Cost of Living Comparison Between Sandnes and Stavanger Cost of Living Comparison Between Sandnes and Stavanger

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,699 per month in Sandnes vs $3,179 in Stavanger, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,203 per month in Sandnes vs $4,668 in Stavanger, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,708 per month in Sandnes vs $6,158 in Stavanger, rent included.

Sandnes is about 15% cheaper than Stavanger, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sandnes and Stavanger sit above the global median – Sandnes by 96%, Stavanger by 131%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.98 NOK 241

$26.10 NOK 242

-0.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$97.6 NOK 906

$100 NOK 929

-2.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.53 NOK 144

$15.98 NOK 148

-2.82%

Cappuccino

$5.86 NOK 54.4

$6.53 NOK 60.7

-10.26%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 NOK 32.73

$5.57 NOK 51.7

-36.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 NOK 27.29

$4.55 NOK 42.21

-35.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.88 NOK 129

$13.62 NOK 126

1.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.47 NOK 116

$12.09 NOK 112

3.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.43 NOK 22.52

$2.49 NOK 23.11

-2.41%

White Bread (500g)

$3.58 NOK 33.27

$3.60 NOK 33.46

-0.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.55 NOK 23.66

$3.96 NOK 36.73

-35.61%

Eggs

$4.80 NOK 44.59

$4.97 NOK 46.18

-3.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.82 NOK 128

$14.64 NOK 136

-5.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.35 NOK 152

$17.53 NOK 163

-6.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$32.90 NOK 305

$35.75 NOK 332

-7.97%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 NOK 33.84

$3.70 NOK 34.37

-1.62%

Banana (1kg)

$2.81 NOK 26.08

$2.86 NOK 26.53

-1.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.18 NOK 29.56

$3.58 NOK 33.20

-11.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 NOK 46.12

$4.90 NOK 45.45

1.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 NOK 23.52

$2.60 NOK 24.18

-2.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 NOK 21.74

$3.17 NOK 29.42

-26.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.78 NOK 25.80

$2.90 NOK 26.95

-4.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 NOK 22.34

$2.31 NOK 21.46

4.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.68 NOK 155

$17.65 NOK 164

-5.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.14 NOK 159

$19.17 NOK 178

-10.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.28 NOK 30.49

$3.85 NOK 35.74

-14.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 NOK 40.74

$4.61 NOK 42.76

-4.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.85 NOK 45.00

$4.89 NOK 45.43

-0.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.3 NOK 801

$87.1 NOK 809

-0.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.41 NOK 59.5

$6.48 NOK 60.1

-1.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 NOK 16.75

$1.78 NOK 16.56

1.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$48.95 NOK 454

$105 NOK 976

-53.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.25 NOK 20.85

$2.32 NOK 21.58

-3.02%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$45.1K NOK 418.3K

$48.7K NOK 452.4K

-7.52%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$39.0K NOK 361.9K

$41.8K NOK 388.4K

-6.82%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$256 NOK 2,378

$257 NOK 2,389

-0.45%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$35.65 NOK 331

$35.59 NOK 330

0.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.4 NOK 775

$84.9 NOK 788

-1.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.60 NOK 433

$52.6 NOK 489

-11.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$54.0 NOK 501

$36.90 NOK 343

46.26%

Cinema Ticket

$19.63 NOK 182

$22.33 NOK 207

-12.09%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$291 NOK 2,705

$325 NOK 3,018

-10.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,807 NOK 91.1K

$14.4K NOK 133.5K

-31.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$130 NOK 1,205

$126 NOK 1,169

3.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.3 NOK 560

$60.7 NOK 564

-0.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 NOK 1,120

$155 NOK 1,440

-22.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$193 NOK 1,795

$203 NOK 1,886

-4.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,339 NOK 12.4K

$1,746 NOK 16.2K

-23.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$966 NOK 8,967

$1,387 NOK 12.9K

-30.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,029 NOK 18.8K

$2,840 NOK 26.4K

-28.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,824 NOK 16.9K

$2,044 NOK 19.0K

-10.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 NOK 66.2K

$6,241 NOK 57.9K

14.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,060 NOK 37.7K

$5,530 NOK 51.3K

-26.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,736 NOK 34.7K

$5,111 NOK 47.5K

-26.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.22

5.27

-0.95%

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

Last update for Sandnes: August 30, 2026

Last update for Stavanger: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,339 in Sandnes versus $1,746 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 37% 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 $98.0 in Sandnes versus $100 in Stavanger. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $496 vs $530 – making Sandnes 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

Sandnes vs Stavanger: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Stavanger is pricier by about 18%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,049 per month in Sandnes and $4,768 in Stavanger. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sandnes, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $291 per month in Sandnes and $325 in Stavanger. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Stavanger, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,699 in Sandnes and $3,179 in Stavanger. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Sandnes – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Sandnes. 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.