😐A single person spends $2,744 per month in Stavanger vs $2,214 in Drammen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,187 per month in Stavanger vs $3,324 in Drammen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,629 per month in Stavanger vs $4,434 in Drammen, rent included.
😐Stavanger costs about 24% more than Drammen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Stavanger and Drammen sit above the global median – Stavanger by 105%, Drammen by 65%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Drammen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.49NOK 237
$20.64NOK 192
23.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121NOK 1,125
$75.3NOK 701
60.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.31NOK 143
$13.06NOK 122
17.23%
Cappuccino
$5.17NOK 48.13
$4.99NOK 46.43
3.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04NOK 37.65
$2.42NOK 22.52
66.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47NOK 32.27
$2.64NOK 24.60
31.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.15NOK 104
$7.82NOK 72.8
42.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.27NOK 95.6
$6.19NOK 57.6
65.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Drammen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.45NOK 22.78
$2.20NOK 20.51
11.36%
White Bread(500g)
$3.02NOK 28.09
$3.13NOK 29.17
-3.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.56NOK 42.47
$3.15NOK 29.34
44.76%
Eggs
$4.46NOK 41.54
$4.19NOK 38.98
6.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.11NOK 122
$11.60NOK 108
13.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.72NOK 156
$13.42NOK 125
24.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.15NOK 253
$17.23NOK 160
57.57%
Apples(1kg)
$3.58NOK 33.33
$2.05NOK 19.08
74.63%
Banana(1kg)
$2.56NOK 23.85
$2.32NOK 21.62
10.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.98NOK 27.78
$3.42NOK 31.83
-12.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.61NOK 42.92
$3.95NOK 36.79
16.71%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09NOK 19.46
$2.27NOK 21.14
-7.93%
Onion(1kg)
$3.09NOK 28.76
$1.34NOK 12.48
130.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.50NOK 23.31
$1.85NOK 17.18
35.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.81NOK 16.85
$1.93NOK 17.93
-6.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.37NOK 143
$14.45NOK 135
6.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.14NOK 178
$13.02NOK 121
47.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.63NOK 33.77
$3.07NOK 28.58
18.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13NOK 38.47
$3.91NOK 36.39
5.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Drammen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.66NOK 43.40
$2.81NOK 26.17
65.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.1NOK 624
$75.5NOK 703
-11.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$14.97NOK 139
$10.01NOK 93.2
49.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.12NOK 19.74
$1.26NOK 11.77
68.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$99.8NOK 929
$103NOK 959
-3.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.15NOK 20.00
$2.17NOK 20.21
-0.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0KNOK 316.4K
$39.9KNOK 371.5K
-14.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8KNOK 305.1K
$38.9KNOK 362.0K
-15.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Drammen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191NOK 1,782
$217NOK 2,021
-11.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.73NOK 398
$44.32NOK 413
-3.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$81.9NOK 763
$38.34NOK 357
113.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Drammen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.8NOK 520
$86.1NOK 801
-35.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.64NOK 332
$35.80NOK 333
-0.45%
Cinema Ticket
$19.51NOK 182
$14.77NOK 138
32.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Drammen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$318NOK 2,963
$310NOK 2,887
2.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.8KNOK 118.9K
$10.2KNOK 95.4K
24.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Drammen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$119NOK 1,109
$97.8NOK 910
21.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.3NOK 543
$25.22NOK 235
131.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106NOK 983
$97.7NOK 909
8.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$157NOK 1,463
$142NOK 1,326
10.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Drammen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604NOK 14.9K
$932NOK 8,676
72.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,115NOK 10.4K
$777NOK 7,229
43.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,756NOK 25.7K
$1,491NOK 13.9K
84.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,738NOK 16.2K
$1,343NOK 12.5K
29.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,190NOK 57.6K
$10.8KNOK 100.7K
-42.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,435NOK 50.6K
$6,561NOK 61.1K
-17.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Drammen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,992NOK 46.5K
$3,747NOK 34.9K
33.25%
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: May 30, 2026
Last update for Drammen: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,604 in Stavanger versus $932 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 33% 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 $121 in Stavanger versus $75.0 in Drammen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $472 vs $383 – 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 Drammen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,744 in Stavanger, $2,214 in Drammen – roughly 24% 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 $4,117 per month in Stavanger and $3,321 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 $318 per month in Stavanger and $310 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 23% 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 $2,214, than in Stavanger at $2,744. 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 $2,214 in Drammen to $2,744 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.