😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,773 in Stavanger versus $2,682 in Fredrikstad.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,121 in Stavanger versus $4,010 in Fredrikstad.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,469 in Stavanger versus $5,338 in Fredrikstad.
🌍Living in Stavanger is roughly 3% more expensive than in Fredrikstad, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stavanger108% above, Fredrikstad101% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Fredrikstad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.15NOK 243
$17.97NOK 173
39.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$124NOK 1,193
$114NOK 1,094
9.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.47NOK 149
$11.91NOK 115
29.89%
Cappuccino
$5.09NOK 49.08
$5.34NOK 51.5
-4.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97NOK 38.27
$3.97NOK 38.25
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42NOK 32.99
$2.74NOK 26.47
24.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.30NOK 109
$11.01NOK 106
2.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.04NOK 96.8
$10.29NOK 99.3
-2.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Fredrikstad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.43NOK 23.46
$2.19NOK 21.09
10.96%
White Bread(500g)
$3.04NOK 29.28
$4.25NOK 41.02
-28.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.50NOK 43.38
$3.27NOK 31.54
37.61%
Eggs
$4.44NOK 42.80
$5.22NOK 50.4
-14.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.96NOK 125
$11.78NOK 114
10.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.11NOK 155
$16.02NOK 155
0.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.22NOK 262
$34.17NOK 330
-20.34%
Apples(1kg)
$3.47NOK 33.48
$4.51NOK 43.50
-23.06%
Banana(1kg)
$2.54NOK 24.45
$3.52NOK 33.95
-27.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.10NOK 29.92
$4.50NOK 43.39
-31.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.76NOK 45.89
$5.04NOK 48.63
-5.56%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16NOK 20.79
$2.75NOK 26.52
-21.45%
Onion(1kg)
$3.09NOK 29.77
$2.66NOK 25.64
16.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.61NOK 25.12
$2.64NOK 25.50
-1.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.74NOK 16.78
$1.85NOK 17.81
-5.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.94NOK 144
$14.87NOK 143
0.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.99NOK 173
$21.86NOK 211
-17.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.49NOK 33.68
$3.43NOK 33.04
1.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.14NOK 39.93
$6.11NOK 59.0
-32.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Fredrikstad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.67NOK 45.02
$3.87NOK 37.35
20.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$68.4NOK 660
$63.7NOK 614
7.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.04NOK 145
$6.22NOK 60.0
141.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.15NOK 20.77
$1.46NOK 14.04
47.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$101NOK 976
$52.3NOK 504
93.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.18NOK 21.00
$2.27NOK 21.93
-3.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5KNOK 332.5K
$35.1KNOK 338.3K
-1.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2KNOK 319.8K
$39.1KNOK 377.0K
-15.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Fredrikstad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191NOK 1,842
$339NOK 3,272
-43.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.05NOK 415
$37.93NOK 366
13.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$81.9NOK 790
$57.0NOK 550
43.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Fredrikstad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.0NOK 540
$48.85NOK 471
14.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.99NOK 337
$39.15NOK 377
-10.63%
Cinema Ticket
$19.39NOK 187
$22.16NOK 214
-12.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Fredrikstad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$315NOK 3,038
$284NOK 2,737
11.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.8KNOK 123.3K
$10.2KNOK 98.3K
25.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Fredrikstad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$119NOK 1,152
$154NOK 1,484
-22.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.8NOK 576
$60.2NOK 581
-0.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107NOK 1,029
$166NOK 1,605
-35.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161NOK 1,552
$133NOK 1,279
21.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Fredrikstad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,617NOK 15.6K
$1,266NOK 12.2K
27.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,134NOK 10.9K
$943NOK 9,096
20.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,719NOK 26.2K
$2,100NOK 20.3K
29.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,738NOK 16.8K
$1,541NOK 14.9K
12.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,982NOK 57.7K
$5,874NOK 56.6K
1.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,156NOK 49.7K
$3,915NOK 37.8K
31.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Fredrikstad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,945NOK 47.7K
$3,227NOK 31.1K
53.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.51
4.25
6.12%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stavanger: July 13, 2026
Last update for Fredrikstad: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,617 in Stavanger and $1,266 in Fredrikstad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stavanger pays 53% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $124 in Stavanger vs $114 in Fredrikstad. Groceries flip the comparison at $466 vs $523, with Stavanger cheaper for home cooking.
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 Fredrikstad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fredrikstad cheaper than Stavanger?
Fredrikstad is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Stavanger or Fredrikstad?
Average pay runs 53% higher in Stavanger, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Stavanger and Fredrikstad?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,617 in Stavanger versus $1,266 in Fredrikstad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $315 in Stavanger versus $284 in Fredrikstad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Stavanger and in Fredrikstad?
Shoppers in Stavanger pay roughly 12% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Stavanger or in Fredrikstad?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Fredrikstad is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Stavanger or Fredrikstad more family-friendly?
For families, Fredrikstad is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Stavanger, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Stavanger or Fredrikstad?
Safety-wise, Stavanger and Fredrikstad are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Fredrikstad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Stavanger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.