Cost of Living Comparison Between Stavanger and Haugesund Cost of Living Comparison Between Stavanger and Haugesund

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,202 per month in Stavanger vs $2,761 in Haugesund, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,642 per month in Stavanger vs $4,116 in Haugesund, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,082 per month in Stavanger vs $5,470 in Haugesund, rent included.

Stavanger costs about 16% more than Haugesund, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Stavanger and Haugesund sit above the global median – Stavanger by 134%, Haugesund by 102%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Haugesund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.74 NOK 243
$22.21 NOK 209
15.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$97.4 NOK 917
$106 NOK 997
-7.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.15 NOK 152
$14.60 NOK 138
10.62%
Cappuccino
$6.37 NOK 60.0
$4.82 NOK 45.37
32.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.34 NOK 50.3
$5.07 NOK 47.75
5.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43 NOK 41.75
$4.08 NOK 38.45
8.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$13.88 NOK 131
$11.98 NOK 113
15.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.16 NOK 115
$10.51 NOK 99.1
15.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Haugesund
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.50 NOK 23.55
$2.30 NOK 21.67
8.70%
White Bread (500g)
$3.60 NOK 33.96
$3.77 NOK 35.50
-4.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.96 NOK 37.33
$3.47 NOK 32.69
14.12%
Eggs
$5.05 NOK 47.55
$4.78 NOK 45.03
5.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.10 NOK 142
$11.86 NOK 112
27.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.22 NOK 162
$15.36 NOK 145
12.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$35.93 NOK 339
$36.06 NOK 340
-0.36%
Apples (1kg)
$3.71 NOK 34.97
$3.12 NOK 29.36
18.91%
Banana (1kg)
$2.78 NOK 26.20
$2.21 NOK 20.83
25.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.49 NOK 32.84
$3.55 NOK 33.42
-1.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.04 NOK 47.53
$4.51 NOK 42.46
11.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.51 NOK 23.69
$2.46 NOK 23.16
2.03%
Onion (1kg)
$3.12 NOK 29.43
$3.30 NOK 31.12
-5.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.91 NOK 27.45
$3.02 NOK 28.45
-3.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 NOK 22.84
$1.82 NOK 17.16
32.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.89 NOK 169
$17.20 NOK 162
4.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.83 NOK 177
$15.15 NOK 143
24.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.94 NOK 37.16
$3.65 NOK 34.40
7.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 NOK 42.46
$4.39 NOK 41.38
2.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Haugesund
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.82 NOK 45.41
$3.70 NOK 34.86
30.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$87.4 NOK 824
$69.3 NOK 653
26.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.37 NOK 60.0
$12.44 NOK 117
-48.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.72 NOK 16.18
$1.93 NOK 18.14
-10.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$106 NOK 1,003
$58.1 NOK 547
83.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 NOK 21.21
$2.25 NOK 21.19
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.6K NOK 467.6K
$46.8K NOK 440.8K
6.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.3K NOK 398.5K
$43.9K NOK 414.1K
-3.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Haugesund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$251 NOK 2,362
$292 NOK 2,755
-14.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.70 NOK 336
$31.85 NOK 300
12.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.6 NOK 788
$59.0 NOK 556
41.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Haugesund
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.5 NOK 495
$50.2 NOK 473
4.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.19 NOK 350
$38.12 NOK 359
-2.44%
Cinema Ticket
$22.57 NOK 213
$17.12 NOK 161
31.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Haugesund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$330 NOK 3,112
$244 NOK 2,298
35.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.5K NOK 136.6K
$3,068 NOK 28.9K
372.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Haugesund
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$131 NOK 1,230
$100 NOK 943
30.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.9 NOK 574
$55.7 NOK 525
9.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$158 NOK 1,492
$88.1 NOK 830
79.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$210 NOK 1,978
$160 NOK 1,509
31.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Haugesund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 NOK 16.1K
$1,610 NOK 15.2K
6.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,391 NOK 13.1K
$1,117 NOK 10.5K
24.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,794 NOK 26.3K
$2,183 NOK 20.6K
28.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,084 NOK 19.6K
$1,695 NOK 16.0K
22.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,179 NOK 58.2K
$6,357 NOK 59.9K
-2.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,479 NOK 51.6K
$4,856 NOK 45.8K
12.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Haugesund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,006 NOK 47.2K
$4,092 NOK 38.6K
22.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.27
5.2
1.35%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Stavanger: September 14, 2026

Last update for Haugesund: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,708 in Stavanger versus $1,610 in Haugesund. 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 22% 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 $106 in Haugesund. Groceries tell a different story – $532 in Stavanger vs $485 in Haugesund – so Haugesund 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 Haugesund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Stavanger or Haugesund?
Stavanger costs about 16% more than Haugesund, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Stavanger and in Haugesund?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,803 per month in Stavanger and $4,142 in Haugesund. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Stavanger or Haugesund?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Haugesund, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Stavanger or in Haugesund?
Groceries cost about 10% more in Stavanger, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Stavanger and in Haugesund?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $97.0 in Stavanger and $106 in Haugesund. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Stavanger or in Haugesund?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,202 in Stavanger and $2,761 in Haugesund. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Stavanger or Haugesund?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Haugesund costs $2,761 versus $3,202 in Stavanger. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Stavanger compared to Haugesund?
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.
Should I move to Stavanger or to Haugesund?
If budget matters most, go with Haugesund. 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.

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