🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,389 in Kristiansund versus $3,179 in Stavanger.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,659 in Kristiansund versus $4,668 in Stavanger.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,928 in Kristiansund versus $6,158 in Stavanger.
🌍Living in Kristiansund costs roughly 25% less than in Stavanger, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kristiansund74% above, Stavanger131% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kristiansund
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.31NOK 170
$26.10NOK 242
-29.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$111NOK 1,030
$100NOK 929
10.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.44NOK 153
$15.98NOK 148
2.88%
Cappuccino
$5.50NOK 51.0
$6.53NOK 60.7
-15.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76NOK 34.95
$5.57NOK 51.7
-32.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05NOK 28.33
$4.55NOK 42.21
-32.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.39NOK 124
$13.62NOK 126
-1.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.09NOK 93.7
$12.09NOK 112
-16.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kristiansund
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.58NOK 23.96
$2.49NOK 23.11
3.61%
White Bread(500g)
$3.63NOK 33.68
$3.60NOK 33.46
0.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.95NOK 36.69
$3.96NOK 36.73
-0.25%
Eggs
$4.95NOK 45.99
$4.97NOK 46.18
-0.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.23NOK 123
$14.64NOK 136
-9.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.46NOK 144
$17.53NOK 163
-11.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$29.91NOK 278
$35.75NOK 332
-16.34%
Apples(1kg)
$3.49NOK 32.36
$3.70NOK 34.37
-5.68%
Banana(1kg)
$2.67NOK 24.79
$2.86NOK 26.53
-6.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.45NOK 32.05
$3.58NOK 33.20
-3.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.29NOK 49.07
$4.90NOK 45.45
7.96%
Potato(1kg)
$2.66NOK 24.68
$2.60NOK 24.18
2.31%
Onion(1kg)
$2.86NOK 26.57
$3.17NOK 29.42
-9.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.05NOK 28.34
$2.90NOK 26.95
5.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.34NOK 21.73
$2.31NOK 21.46
1.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.93NOK 166
$17.65NOK 164
1.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.93NOK 157
$19.17NOK 178
-11.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.44NOK 31.98
$3.85NOK 35.74
-10.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46NOK 41.39
$4.61NOK 42.76
-3.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Kristiansund
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.77NOK 44.25
$4.89NOK 45.43
-2.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.1NOK 809
$87.1NOK 809
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.33NOK 114
$6.48NOK 60.1
90.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.72NOK 15.95
$1.78NOK 16.56
-3.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$77.2NOK 716
$105NOK 976
-26.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.45NOK 22.72
$2.32NOK 21.58
5.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.8KNOK 452.9K
$48.7KNOK 452.4K
0.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.5KNOK 413.4K
$41.8KNOK 388.4K
6.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kristiansund
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$277NOK 2,571
$257NOK 2,389
7.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.16NOK 317
$35.59NOK 330
-4.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.0NOK 538
$84.9NOK 788
-31.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kristiansund
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.44NOK 375
$52.6NOK 489
-23.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.94NOK 278
$36.90NOK 343
-18.86%
Cinema Ticket
$26.95NOK 250
$22.33NOK 207
20.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kristiansund
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$247NOK 2,291
$325NOK 3,018
-24.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.2KNOK 113.2K
$14.4KNOK 133.5K
-15.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kristiansund
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103NOK 955
$126NOK 1,169
-18.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.2NOK 513
$60.7NOK 564
-9.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$128NOK 1,188
$155NOK 1,440
-17.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$162NOK 1,500
$203NOK 1,886
-20.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kristiansund
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$812NOK 7,536
$1,746NOK 16.2K
-53.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716NOK 6,649
$1,387NOK 12.9K
-48.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,285NOK 11.9K
$2,840NOK 26.4K
-54.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,066NOK 9,896
$2,044NOK 19.0K
-47.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,432NOK 59.7K
$6,241NOK 57.9K
3.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,292NOK 39.9K
$5,530NOK 51.3K
-22.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kristiansund
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,777NOK 35.1K
$5,111NOK 47.5K
-26.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.96
5.27
-5.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kristiansund: August 30, 2026
Last update for Stavanger: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $812 in Kristiansund and $1,746 in Stavanger. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stavanger pays 35% 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: $111 in Kristiansund vs $100 in Stavanger. Groceries flip the comparison at $492 vs $530, with Kristiansund cheaper for home cooking.
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
Kristiansund vs Stavanger: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kristiansund and in Stavanger?
Kristiansund and Stavanger differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($2,389 vs $3,179 including rent). Kristiansund 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 35% 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 Kristiansund and in Stavanger?
Rent for a central apartment: $812 in Kristiansund versus $1,746 in Stavanger. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Stavanger. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Kristiansund – a meal for two runs $111 versus $100 in Stavanger. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,389 in Kristiansund versus $3,179 in Stavanger, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Kristiansund but tight or insufficient in Stavanger. The gap between the two cities makes Kristiansund the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kristiansund 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 Kristiansund or Stavanger safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kristiansund 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: Kristiansund or Stavanger?
Expats usually find Kristiansund gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Stavanger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Kristiansund vs other spots: cost of living compared