🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,260 in Kristiansund versus $2,773 in Stavanger.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,403 in Kristiansund versus $4,121 in Stavanger.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,547 in Kristiansund versus $5,469 in Stavanger.
🌍Living in Kristiansund costs roughly 18% less than in Stavanger, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kristiansund69% above, Stavanger108% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kristiansund
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.66NOK 247
$25.15NOK 242
2.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102NOK 984
$124NOK 1,192
-17.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.47NOK 130
$15.47NOK 149
-12.93%
Cappuccino
$5.05NOK 48.60
$5.09NOK 49.03
-0.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21NOK 30.90
$3.97NOK 38.22
-19.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90NOK 27.98
$3.42NOK 32.96
-15.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.25NOK 98.7
$11.30NOK 109
-9.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.57NOK 92.2
$10.04NOK 96.7
-4.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kristiansund
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.38NOK 22.90
$2.43NOK 23.44
-2.06%
White Bread(500g)
$3.40NOK 32.78
$3.04NOK 29.25
11.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.20NOK 30.82
$4.50NOK 43.33
-28.89%
Eggs
$4.45NOK 42.83
$4.44NOK 42.75
0.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.99NOK 115
$12.96NOK 125
-7.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.50NOK 140
$16.11NOK 155
-9.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.13NOK 271
$27.22NOK 262
3.34%
Apples(1kg)
$3.43NOK 33.06
$3.47NOK 33.44
-1.15%
Banana(1kg)
$2.46NOK 23.65
$2.54NOK 24.42
-3.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.42NOK 32.95
$3.10NOK 29.88
10.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.54NOK 43.73
$4.76NOK 45.84
-4.62%
Potato(1kg)
$2.48NOK 23.84
$2.16NOK 20.77
14.81%
Onion(1kg)
$2.59NOK 24.96
$3.09NOK 29.74
-16.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.82NOK 27.18
$2.61NOK 25.09
8.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92NOK 18.50
$1.74NOK 16.76
10.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.15NOK 146
$14.94NOK 144
1.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.14NOK 165
$17.99NOK 173
-4.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.27NOK 31.45
$3.49NOK 33.64
-6.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99NOK 38.46
$4.14NOK 39.88
-3.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Kristiansund
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.14NOK 39.84
$4.67NOK 44.97
-11.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.2NOK 715
$68.4NOK 659
8.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.29NOK 99.1
$15.04NOK 145
-31.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.38NOK 13.28
$2.15NOK 20.75
-35.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$47.54NOK 458
$101NOK 975
-53.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07NOK 19.91
$2.18NOK 20.98
-5.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.1KNOK 347.5K
$34.5KNOK 332.2K
4.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2KNOK 377.4K
$33.2KNOK 319.5K
18.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kristiansund
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$242NOK 2,333
$191NOK 1,840
26.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.08NOK 367
$43.05NOK 415
-11.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.2NOK 542
$81.9NOK 789
-31.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kristiansund
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.02NOK 472
$56.0NOK 539
-12.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.32NOK 340
$34.99NOK 337
0.94%
Cinema Ticket
$16.48NOK 159
$19.39NOK 187
-15.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kristiansund
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$288NOK 2,778
$315NOK 3,035
-8.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.2KNOK 98.6K
$12.8KNOK 123.1K
-19.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kristiansund
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.0NOK 924
$119NOK 1,150
-19.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.0NOK 501
$59.8NOK 576
-12.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107NOK 1,029
$107NOK 1,028
0.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150NOK 1,449
$161NOK 1,550
-6.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kristiansund
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$762NOK 7,335
$1,617NOK 15.6K
-52.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$665NOK 6,401
$1,134NOK 10.9K
-41.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,211NOK 11.7K
$2,719NOK 26.2K
-55.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,029NOK 9,912
$1,738NOK 16.7K
-40.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,733NOK 55.2K
$5,982NOK 57.6K
-4.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,969NOK 38.2K
$5,156NOK 49.7K
-23.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kristiansund
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,675NOK 35.4K
$4,945NOK 47.6K
-25.68%
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: July 11, 2026
Last update for Stavanger: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $762 in Kristiansund and $1,617 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: $102 in Kristiansund vs $124 in Stavanger for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $455 vs $466 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 in Stavanger?
Kristiansund and Stavanger differ by about 23% in total monthly costs ($2,260 vs $2,773 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: $762 in Kristiansund versus $1,617 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 2% 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 $102 versus $124 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 $2,260 in Kristiansund versus $2,773 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