😐A single person spends $2,689 per month in Stavanger vs $2,494 in Haugesund, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,070 per month in Stavanger vs $3,746 in Haugesund, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,451 per month in Stavanger vs $4,997 in Haugesund, rent included.
😐Stavanger costs about 8% more than Haugesund, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Stavanger and Haugesund sit above the global median – Stavanger by 100%, Haugesund by 86%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Haugesund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.39NOK 241
$21.22NOK 201
19.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$120NOK 1,138
$100NOK 949
19.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.31NOK 145
$13.77NOK 131
11.18%
Cappuccino
$5.03NOK 47.77
$4.59NOK 43.60
9.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88NOK 36.83
$3.08NOK 29.27
25.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47NOK 32.89
$2.89NOK 27.42
20.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.98NOK 104
$10.73NOK 102
2.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.21NOK 96.9
$9.41NOK 89.3
8.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Haugesund
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.31NOK 21.93
$2.12NOK 20.10
8.96%
White Bread(500g)
$3.12NOK 29.59
$3.39NOK 32.22
-7.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.58NOK 43.48
$2.78NOK 26.35
64.75%
Eggs
$4.48NOK 42.52
$4.48NOK 42.52
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.90NOK 122
$11.18NOK 106
15.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.73NOK 159
$14.81NOK 141
12.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.83NOK 264
$27.94NOK 265
-0.39%
Apples(1kg)
$3.48NOK 33.01
$3.08NOK 29.19
12.99%
Banana(1kg)
$2.64NOK 25.03
$2.17NOK 20.61
21.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.11NOK 29.53
$3.57NOK 33.91
-12.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.68NOK 44.37
$4.04NOK 38.34
15.84%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08NOK 19.77
$2.59NOK 24.61
-19.69%
Onion(1kg)
$3.08NOK 29.27
$2.84NOK 27.00
8.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.47NOK 23.47
$2.86NOK 27.15
-13.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.83NOK 17.38
$2.07NOK 19.64
-11.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.97NOK 142
$16.25NOK 154
-7.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.46NOK 175
$14.54NOK 138
26.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.68NOK 34.89
$3.38NOK 32.04
8.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.10NOK 38.90
$4.22NOK 40.07
-2.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Haugesund
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.58NOK 43.47
$3.49NOK 33.14
31.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$68.6NOK 651
$66.6NOK 632
3.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.31NOK 145
$14.39NOK 137
6.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.06NOK 19.57
$1.59NOK 15.11
29.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$100NOK 953
$54.6NOK 519
83.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11NOK 20.01
$2.20NOK 20.87
-4.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4KNOK 326.1K
$34.9KNOK 331.3K
-1.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4KNOK 307.3K
$39.7KNOK 377.0K
-18.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Haugesund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$190NOK 1,806
$238NOK 2,260
-20.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.20NOK 401
$38.82NOK 369
8.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.1NOK 789
$55.7NOK 529
49.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Haugesund
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9NOK 531
$45.29NOK 430
23.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.16NOK 334
$36.08NOK 342
-2.55%
Cinema Ticket
$19.57NOK 186
$16.78NOK 159
16.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Haugesund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$321NOK 3,048
$285NOK 2,708
12.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.0KNOK 123.1K
$2,856NOK 27.1K
354.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Haugesund
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$116NOK 1,098
$81.4NOK 773
42.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0NOK 550
$56.4NOK 535
2.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107NOK 1,017
$94.5NOK 897
13.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$160NOK 1,519
$147NOK 1,393
9.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Haugesund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595NOK 15.1K
$1,611NOK 15.3K
-1.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,126NOK 10.7K
$1,039NOK 9,860
8.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,732NOK 25.9K
$2,082NOK 19.8K
31.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,774NOK 16.8K
$1,511NOK 14.3K
17.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,036NOK 57.3K
$4,380NOK 41.6K
37.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,366NOK 50.9K
$4,780NOK 45.4K
12.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Haugesund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,104NOK 48.4K
$3,637NOK 34.5K
40.36%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Haugesund: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,595 in Stavanger versus $1,611 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 40% 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 $100 in Haugesund. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $473 vs $443 – 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 8% 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 vs Haugesund?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,033 per month in Stavanger and $3,740 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 Haugesund?
Groceries cost about 7% 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 vs Haugesund?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $120 in Stavanger and $100 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 Haugesund?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,689 in Stavanger and $2,494 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 $2,494 versus $2,689 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 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.