😐A single person spends $2,695 per month in Stavanger vs $2,222 in Elverum, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,140 per month in Stavanger vs $3,444 in Elverum, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,584 per month in Stavanger vs $4,666 in Elverum, rent included.
😐Stavanger costs about 21% more than Elverum, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Stavanger and Elverum sit above the global median – Stavanger by 101%, Elverum by 66%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Elverum
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.22NOK 235
$22.21NOK 207
13.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$119NOK 1,113
$102NOK 952
16.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.32NOK 143
$11.78NOK 110
30.05%
Cappuccino
$5.05NOK 47.09
$4.68NOK 43.64
7.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01NOK 37.36
$3.63NOK 33.87
10.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46NOK 32.25
$3.00NOK 27.95
15.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.16NOK 104
$10.79NOK 101
3.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.94NOK 92.7
$8.15NOK 76.0
21.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Elverum
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.45NOK 22.84
$1.08NOK 10.06
126.85%
White Bread(500g)
$3.10NOK 28.90
$3.48NOK 32.41
-10.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.61NOK 42.97
$3.93NOK 36.65
17.30%
Eggs
$4.34NOK 40.44
$1.78NOK 16.61
143.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.93NOK 120
$6.93NOK 64.6
86.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.27NOK 152
$12.01NOK 112
35.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.67NOK 258
$24.99NOK 233
10.72%
Apples(1kg)
$3.41NOK 31.76
$0.98NOK 9.15
247.96%
Banana(1kg)
$2.62NOK 24.42
$2.85NOK 26.61
-8.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.01NOK 28.07
$1.50NOK 14.02
100.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.55NOK 42.42
$1.54NOK 14.40
195.45%
Potato(1kg)
$2.07NOK 19.28
$1.02NOK 9.55
102.94%
Onion(1kg)
$2.99NOK 27.85
$1.00NOK 9.29
199.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.47NOK 23.00
$2.57NOK 23.92
-3.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.84NOK 17.14
$2.50NOK 23.29
-26.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.09NOK 141
$14.35NOK 134
5.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.20NOK 179
$19.12NOK 178
0.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.55NOK 33.07
$3.71NOK 34.56
-4.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01NOK 37.39
$4.78NOK 44.56
-16.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Elverum
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.48NOK 41.78
$4.38NOK 40.78
2.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$66.9NOK 623
$72.0NOK 671
-7.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.00NOK 140
$15.34NOK 143
-2.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09NOK 19.44
$2.24NOK 20.91
-6.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$102NOK 951
$88.1NOK 821
15.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11NOK 19.66
$2.16NOK 20.10
-2.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8KNOK 315.5K
$32.3KNOK 301.2K
4.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0KNOK 307.7K
$35.9KNOK 334.9K
-8.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Elverum
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191NOK 1,782
$102NOK 953
87.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.15NOK 402
$41.97NOK 391
2.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$80.5NOK 750
$64.6NOK 602
24.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Elverum
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.0NOK 522
$49.98NOK 466
12.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.16NOK 328
$35.41NOK 330
-0.71%
Cinema Ticket
$19.31NOK 180
$11.95NOK 111
61.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Elverum
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$322NOK 2,998
$330NOK 3,080
-2.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.2KNOK 123.5K
$8,434NOK 78.6K
57.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Elverum
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$117NOK 1,087
$110NOK 1,022
6.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.7NOK 547
$48.31NOK 450
21.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107NOK 994
$125NOK 1,166
-14.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159NOK 1,484
$132NOK 1,233
20.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Elverum
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,580NOK 14.7K
$1,199NOK 11.2K
31.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,123NOK 10.5K
$884NOK 8,243
26.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,783NOK 25.9K
$1,805NOK 16.8K
54.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,781NOK 16.6K
$1,542NOK 14.4K
15.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,940NOK 55.4K
$6,082NOK 56.7K
-2.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,361NOK 50.0K
$4,495NOK 41.9K
19.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Elverum
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,014NOK 46.7K
$4,244NOK 39.6K
18.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.51
4.32
4.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stavanger: April 25, 2026
Last update for Elverum: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,580 in Stavanger versus $1,199 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 18% 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 $119 in Stavanger versus $102 in Elverum. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $470 vs $372 – making Elverum 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 Elverum: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elverum cheaper than Stavanger?
Yes – Stavanger is pricier by about 21%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $4,042 per month in Stavanger and $3,333 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 $322 per month in Stavanger and $330 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 Elverum?
Groceries cost about 27% 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 Elverum?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,695 in Stavanger and $2,222 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.