😐A single person spends $3,202 per month in Stavanger vs $2,814 in Elverum, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,642 per month in Stavanger vs $4,246 in Elverum, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $6,082 per month in Stavanger vs $5,677 in Elverum, rent included.
😐Stavanger costs about 14% more than Elverum, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Stavanger and Elverum sit above the global median – Stavanger by 134%, Elverum by 106%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Elverum
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.74NOK 242
$21.69NOK 204
18.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$97.4NOK 917
$109NOK 1,031
-11.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.15NOK 152
$15.96NOK 150
1.19%
Cappuccino
$6.37NOK 60.0
$5.79NOK 54.5
10.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.34NOK 50.3
$5.75NOK 54.1
-7.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43NOK 41.74
$4.17NOK 39.24
6.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.88NOK 131
$13.43NOK 127
3.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.16NOK 115
$13.24NOK 125
-8.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Elverum
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.50NOK 23.54
$2.61NOK 24.61
-4.21%
White Bread(500g)
$3.60NOK 33.95
$3.52NOK 33.17
2.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.96NOK 37.32
$3.72NOK 35.00
6.45%
Eggs
$5.05NOK 47.53
$5.00NOK 47.09
1.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.10NOK 142
$13.11NOK 124
15.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$17.22NOK 162
$16.86NOK 159
2.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$35.93NOK 339
$32.28NOK 304
11.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.71NOK 34.96
$4.06NOK 38.24
-8.62%
Banana(1kg)
$2.78NOK 26.20
$2.98NOK 28.11
-6.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.49NOK 32.83
$3.80NOK 35.79
-8.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.04NOK 47.51
$5.59NOK 52.7
-9.84%
Potato(1kg)
$2.51NOK 23.68
$2.96NOK 27.85
-15.20%
Onion(1kg)
$3.12NOK 29.42
$3.07NOK 28.88
1.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.91NOK 27.44
$2.85NOK 26.87
2.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.42NOK 22.84
$2.28NOK 21.49
6.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.89NOK 169
$17.58NOK 166
1.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.83NOK 177
$19.12NOK 180
-1.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.94NOK 37.15
$3.61NOK 34.03
9.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51NOK 42.45
$4.62NOK 43.53
-2.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Elverum
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.82NOK 45.40
$4.88NOK 45.95
-1.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.4NOK 824
$87.4NOK 824
-0.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.37NOK 60.0
$9.47NOK 89.2
-32.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.72NOK 16.18
$1.62NOK 15.24
6.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$106NOK 1,003
$60.4NOK 569
76.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25NOK 21.21
$2.33NOK 22.00
-3.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.6KNOK 467.5K
$45.9KNOK 431.9K
8.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.3KNOK 398.4K
$46.5KNOK 438.4K
-9.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Elverum
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$251NOK 2,362
$282NOK 2,660
-11.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.70NOK 336
$36.56NOK 344
-2.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.6NOK 788
$84.6NOK 797
-1.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Elverum
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.5NOK 495
$51.8NOK 488
1.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.19NOK 350
$32.52NOK 306
14.36%
Cinema Ticket
$22.57NOK 213
$20.74NOK 195
8.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Elverum
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$330NOK 3,112
$305NOK 2,877
8.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.5KNOK 136.6K
$4,501NOK 42.4K
222.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Elverum
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$131NOK 1,230
$111NOK 1,042
17.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.9NOK 574
$51.5NOK 485
18.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$158NOK 1,492
$123NOK 1,155
29.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$210NOK 1,977
$163NOK 1,539
28.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Elverum
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,708NOK 16.1K
$1,214NOK 11.4K
40.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,391NOK 13.1K
$1,038NOK 9,782
33.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794NOK 26.3K
$2,061NOK 19.4K
35.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,084NOK 19.6K
$1,733NOK 16.3K
20.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,179NOK 58.2K
$6,274NOK 59.1K
-1.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,479NOK 51.6K
$4,108NOK 38.7K
33.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Elverum
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,006NOK 47.2K
$4,272NOK 40.2K
17.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.27
5.32
-0.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stavanger: September 14, 2026
Last update for Elverum: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,708 in Stavanger versus $1,214 in Elverum. 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 17% 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 $109 in Elverum. Groceries tell a different story – $532 in Stavanger vs $517 in Elverum – so Elverum 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 Elverum: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elverum cheaper than Stavanger?
Yes – Stavanger is pricier by about 14%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,803 per month in Stavanger and $4,221 in Elverum. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Elverum, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $330 per month in Stavanger and $305 in Elverum. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Stavanger and in Elverum?
Groceries cost about 3% more in Stavanger, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Stavanger or in Elverum?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,202 in Stavanger and $2,814 in Elverum. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Stavanger or Elverum more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Elverum – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Stavanger or Elverum?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Elverum. 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.