😐A single person spends $2,699 per month in Stavanger vs $2,476 in Haugesund, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,150 per month in Stavanger vs $3,729 in Haugesund, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,601 per month in Stavanger vs $4,982 in Haugesund, rent included.
😐Stavanger costs about 9% more than Haugesund, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Stavanger and Haugesund sit above the global median – Stavanger by 103%, Haugesund by 86%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Haugesund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.22NOK 239
$21.54NOK 204
17.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$123NOK 1,167
$102NOK 972
20.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.08NOK 143
$13.46NOK 128
12.04%
Cappuccino
$5.02NOK 47.61
$4.68NOK 44.42
7.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89NOK 36.85
$3.09NOK 29.28
25.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40NOK 32.26
$2.95NOK 27.97
15.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.99NOK 104
$10.67NOK 101
3.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.26NOK 97.3
$9.37NOK 88.9
9.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Haugesund
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.40NOK 22.72
$2.10NOK 19.92
14.29%
White Bread(500g)
$3.11NOK 29.46
$3.32NOK 31.44
-6.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.64NOK 44.03
$2.84NOK 26.92
63.38%
Eggs
$4.52NOK 42.88
$4.51NOK 42.80
0.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.98NOK 123
$11.33NOK 107
14.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.24NOK 154
$14.51NOK 138
11.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.67NOK 262
$28.07NOK 266
-1.43%
Apples(1kg)
$3.53NOK 33.45
$3.06NOK 29.00
15.36%
Banana(1kg)
$2.52NOK 23.92
$2.15NOK 20.40
17.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.05NOK 28.94
$3.60NOK 34.15
-15.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.66NOK 44.17
$4.11NOK 38.97
13.38%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05NOK 19.44
$2.74NOK 25.98
-25.18%
Onion(1kg)
$3.04NOK 28.86
$2.81NOK 26.63
8.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.58NOK 24.47
$2.91NOK 27.61
-11.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.75NOK 16.56
$2.14NOK 20.31
-18.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.11NOK 143
$16.29NOK 154
-7.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.96NOK 170
$14.27NOK 135
25.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.54NOK 33.60
$3.30NOK 31.31
7.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08NOK 38.69
$4.29NOK 40.71
-4.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Haugesund
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.58NOK 43.44
$3.61NOK 34.22
26.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$69.1NOK 656
$65.4NOK 620
5.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.37NOK 146
$14.39NOK 136
6.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07NOK 19.62
$1.51NOK 14.33
37.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$103NOK 972
$54.8NOK 520
87.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.21NOK 20.92
$2.15NOK 20.40
2.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7KNOK 329.2K
$35.3KNOK 335.2K
-1.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7KNOK 310.2K
$40.0KNOK 379.1K
-18.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Haugesund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$192NOK 1,821
$243NOK 2,301
-20.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.41NOK 402
$38.85NOK 368
9.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$80.9NOK 767
$55.6NOK 527
45.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Haugesund
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.8NOK 529
$44.68NOK 424
24.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.17NOK 333
$35.94NOK 341
-2.14%
Cinema Ticket
$19.02NOK 180
$16.34NOK 155
16.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Haugesund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$314NOK 2,975
$280NOK 2,654
12.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.9KNOK 122.1K
$2,941NOK 27.9K
337.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Haugesund
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$116NOK 1,096
$83.2NOK 789
38.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.4NOK 553
$55.5NOK 527
5.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107NOK 1,018
$94.7NOK 898
13.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$157NOK 1,493
$147NOK 1,394
7.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Haugesund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595NOK 15.1K
$1,640NOK 15.5K
-2.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,135NOK 10.8K
$1,022NOK 9,686
11.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,798NOK 26.5K
$2,061NOK 19.5K
35.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,777NOK 16.9K
$1,549NOK 14.7K
14.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,005NOK 56.9K
$4,218NOK 40.0K
42.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,223NOK 49.5K
$4,596NOK 43.6K
13.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Haugesund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,909NOK 46.6K
$3,941NOK 37.4K
24.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.51
3.98
13.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stavanger: July 26, 2026
Last update for Haugesund: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,595 in Stavanger versus $1,640 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 25% 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 $123 in Stavanger versus $102 in Haugesund. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $468 vs $442 – making Haugesund 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 Haugesund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Stavanger or Haugesund?
Stavanger costs about 9% more than Haugesund, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 $4,048 per month in Stavanger and $3,715 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 6% 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 $123 in Stavanger and $102 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 $2,699 in Stavanger and $2,476 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 $2,476 versus $2,699 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.