🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,229 in Kristiansund versus $2,744 in Stavanger.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,436 in Kristiansund versus $4,187 in Stavanger.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,642 in Kristiansund versus $5,629 in Stavanger.
🙂Living in Kristiansund costs roughly 19% less than in Stavanger, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kristiansund66% above, Stavanger105% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kristiansund
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.42NOK 236
$25.49NOK 237
-0.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101NOK 942
$121NOK 1,122
-16.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.63NOK 127
$15.31NOK 142
-10.97%
Cappuccino
$4.88NOK 45.38
$5.17NOK 48.03
-5.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17NOK 29.48
$4.04NOK 37.57
-21.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79NOK 25.94
$3.47NOK 32.20
-19.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.00NOK 92.9
$11.15NOK 104
-10.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.36NOK 86.9
$10.27NOK 95.4
-8.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kristiansund
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.41NOK 22.36
$2.45NOK 22.73
-1.63%
White Bread(500g)
$3.37NOK 31.35
$3.02NOK 28.03
11.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.25NOK 30.19
$4.56NOK 42.38
-28.73%
Eggs
$4.47NOK 41.53
$4.46NOK 41.46
0.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.82NOK 110
$13.11NOK 122
-9.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.56NOK 135
$16.72NOK 155
-12.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.60NOK 256
$27.15NOK 252
1.66%
Apples(1kg)
$3.42NOK 31.76
$3.58NOK 33.26
-4.47%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45NOK 22.79
$2.56NOK 23.80
-4.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.39NOK 31.46
$2.98NOK 27.72
13.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.58NOK 42.53
$4.61NOK 42.83
-0.65%
Potato(1kg)
$2.44NOK 22.67
$2.09NOK 19.42
16.75%
Onion(1kg)
$2.56NOK 23.74
$3.09NOK 28.70
-17.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.87NOK 26.70
$2.50NOK 23.27
14.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92NOK 17.80
$1.81NOK 16.81
6.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.47NOK 144
$15.37NOK 143
0.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.43NOK 171
$19.14NOK 178
-3.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.31NOK 30.78
$3.63NOK 33.70
-8.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02NOK 37.30
$4.13NOK 38.39
-2.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Kristiansund
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.28NOK 39.75
$4.66NOK 43.31
-8.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$72.6NOK 675
$67.1NOK 623
8.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.30NOK 95.7
$14.97NOK 139
-31.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.41NOK 13.08
$2.12NOK 19.70
-33.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$47.30NOK 439
$99.8NOK 927
-52.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.10NOK 19.48
$2.15NOK 19.96
-2.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3KNOK 328.2K
$34.0KNOK 315.8K
3.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.1KNOK 354.4K
$32.8KNOK 304.4K
16.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kristiansund
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$244NOK 2,267
$191NOK 1,778
27.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.75NOK 351
$42.73NOK 397
-11.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.7NOK 508
$81.9NOK 761
-33.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kristiansund
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.19NOK 457
$55.8NOK 519
-11.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.12NOK 326
$35.64NOK 331
-1.46%
Cinema Ticket
$16.36NOK 152
$19.51NOK 181
-16.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kristiansund
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$282NOK 2,620
$318NOK 2,957
-11.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.1KNOK 93.6K
$12.8KNOK 118.6K
-21.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kristiansund
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.4NOK 905
$119NOK 1,107
-18.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.4NOK 477
$58.3NOK 542
-11.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110NOK 1,017
$106NOK 981
3.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$151NOK 1,403
$157NOK 1,460
-3.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kristiansund
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$765NOK 7,109
$1,604NOK 14.9K
-52.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$685NOK 6,364
$1,115NOK 10.4K
-38.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,213NOK 11.3K
$2,756NOK 25.6K
-56.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,026NOK 9,531
$1,738NOK 16.1K
-40.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,072NOK 56.4K
$6,190NOK 57.5K
-1.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,539NOK 42.2K
$5,435NOK 50.5K
-16.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kristiansund
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,816NOK 35.5K
$4,992NOK 46.4K
-23.55%
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 Kristiansund: May 31, 2026
Last update for Stavanger: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $765 in Kristiansund and $1,604 in Stavanger. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stavanger pays 31% 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 Kristiansund vs $121 in Stavanger for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $456 vs $472 per month, with Kristiansund 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
Kristiansund vs Stavanger: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kristiansund and Stavanger?
Kristiansund and Stavanger differ by about 23% in total monthly costs ($2,229 vs $2,744 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, Stavanger earns 31% 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 Kristiansund and Stavanger?
Rent for a central apartment: $765 in Kristiansund versus $1,604 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 3% 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 $101 versus $121 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 $2,229 in Kristiansund versus $2,744 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 23% 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