😐A single person spends $2,773 per month in Stavanger vs $2,215 in Alesund, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,121 per month in Stavanger vs $3,317 in Alesund, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,469 per month in Stavanger vs $4,418 in Alesund, rent included.
😐Stavanger costs about 25% more than Alesund, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Stavanger and Alesund sit above the global median – Stavanger by 108%, Alesund by 66%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Alesund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.15NOK 242
$20.27NOK 195
24.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$124NOK 1,192
$87.7NOK 845
41.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.47NOK 149
$12.72NOK 122
21.62%
Cappuccino
$5.09NOK 49.03
$3.94NOK 37.90
29.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97NOK 38.22
$2.00NOK 19.28
98.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42NOK 32.96
$2.27NOK 21.82
50.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.30NOK 109
$11.20NOK 108
0.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.04NOK 96.7
$8.93NOK 86.0
12.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Alesund
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.43NOK 23.44
$2.43NOK 23.40
-
White Bread(500g)
$3.04NOK 29.25
$2.91NOK 28.07
4.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.50NOK 43.33
$2.82NOK 27.12
59.57%
Eggs
$4.44NOK 42.75
$3.94NOK 37.98
12.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.96NOK 125
$14.23NOK 137
-8.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.11NOK 155
$13.33NOK 128
20.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.22NOK 262
$22.52NOK 217
20.87%
Apples(1kg)
$3.47NOK 33.44
$2.86NOK 27.57
21.33%
Banana(1kg)
$2.54NOK 24.42
$2.40NOK 23.08
5.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.10NOK 29.88
$2.23NOK 21.45
39.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.76NOK 45.84
$3.48NOK 33.56
36.78%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16NOK 20.77
$2.71NOK 26.13
-20.30%
Onion(1kg)
$3.09NOK 29.74
$1.79NOK 17.24
72.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.61NOK 25.09
$2.87NOK 27.60
-9.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.74NOK 16.76
$2.04NOK 19.67
-14.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.94NOK 144
$14.04NOK 135
6.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.99NOK 173
$17.23NOK 166
4.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.49NOK 33.64
$3.30NOK 31.74
5.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.14NOK 39.88
$4.03NOK 38.86
2.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Alesund
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.67NOK 44.97
$4.49NOK 43.20
4.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$68.4NOK 659
$65.9NOK 635
3.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.04NOK 145
$12.11NOK 117
24.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.15NOK 20.75
$2.18NOK 21.01
-1.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$101NOK 975
$73.7NOK 710
37.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.18NOK 20.98
$2.17NOK 20.93
0.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5KNOK 332.2K
$35.9KNOK 345.8K
-3.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2KNOK 319.5K
$43.8KNOK 421.4K
-24.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Alesund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191NOK 1,840
$240NOK 2,312
-20.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.05NOK 415
$39.04NOK 376
10.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$81.9NOK 789
$39.85NOK 384
105.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Alesund
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.0NOK 539
$57.3NOK 552
-2.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.99NOK 337
$30.76NOK 296
13.75%
Cinema Ticket
$19.39NOK 187
$17.47NOK 168
10.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Alesund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$315NOK 3,035
$268NOK 2,577
17.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.8KNOK 123.1K
$2,464NOK 23.7K
418.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Alesund
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$119NOK 1,150
$85.4NOK 822
39.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.8NOK 576
$44.17NOK 425
35.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107NOK 1,028
$110NOK 1,060
-3.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161NOK 1,550
$135NOK 1,298
19.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Alesund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,617NOK 15.6K
$944NOK 9,093
71.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,134NOK 10.9K
$794NOK 7,645
42.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,719NOK 26.2K
$1,396NOK 13.4K
94.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,738NOK 16.7K
$1,144NOK 11.0K
51.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,982NOK 57.6K
$4,409NOK 42.5K
35.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,156NOK 49.7K
$2,429NOK 23.4K
112.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Alesund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,945NOK 47.6K
$4,120NOK 39.7K
20.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.51
4.03
11.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stavanger: July 13, 2026
Last update for Alesund: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,617 in Stavanger versus $944 in Alesund. 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 20% 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 $124 in Stavanger versus $88.0 in Alesund. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $466 vs $419 – making Alesund 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
Stavanger vs Alesund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Stavanger and in Alesund compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,773 in Stavanger, $2,215 in Alesund – roughly 25% apart. Stavanger costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Stavanger compared to Alesund?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,159 per month in Stavanger and $3,323 in Alesund. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Stavanger and Alesund?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Alesund, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $124 in Stavanger and $88.0 in Alesund. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Stavanger or Alesund?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,773 in Stavanger and $2,215 in Alesund. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Alesund, where all-in costs run around $2,215, than in Stavanger at $2,773. In Alesund it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stavanger it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Stavanger and Alesund?
It depends on your priorities. Stavanger has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,215 in Alesund to $2,773 in Stavanger. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Stavanger or Alesund safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Stavanger and Alesund?
If budget matters most, go with Alesund. 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.