😐A single person spends $3,202 per month in Stavanger vs $2,693 in Drammen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,642 per month in Stavanger vs $4,146 in Drammen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $6,082 per month in Stavanger vs $5,599 in Drammen, rent included.
😐Stavanger costs about 19% more than Drammen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Stavanger and Drammen sit above the global median – Stavanger by 134%, Drammen by 97%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Drammen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.74NOK 242
$21.36NOK 201
20.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$97.4NOK 915
$127NOK 1,194
-23.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.15NOK 152
$11.24NOK 106
43.68%
Cappuccino
$6.37NOK 59.9
$5.29NOK 49.77
20.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.34NOK 50.2
$4.16NOK 39.15
28.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43NOK 41.66
$1.94NOK 18.28
128.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.88NOK 131
$11.50NOK 108
20.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.16NOK 114
$6.80NOK 63.9
78.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Drammen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.50NOK 23.50
$2.59NOK 24.37
-3.47%
White Bread(500g)
$3.60NOK 33.89
$4.28NOK 40.29
-15.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.96NOK 37.26
$4.84NOK 45.49
-18.18%
Eggs
$5.05NOK 47.45
$4.71NOK 44.28
7.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.10NOK 142
$13.87NOK 130
8.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$17.22NOK 162
$15.35NOK 144
12.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$35.93NOK 338
$30.12NOK 283
19.29%
Apples(1kg)
$3.71NOK 34.90
$3.47NOK 32.67
6.92%
Banana(1kg)
$2.78NOK 26.15
$2.78NOK 26.12
-
Oranges(1kg)
$3.49NOK 32.77
$3.65NOK 34.30
-4.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.04NOK 47.43
$5.89NOK 55.4
-14.43%
Potato(1kg)
$2.51NOK 23.64
$2.73NOK 25.63
-8.06%
Onion(1kg)
$3.12NOK 29.37
$2.85NOK 26.82
9.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.91NOK 27.40
$3.24NOK 30.44
-10.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.42NOK 22.80
$2.55NOK 23.95
-5.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.89NOK 168
$17.36NOK 163
3.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.83NOK 177
$16.30NOK 153
15.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.94NOK 37.08
$3.61NOK 33.98
9.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51NOK 42.37
$4.24NOK 39.90
6.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Drammen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.82NOK 45.32
$3.51NOK 33.03
37.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.4NOK 822
$96.5NOK 907
-9.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.37NOK 59.9
$12.03NOK 113
-47.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.72NOK 16.15
$1.90NOK 17.84
-9.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$106NOK 1,001
$71.9NOK 676
48.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25NOK 21.17
$2.34NOK 22.01
-3.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.6KNOK 466.6K
$47.0KNOK 441.7K
5.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.3KNOK 397.7K
$45.8KNOK 431.0K
-7.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Drammen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$251NOK 2,358
$263NOK 2,477
-4.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.70NOK 336
$33.01NOK 310
8.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.6NOK 786
$52.8NOK 496
58.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Drammen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.5NOK 494
$81.8NOK 770
-35.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.19NOK 350
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$22.57NOK 212
$17.92NOK 169
25.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Drammen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$330NOK 3,106
$245NOK 2,305
34.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.5KNOK 136.3K
$15.8KNOK 148.6K
-8.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Drammen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$131NOK 1,227
$101NOK 952
28.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.9NOK 573
$62.6NOK 588
-2.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$158NOK 1,489
$130NOK 1,226
21.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$210NOK 1,974
$151NOK 1,423
38.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Drammen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,708NOK 16.1K
$1,366NOK 12.8K
25.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,391NOK 13.1K
$1,028NOK 9,664
35.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794NOK 26.3K
$2,119NOK 19.9K
31.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,084NOK 19.6K
$1,628NOK 15.3K
27.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,179NOK 58.1K
$10.6KNOK 99.9K
-41.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,479NOK 51.5K
$6,329NOK 59.5K
-13.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Drammen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,006NOK 47.1K
$3,630NOK 34.1K
37.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.27
4.54
16.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stavanger: September 14, 2026
Last update for Drammen: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,708 in Stavanger versus $1,366 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 38% 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 $97.0 in Stavanger versus $127 in Drammen. Groceries tell a different story – $532 in Stavanger vs $510 in Drammen – so Drammen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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: $3,202 in Stavanger, $2,693 in Drammen – roughly 19% apart. Stavanger costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Stavanger compared to Drammen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,803 per month in Stavanger and $4,040 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 $330 per month in Stavanger and $245 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 4% 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 feasible on a $3,000 budget?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,202 in Stavanger and $2,693 in Drammen. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
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 $2,693 in Drammen to $3,202 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.