😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,773 in Stavanger versus $2,336 in Holmestrand.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,172 in Stavanger versus $3,642 in Holmestrand.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,570 in Stavanger versus $4,949 in Holmestrand.
😐Living in Stavanger is roughly 19% more expensive than Holmestrand, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stavanger108% above, Holmestrand75% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Holmestrand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.16NOK 238
$19.40NOK 184
29.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$120NOK 1,137
$101NOK 959
18.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.88NOK 141
$13.13NOK 124
13.33%
Cappuccino
$5.21NOK 49.33
$4.79NOK 45.40
8.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91NOK 37.04
$1.99NOK 18.86
96.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35NOK 31.75
$2.04NOK 19.35
64.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.96NOK 104
$8.94NOK 84.7
22.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.32NOK 97.8
$9.77NOK 92.5
5.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Holmestrand
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.34NOK 22.21
$1.64NOK 15.57
42.68%
White Bread(500g)
$3.14NOK 29.78
$3.45NOK 32.66
-8.99%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.45NOK 42.15
$2.05NOK 19.43
117.07%
Eggs
$4.47NOK 42.30
$4.08NOK 38.67
9.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.02NOK 123
$11.16NOK 106
16.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.38NOK 155
$14.00NOK 133
17.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.93NOK 265
$41.15NOK 390
-32.13%
Apples(1kg)
$3.59NOK 34.00
$1.98NOK 18.72
81.31%
Banana(1kg)
$2.55NOK 24.13
$2.23NOK 21.16
14.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.06NOK 28.99
$3.31NOK 31.37
-7.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.74NOK 44.89
$2.42NOK 22.89
95.87%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15NOK 20.36
$0.79NOK 7.44
172.15%
Onion(1kg)
$2.91NOK 27.57
$1.34NOK 12.70
117.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.53NOK 23.96
$2.88NOK 27.29
-12.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.74NOK 16.51
$1.83NOK 17.32
-4.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.98NOK 142
$14.05NOK 133
6.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.43NOK 175
$19.13NOK 181
-3.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.62NOK 34.32
$3.06NOK 28.97
18.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.14NOK 39.23
$4.04NOK 38.29
2.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Holmestrand
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.45NOK 42.11
$4.15NOK 39.28
7.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$68.1NOK 645
$72.0NOK 682
-5.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.31NOK 145
$8.63NOK 81.8
77.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13NOK 20.21
$0.96NOK 9.11
121.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$100NOK 951
$102NOK 962
-1.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.22NOK 21.07
$2.20NOK 20.86
0.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2KNOK 324.3K
$37.5KNOK 355.4K
-8.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3KNOK 315.6K
$34.4KNOK 326.2K
-3.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Holmestrand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191NOK 1,812
$216NOK 2,043
-11.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.07NOK 398
$43.05NOK 408
-2.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$81.5NOK 772
$37.99NOK 360
114.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Holmestrand
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9NOK 530
$48.92NOK 463
14.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.10NOK 332
$35.65NOK 338
-1.54%
Cinema Ticket
$18.95NOK 180
$14.99NOK 142
26.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Holmestrand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$314NOK 2,976
$304NOK 2,883
3.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.8KNOK 121.5K
$10.2KNOK 96.5K
25.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Holmestrand
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$117NOK 1,110
$112NOK 1,057
5.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.1NOK 569
$30.80NOK 292
94.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105NOK 994
$99.6NOK 943
5.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156NOK 1,480
$133NOK 1,261
17.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Holmestrand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,591NOK 15.1K
$1,195NOK 11.3K
33.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148NOK 10.9K
$908NOK 8,605
26.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,775NOK 26.3K
$1,790NOK 17.0K
55.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,773NOK 16.8K
$1,543NOK 14.6K
14.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,070NOK 57.5K
$6,550NOK 62.0K
-7.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176NOK 49.0K
$3,699NOK 35.0K
39.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Holmestrand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,897NOK 46.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.51
2
125.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stavanger: June 15, 2026
Last update for Holmestrand: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,591 in Stavanger and $1,195 in Holmestrand. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $120 in Stavanger vs $101 in Holmestrand for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $471 vs $451 per month, with Holmestrand cheaper across the board.
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 Holmestrand: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Stavanger or Holmestrand?
Holmestrand wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Stavanger. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Holmestrand the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Stavanger vs Holmestrand?
You'd need roughly $4,160 in Stavanger and $3,504 in Holmestrand to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Stavanger vs Holmestrand?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,591 in Stavanger versus $1,195 in Holmestrand. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Stavanger and Holmestrand?
Childcare runs $314 in Stavanger versus $304 in Holmestrand. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Stavanger or Holmestrand?
Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Stavanger. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Stavanger or Holmestrand?
At $2,336 in Holmestrand versus $2,773 in Stavanger, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Holmestrand but tight or insufficient in Stavanger. The gap between the two cities makes Holmestrand the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Stavanger or Holmestrand?
Both work as nomad bases, but Holmestrand delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,336 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Holmestrand hard to pass up.
How safe is Stavanger compared to Holmestrand?
Safety-wise, Stavanger and Holmestrand are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Holmestrand gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Stavanger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.