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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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