?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kongsberg. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Stavanger makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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