😐A single person spends $2,773 per month in Stavanger vs $2,212 in Drammen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,121 per month in Stavanger vs $3,324 in Drammen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,469 per month in Stavanger vs $4,437 in Drammen, rent included.
😐Stavanger costs about 25% more than Drammen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Stavanger and Drammen sit above the global median – Stavanger by 108%, Drammen by 66%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Drammen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.15NOK 243
$20.63NOK 199
21.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$124NOK 1,193
$74.8NOK 721
65.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.47NOK 149
$13.18NOK 127
17.37%
Cappuccino
$5.09NOK 49.08
$4.73NOK 45.63
7.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97NOK 38.27
$2.45NOK 23.64
62.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42NOK 32.99
$2.68NOK 25.80
27.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.30NOK 109
$8.14NOK 78.5
38.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.04NOK 96.8
$6.23NOK 60.1
61.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Drammen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.43NOK 23.46
$2.11NOK 20.32
15.17%
White Bread(500g)
$3.04NOK 29.28
$3.13NOK 30.17
-2.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.50NOK 43.38
$3.32NOK 32.00
35.54%
Eggs
$4.44NOK 42.80
$4.19NOK 40.41
5.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.96NOK 125
$11.24NOK 108
15.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.11NOK 155
$13.19NOK 127
22.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.22NOK 262
$17.36NOK 167
56.80%
Apples(1kg)
$3.47NOK 33.48
$1.95NOK 18.81
77.95%
Banana(1kg)
$2.54NOK 24.45
$2.26NOK 21.75
12.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.10NOK 29.92
$3.29NOK 31.71
-5.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.76NOK 45.89
$3.79NOK 36.51
25.59%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16NOK 20.79
$2.30NOK 22.22
-6.09%
Onion(1kg)
$3.09NOK 29.77
$1.34NOK 12.90
130.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.61NOK 25.12
$1.79NOK 17.23
45.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.74NOK 16.78
$1.83NOK 17.69
-4.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.94NOK 144
$14.30NOK 138
4.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.99NOK 173
$12.44NOK 120
44.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.49NOK 33.68
$2.93NOK 28.29
19.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.14NOK 39.93
$4.08NOK 39.37
1.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Drammen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.67NOK 45.02
$2.83NOK 27.26
65.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$68.4NOK 660
$76.5NOK 737
-10.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.04NOK 145
$10.25NOK 98.8
46.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.15NOK 20.77
$1.22NOK 11.73
76.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$101NOK 976
$99.6NOK 960
1.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.18NOK 21.00
$2.16NOK 20.84
0.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5KNOK 332.5K
$41.1KNOK 396.1K
-16.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2KNOK 319.8K
$39.1KNOK 377.1K
-15.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Drammen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191NOK 1,842
$218NOK 2,103
-12.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.05NOK 415
$43.27NOK 417
-0.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$81.9NOK 790
$37.61NOK 363
117.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Drammen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.0NOK 540
$84.5NOK 815
-33.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.99NOK 337
$35.41NOK 341
-1.19%
Cinema Ticket
$19.39NOK 187
$15.17NOK 146
27.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Drammen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$315NOK 3,038
$302NOK 2,909
4.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.8KNOK 123.3K
$10.1KNOK 97.6K
26.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Drammen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$119NOK 1,152
$97.2NOK 937
22.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.8NOK 576
$24.93NOK 240
139.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107NOK 1,029
$101NOK 971
5.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161NOK 1,552
$144NOK 1,391
11.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Drammen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,617NOK 15.6K
$942NOK 9,081
71.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,134NOK 10.9K
$769NOK 7,415
47.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,719NOK 26.2K
$1,460NOK 14.1K
86.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,738NOK 16.8K
$1,366NOK 13.2K
27.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,982NOK 57.7K
$10.3KNOK 99.7K
-42.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,156NOK 49.7K
$6,145NOK 59.3K
-16.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Drammen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,945NOK 47.7K
$3,527NOK 34.0K
40.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.51
4.38
2.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stavanger: July 13, 2026
Last update for Drammen: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,617 in Stavanger versus $942 in Drammen. 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 40% 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 $75.0 in Drammen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $466 vs $376 – making Drammen 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 Drammen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Stavanger and in Drammen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,773 in Stavanger, $2,212 in Drammen – roughly 25% apart. Stavanger costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Stavanger compared to Drammen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,159 per month in Stavanger and $3,318 in Drammen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Stavanger and Drammen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Drammen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Stavanger and Drammen?
Kindergarten costs $315 per month in Stavanger and $302 in Drammen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 24% more in Stavanger, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Drammen, where all-in costs run around $2,212, than in Stavanger at $2,773. In Drammen 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 Drammen?
It depends on your priorities. Stavanger has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,212 in Drammen to $2,773 in Stavanger. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Stavanger or Drammen 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 Drammen?
If budget matters most, go with Drammen. 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.