Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sandefjord and Stavanger

For one person, living is cheaper in Sandefjord: $2,549 a month against $3,138 in Stavanger, rent and utilities included – about $7,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Sandefjord
🇳🇴 Norway
$2,549
/mo nomad
Stavanger
🇳🇴 Norway
$3,138
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sandefjord and in Stavanger

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Sandefjord and in Stavanger actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,549 per month in Sandefjord vs $3,138 in Stavanger, rent included.

  • Sandefjord $2,549
  • Stavanger $3,138

A couple spends around $3,748 per month in Sandefjord vs $4,570 in Stavanger, rent included.

  • Sandefjord $3,748
  • Stavanger $4,570

A family of three spends $4,948 per month in Sandefjord vs $6,002 in Stavanger, rent included.

  • Sandefjord $4,948
  • Stavanger $6,002

Sandefjord is about 19% cheaper than Stavanger, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Sandefjord and Stavanger sit above the global median – Sandefjord by 89%, Stavanger by 132%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sandefjord
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.53 NOK 193
$24.72 NOK 233
-16.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$125 NOK 1,179
$95.7 NOK 901
30.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.78 NOK 149
$15.96 NOK 150
-1.13%
Cappuccino
$5.68 NOK 53.4
$6.23 NOK 58.6
-8.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.17 NOK 39.30
$5.20 NOK 48.94
-19.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 NOK 20.19
$4.26 NOK 40.09
-49.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$10.05 NOK 94.6
$13.68 NOK 129
-26.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.31 NOK 97.1
$11.94 NOK 112
-13.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sandefjord
Stavanger
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.12 NOK 19.97
$2.44 NOK 22.95
-13.11%
White Bread (500g)
$2.57 NOK 24.18
$3.52 NOK 33.10
-26.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.14 NOK 38.93
$3.85 NOK 36.29
7.53%
Eggs
$4.08 NOK 38.44
$4.72 NOK 44.40
-13.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.78 NOK 139
$14.37 NOK 135
2.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.66 NOK 147
$16.68 NOK 157
-6.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$30.89 NOK 291
$35.66 NOK 336
-13.38%
Apples (1kg)
$2.15 NOK 20.27
$3.46 NOK 32.59
-37.86%
Banana (1kg)
$2.68 NOK 25.27
$2.78 NOK 26.19
-3.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 NOK 20.56
$3.38 NOK 31.79
-35.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.85 NOK 26.80
$4.92 NOK 46.33
-42.07%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 NOK 10.50
$2.49 NOK 23.42
-55.02%
Onion (1kg)
$2.68 NOK 25.26
$2.98 NOK 28.05
-10.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.09 NOK 29.09
$2.83 NOK 26.63
9.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.38 NOK 22.36
$2.35 NOK 22.09
1.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.81 NOK 149
$17.60 NOK 166
-10.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.05 NOK 123
$18.73 NOK 176
-30.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.53 NOK 33.21
$3.74 NOK 35.21
-5.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.14 NOK 39.00
$4.42 NOK 41.58
-6.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Sandefjord
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.10 NOK 47.96
$4.64 NOK 43.68
9.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.5 NOK 626
$84.1 NOK 792
-20.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$11.71 NOK 110
$6.07 NOK 57.1
92.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 NOK 16.76
$1.70 NOK 16.01
4.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$48.90 NOK 460
$102 NOK 961
-52.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 NOK 21.22
$2.43 NOK 22.85
-7.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$47.4K NOK 446.0K
$48.3K NOK 455.1K
-2.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K NOK 391.8K
$42.0K NOK 395.1K
-0.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sandefjord
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$264 NOK 2,487
$249 NOK 2,346
5.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.62 NOK 317
$34.59 NOK 326
-2.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.0 NOK 508
$80.9 NOK 762
-33.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sandefjord
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.5 NOK 475
$50.2 NOK 473
0.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$56.9 NOK 535
$36.81 NOK 347
54.52%
Cinema Ticket
$15.54 NOK 146
$21.38 NOK 201
-27.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sandefjord
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$232 NOK 2,186
$320 NOK 3,014
-27.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,887 NOK 46.0K
$14.2K NOK 133.9K
-65.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sandefjord
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 NOK 949
$126 NOK 1,183
-19.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.41 NOK 418
$58.8 NOK 553
-24.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.0 NOK 753
$149 NOK 1,406
-46.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153 NOK 1,443
$198 NOK 1,865
-22.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sandefjord
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,213 NOK 11.4K
$1,697 NOK 16.0K
-28.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,015 NOK 9,556
$1,356 NOK 12.8K
-25.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,539 NOK 14.5K
$2,735 NOK 25.7K
-43.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,339 NOK 12.6K
$2,042 NOK 19.2K
-34.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,273 NOK 59.1K
$6,207 NOK 58.4K
1.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,696 NOK 34.8K
$5,292 NOK 49.8K
-30.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sandefjord
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,976 NOK 37.4K
$5,011 NOK 47.2K
-20.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.38
5.27
-16.89%

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

Last update for Sandefjord: October 11, 2026

Last update for Stavanger: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sandefjord
$1K
Stavanger
$1.4K 33.6% $341
Groceries & Markets
Sandefjord
$447
Stavanger
$517 15.8% $71
Eating Out
Sandefjord
$376
Stavanger
$450 19.9% $75
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sandefjord
$352
Stavanger
$365 3.7% $13
Clothing & Footwear
Sandefjord
$170
Stavanger
$239 40.6% $69
Getting Around
Sandefjord
$107
Stavanger
$117 9.1% $9.8
Sport & Entertainment
Sandefjord
$82
Stavanger
$93 14% $11

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,213 in Sandefjord versus $1,697 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 26% 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 $125 in Sandefjord versus $96.0 in Stavanger. Groceries tell a different story – $447 in Sandefjord vs $517 in Stavanger – so Sandefjord wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇳🇴 Sandefjord
🇳🇴 Stavanger
🕒 Local time
23:57 11:57 PM
23:57 11:57 PM
Same time as Sandefjord
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
66,366
149,330
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to NOK – Norwegian Krone Converter

Norwegian Krone exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 9.41 NOK (1 NOK = 0.106 USD). 1 EUR = 10.58 NOK (100 NOK = 9.45 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sandefjord Stavanger 260 km
From you
  • Sandefjord
  • Stavanger

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 23% more than Sandefjord, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 and in Stavanger?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,823 per month in Sandefjord and $4,708 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 compared to Stavanger?
Public transport costs about 27% less in Sandefjord. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Sandefjord and in Stavanger?
Kindergarten costs $232 per month in Sandefjord and $320 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 in Stavanger?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sandefjord, where all-in costs run around $2,549, than in Stavanger at $3,138. In Sandefjord it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stavanger it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sandefjord or Stavanger?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sandefjord costs $2,549 versus $3,138 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 to 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.

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