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