😐A single person spends $2,689 per month in Stavanger vs $2,189 in Halden, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,070 per month in Stavanger vs $3,588 in Halden, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,451 per month in Stavanger vs $4,987 in Halden, rent included.
😐Stavanger costs about 23% more than Halden, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Stavanger and Halden sit above the global median – Stavanger by 100%, Halden by 63%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Halden
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.39NOK 241
$20.15NOK 191
26.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$120NOK 1,138
$101NOK 963
18.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.31NOK 145
$12.06NOK 115
26.95%
Cappuccino
$5.03NOK 47.77
$4.57NOK 43.37
10.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88NOK 36.83
$3.64NOK 34.58
6.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47NOK 32.89
$3.11NOK 29.49
11.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.98NOK 104
$10.07NOK 95.6
9.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.21NOK 96.9
$9.16NOK 87.0
11.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Halden
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.31NOK 21.93
$2.21NOK 20.98
4.52%
White Bread(500g)
$3.12NOK 29.59
$3.11NOK 29.51
0.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.58NOK 43.48
$2.86NOK 27.19
60.14%
Eggs
$4.48NOK 42.52
$4.23NOK 40.15
5.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.90NOK 122
$12.47NOK 118
3.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.73NOK 159
$14.61NOK 139
14.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.83NOK 264
$31.51NOK 299
-11.68%
Apples(1kg)
$3.48NOK 33.01
$3.52NOK 33.41
-1.14%
Banana(1kg)
$2.64NOK 25.03
$2.50NOK 23.74
5.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.11NOK 29.53
$3.29NOK 31.21
-5.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.68NOK 44.37
$4.40NOK 41.79
6.36%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08NOK 19.77
$2.52NOK 23.95
-17.46%
Onion(1kg)
$3.08NOK 29.27
$2.71NOK 25.73
13.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.47NOK 23.47
$2.79NOK 26.51
-11.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.83NOK 17.38
$1.65NOK 15.62
10.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.97NOK 142
$14.85NOK 141
0.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.46NOK 175
$17.04NOK 162
8.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.68NOK 34.89
$2.61NOK 24.76
41.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.10NOK 38.90
$3.91NOK 37.10
4.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Halden
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.58NOK 43.47
$4.37NOK 41.51
4.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$68.6NOK 651
$61.2NOK 581
12.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.31NOK 145
$10.09NOK 95.7
51.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.06NOK 19.57
$1.44NOK 13.66
43.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$100NOK 953
$42.16NOK 400
138.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11NOK 20.01
$2.10NOK 19.94
0.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4KNOK 326.1K
$35.6KNOK 338.4K
-3.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4KNOK 307.3K
$43.4KNOK 412.0K
-25.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Halden
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$190NOK 1,806
$306NOK 2,904
-37.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.20NOK 401
$29.87NOK 284
41.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.1NOK 789
$40.15NOK 381
106.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Halden
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9NOK 531
$54.0NOK 513
3.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.16NOK 334
$35.37NOK 336
-0.59%
Cinema Ticket
$19.57NOK 186
$15.58NOK 148
25.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Halden
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$321NOK 3,048
$274NOK 2,600
17.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.0KNOK 123.1K
$15.0KNOK 142.5K
-13.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Halden
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$116NOK 1,098
$95.9NOK 911
20.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0NOK 550
$64.8NOK 615
-10.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107NOK 1,017
$125NOK 1,189
-14.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$160NOK 1,519
$122NOK 1,160
30.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Halden
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595NOK 15.1K
$927NOK 8,800
72.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,126NOK 10.7K
$654NOK 6,204
72.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,732NOK 25.9K
$1,953NOK 18.5K
39.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,774NOK 16.8K
$1,643NOK 15.6K
7.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,036NOK 57.3K
$6,032NOK 57.2K
0.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,366NOK 50.9K
$4,516NOK 42.9K
18.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Halden
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,104NOK 48.4K
$3,500NOK 33.2K
45.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.51
4.75
-5.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stavanger: June 8, 2026
Last update for Halden: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,595 in Stavanger versus $927 in Halden. 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 46% 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 $120 in Stavanger versus $101 in Halden. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $473 vs $453 – making Halden 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 Halden: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Stavanger and Halden compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,689 in Stavanger, $2,189 in Halden – roughly 23% apart. Stavanger costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Stavanger compared to Halden?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,033 per month in Stavanger and $3,284 in Halden. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Stavanger and Halden?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Halden, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these 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 has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $120 in Stavanger and $101 in Halden. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Halden, where all-in costs run around $2,189, than in Stavanger at $2,689. In Halden 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 Halden?
It depends on your priorities. Stavanger has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,189 in Halden to $2,689 in Stavanger. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Stavanger or Halden 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 Halden?
If budget matters most, go with Halden. 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.