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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,690 per month in Kongsberg vs $3,202 in Stavanger, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,006 per month in Kongsberg vs $4,642 in Stavanger, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,323 per month in Kongsberg vs $6,082 in Stavanger, rent included.

Kongsberg is about 16% cheaper than Stavanger, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kongsberg and Stavanger sit above the global median – Kongsberg by 97%, Stavanger by 134%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kongsberg
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.13 NOK 199
$25.74 NOK 242
-17.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.0 NOK 697
$97.4 NOK 917
-23.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.39 NOK 154
$16.15 NOK 152
1.49%
Cappuccino
$5.30 NOK 49.92
$6.37 NOK 60.0
-16.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09 NOK 38.50
$5.34 NOK 50.3
-23.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 NOK 32.05
$4.43 NOK 41.74
-23.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.78 NOK 111
$13.88 NOK 131
-15.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.66 NOK 100
$12.16 NOK 115
-12.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kongsberg
Stavanger
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.64 NOK 24.85
$2.50 NOK 23.54
5.60%
White Bread (500g)
$3.18 NOK 29.94
$3.60 NOK 33.95
-11.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.71 NOK 44.38
$3.96 NOK 37.32
18.94%
Eggs
$5.10 NOK 48.08
$5.05 NOK 47.53
0.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.08 NOK 104
$15.10 NOK 142
-26.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.49 NOK 118
$17.22 NOK 162
-27.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.77 NOK 177
$35.93 NOK 339
-47.76%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 NOK 31.01
$3.71 NOK 34.96
-11.32%
Banana (1kg)
$2.66 NOK 25.06
$2.78 NOK 26.20
-4.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.53 NOK 33.29
$3.49 NOK 32.83
1.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.93 NOK 46.41
$5.04 NOK 47.51
-2.18%
Potato (1kg)
$2.69 NOK 25.37
$2.51 NOK 23.68
7.17%
Onion (1kg)
$2.54 NOK 23.91
$3.12 NOK 29.42
-18.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 NOK 28.94
$2.91 NOK 27.44
5.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.46 NOK 23.17
$2.42 NOK 22.84
1.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.05 NOK 170
$17.89 NOK 169
0.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.19 NOK 153
$18.83 NOK 177
-14.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.50 NOK 32.98
$3.94 NOK 37.15
-11.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99 NOK 37.57
$4.51 NOK 42.45
-11.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Kongsberg
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.18 NOK 29.95
$4.82 NOK 45.40
-34.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$96.1 NOK 906
$87.4 NOK 824
9.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$12.44 NOK 117
$6.37 NOK 60.0
95.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.85 NOK 17.40
$1.72 NOK 16.18
7.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.91 NOK 301
$106 NOK 1,003
-70.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.34 NOK 22.07
$2.25 NOK 21.21
4.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.9K NOK 460.8K
$49.6K NOK 467.5K
-1.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.8K NOK 421.9K
$42.3K NOK 398.4K
5.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kongsberg
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$323 NOK 3,045
$251 NOK 2,362
28.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.89 NOK 272
$35.70 NOK 336
-19.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.3 NOK 530
$83.6 NOK 788
-32.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kongsberg
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.47 NOK 447
$52.5 NOK 495
-9.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$56.7 NOK 534
$37.19 NOK 350
52.38%
Cinema Ticket
$19.37 NOK 182
$22.57 NOK 213
-14.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kongsberg
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$250 NOK 2,355
$330 NOK 3,112
-24.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,926 NOK 37.0K
$14.5K NOK 136.6K
-72.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kongsberg
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.5 NOK 890
$131 NOK 1,230
-27.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.1 NOK 529
$60.9 NOK 574
-7.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 NOK 1,275
$158 NOK 1,492
-14.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158 NOK 1,489
$210 NOK 1,977
-24.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kongsberg
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,088 NOK 10.2K
$1,708 NOK 16.1K
-36.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,058 NOK 9,970
$1,391 NOK 13.1K
-23.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,046 NOK 19.3K
$2,794 NOK 26.3K
-26.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,712 NOK 16.1K
$2,084 NOK 19.6K
-17.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,368 NOK 60.0K
$6,179 NOK 58.2K
3.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,275 NOK 40.3K
$5,479 NOK 51.6K
-21.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kongsberg
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,695 NOK 34.8K
$5,006 NOK 47.2K
-26.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.98
5.27
-5.50%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kongsberg: September 13, 2026

Last update for Stavanger: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,088 in Kongsberg versus $1,708 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 35% 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 $74.0 in Kongsberg versus $97.0 in Stavanger. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $433 vs $532 – 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 19%, 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 $4,035 per month in Kongsberg and $4,803 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 and in Stavanger?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,690 in Kongsberg and $3,202 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 10% less in Kongsberg. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Kongsberg or in Stavanger?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Kongsberg, where all-in costs run around $2,690, than in Stavanger at $3,202. 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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