🙂A single person spends $2,391 per month in Sandefjord vs $2,744 in Stavanger, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,522 per month in Sandefjord vs $4,187 in Stavanger, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,654 per month in Sandefjord vs $5,629 in Stavanger, rent included.
🙂Sandefjord is about 13% cheaper than Stavanger, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Sandefjord and Stavanger sit above the global median – Sandefjord by 78%, Stavanger by 105%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sandefjord
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.02NOK 177
$25.49NOK 237
-25.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$103NOK 953
$121NOK 1,122
-15.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.53NOK 126
$15.31NOK 142
-11.63%
Cappuccino
$5.03NOK 46.71
$5.17NOK 48.03
-2.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47NOK 22.96
$4.04NOK 37.57
-38.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13NOK 19.83
$3.47NOK 32.20
-38.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.37NOK 87.1
$11.15NOK 104
-15.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.15NOK 94.3
$10.27NOK 95.4
-1.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sandefjord
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.20NOK 20.41
$2.45NOK 22.73
-10.20%
White Bread(500g)
$3.02NOK 28.06
$3.02NOK 28.03
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.80NOK 26.02
$4.56NOK 42.38
-38.60%
Eggs
$3.69NOK 34.31
$4.46NOK 41.46
-17.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.51NOK 107
$13.11NOK 122
-12.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.60NOK 154
$16.72NOK 155
-0.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$35.29NOK 328
$27.15NOK 252
29.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71NOK 25.16
$3.58NOK 33.26
-24.30%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23NOK 20.69
$2.56NOK 23.80
-12.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.35NOK 21.80
$2.98NOK 27.72
-21.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.67NOK 34.11
$4.61NOK 42.83
-20.39%
Potato(1kg)
$2.11NOK 19.57
$2.09NOK 19.42
0.96%
Onion(1kg)
$2.22NOK 20.62
$3.09NOK 28.70
-28.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.64NOK 24.56
$2.50NOK 23.27
5.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.90NOK 17.61
$1.81NOK 16.81
4.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.49NOK 135
$15.37NOK 143
-5.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.56NOK 126
$19.14NOK 178
-29.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.70NOK 34.41
$3.63NOK 33.70
1.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.23NOK 39.33
$4.13NOK 38.39
2.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Sandefjord
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.95NOK 45.96
$4.66NOK 43.31
6.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$71.8NOK 667
$67.1NOK 623
6.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.06NOK 93.5
$14.97NOK 139
-32.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.40NOK 13.01
$2.12NOK 19.70
-33.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$63.4NOK 589
$99.8NOK 927
-36.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.21NOK 20.49
$2.15NOK 19.96
2.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.6KNOK 330.9K
$34.0KNOK 315.8K
4.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KNOK 332.4K
$32.8KNOK 304.4K
9.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sandefjord
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$220NOK 2,039
$191NOK 1,778
14.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.75NOK 397
$42.73NOK 397
0.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.61NOK 359
$81.9NOK 761
-52.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sandefjord
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.95NOK 445
$55.8NOK 519
-14.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.33NOK 328
$35.64NOK 331
-0.87%
Cinema Ticket
$12.87NOK 120
$19.51NOK 181
-34.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sandefjord
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$287NOK 2,662
$318NOK 2,957
-9.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,768NOK 44.3K
$12.8KNOK 118.6K
-62.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sandefjord
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103NOK 954
$119NOK 1,107
-13.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.87NOK 435
$58.3NOK 542
-19.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9NOK 928
$106NOK 981
-5.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140NOK 1,305
$157NOK 1,460
-10.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sandefjord
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,205NOK 11.2K
$1,604NOK 14.9K
-24.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$970NOK 9,011
$1,115NOK 10.4K
-13.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,447NOK 13.4K
$2,756NOK 25.6K
-47.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,256NOK 11.7K
$1,738NOK 16.1K
-27.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$6,190NOK 57.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$5,435NOK 50.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sandefjord
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,123NOK 38.3K
$4,992NOK 46.4K
-17.42%
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 Sandefjord: June 1, 2026
Last update for Stavanger: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,205 in Sandefjord versus $1,604 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 21% 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 $103 in Sandefjord versus $121 in Stavanger. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $454 vs $472 – making Sandefjord 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
Sandefjord vs Stavanger: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sandefjord or Stavanger?
Stavanger costs about 15% more than Sandefjord, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Sandefjord vs Stavanger?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,587 per month in Sandefjord and $4,117 in Stavanger. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Sandefjord or Stavanger?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sandefjord, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Sandefjord vs Stavanger?
Public transport costs about 7% less in Sandefjord. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Sandefjord and Stavanger?
Kindergarten costs $287 per month in Sandefjord and $318 in Stavanger. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Sandefjord or Stavanger?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,391 in Sandefjord and $2,744 in Stavanger. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sandefjord or Stavanger?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sandefjord costs $2,391 versus $2,744 in Stavanger. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Sandefjord compared to 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.
Should I move to Sandefjord or Stavanger?
If budget matters most, go with Sandefjord. 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.
Sandefjord vs other spots: cost of living compared