😐A single person spends $3,202 per month in Stavanger vs $2,628 in Halden, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,642 per month in Stavanger vs $4,035 in Halden, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $6,082 per month in Stavanger vs $5,441 in Halden, rent included.
😐Stavanger costs about 22% more than Halden, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Stavanger and Halden sit above the global median – Stavanger by 134%, Halden by 92%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Halden
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.74NOK 243
$21.40NOK 202
20.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$97.4NOK 917
$109NOK 1,025
-10.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.15NOK 152
$12.62NOK 119
27.97%
Cappuccino
$6.37NOK 60.0
$4.93NOK 46.47
29.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.34NOK 50.3
$3.73NOK 35.14
43.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43NOK 41.75
$3.16NOK 29.77
40.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.88NOK 131
$10.47NOK 98.6
32.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.16NOK 115
$9.93NOK 93.5
22.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Halden
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.50NOK 23.55
$2.40NOK 22.61
4.17%
White Bread(500g)
$3.60NOK 33.96
$4.12NOK 38.85
-12.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.96NOK 37.33
$4.34NOK 40.93
-8.76%
Eggs
$5.05NOK 47.55
$4.85NOK 45.66
4.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.10NOK 142
$14.83NOK 140
1.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$17.22NOK 162
$15.49NOK 146
11.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$35.93NOK 339
$30.80NOK 290
16.66%
Apples(1kg)
$3.71NOK 34.97
$3.41NOK 32.11
8.80%
Banana(1kg)
$2.78NOK 26.20
$2.64NOK 24.88
5.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.49NOK 32.84
$3.61NOK 33.98
-3.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.04NOK 47.53
$4.12NOK 38.82
22.33%
Potato(1kg)
$2.51NOK 23.69
$2.62NOK 24.66
-4.20%
Onion(1kg)
$3.12NOK 29.43
$2.91NOK 27.41
7.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.91NOK 27.45
$3.18NOK 29.97
-8.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.42NOK 22.84
$2.12NOK 19.99
14.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.89NOK 169
$15.60NOK 147
14.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.83NOK 177
$17.16NOK 162
9.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.94NOK 37.16
$2.76NOK 26.04
42.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51NOK 42.46
$4.01NOK 37.74
12.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Halden
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.82NOK 45.41
$4.94NOK 46.56
-2.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.4NOK 824
$44.93NOK 423
94.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.37NOK 60.0
$12.30NOK 116
-48.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.72NOK 16.18
$1.84NOK 17.32
-6.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$106NOK 1,003
$70.1NOK 660
51.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25NOK 21.21
$2.17NOK 20.47
3.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.6KNOK 467.6K
$50.2KNOK 472.6K
-1.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.3KNOK 398.5K
$45.7KNOK 431.0K
-7.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Halden
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$251NOK 2,362
$425NOK 4,001
-40.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.70NOK 336
$31.85NOK 300
12.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.6NOK 788
$57.0NOK 537
46.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Halden
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.5NOK 495
$58.1NOK 547
-9.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.19NOK 350
$31.86NOK 300
16.73%
Cinema Ticket
$22.57NOK 213
$16.72NOK 158
34.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Halden
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$330NOK 3,112
$244NOK 2,301
35.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.5KNOK 136.6K
$15.8KNOK 148.5K
-8.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Halden
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$131NOK 1,230
$100NOK 944
30.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.9NOK 574
$62.7NOK 591
-2.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$158NOK 1,492
$138NOK 1,304
14.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$210NOK 1,978
$131NOK 1,233
60.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Halden
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,708NOK 16.1K
$961NOK 9,055
77.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,391NOK 13.1K
$858NOK 8,082
62.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794NOK 26.3K
$1,943NOK 18.3K
43.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,084NOK 19.6K
$1,691NOK 15.9K
23.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,179NOK 58.2K
$2,168NOK 20.4K
185.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,479NOK 51.6K
$1,923NOK 18.1K
184.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Halden
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,006NOK 47.2K
$3,561NOK 33.6K
40.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.27
4.75
10.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stavanger: September 14, 2026
Last update for Halden: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,708 in Stavanger versus $961 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 41% 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 Halden. Groceries tell a different story – $532 in Stavanger vs $492 in Halden – so Halden 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 Halden: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Stavanger and in Halden compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,202 in Stavanger, $2,628 in Halden – roughly 22% 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 $4,803 per month in Stavanger and $3,942 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 8% 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 $97.0 in Stavanger and $109 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 $2,628, than in Stavanger at $3,202. 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 $2,628 in Halden to $3,202 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.