😐A single person spends $3,202 per month in Stavanger vs $2,690 in Kongsberg, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,642 per month in Stavanger vs $4,006 in Kongsberg, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $6,082 per month in Stavanger vs $5,323 in Kongsberg, rent included.
😐Stavanger costs about 19% more than Kongsberg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Stavanger and Kongsberg sit above the global median – Stavanger by 134%, Kongsberg by 97%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Kongsberg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.74NOK 242
$21.13NOK 199
21.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$97.4NOK 917
$74.0NOK 697
31.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.15NOK 152
$16.39NOK 154
-1.46%
Cappuccino
$6.37NOK 60.0
$5.30NOK 49.92
20.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.34NOK 50.3
$4.09NOK 38.50
30.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43NOK 41.74
$3.40NOK 32.05
30.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.88NOK 131
$11.78NOK 111
17.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.16NOK 115
$10.66NOK 100
14.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Kongsberg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.50NOK 23.54
$2.64NOK 24.85
-5.30%
White Bread(500g)
$3.60NOK 33.95
$3.18NOK 29.94
13.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.96NOK 37.32
$4.71NOK 44.38
-15.92%
Eggs
$5.05NOK 47.53
$5.10NOK 48.08
-0.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.10NOK 142
$11.08NOK 104
36.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$17.22NOK 162
$12.49NOK 118
37.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$35.93NOK 339
$18.77NOK 177
91.42%
Apples(1kg)
$3.71NOK 34.96
$3.29NOK 31.01
12.77%
Banana(1kg)
$2.78NOK 26.20
$2.66NOK 25.06
4.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.49NOK 32.83
$3.53NOK 33.29
-1.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.04NOK 47.51
$4.93NOK 46.41
2.23%
Potato(1kg)
$2.51NOK 23.68
$2.69NOK 25.37
-6.69%
Onion(1kg)
$3.12NOK 29.42
$2.54NOK 23.91
22.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.91NOK 27.44
$3.07NOK 28.94
-5.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.42NOK 22.84
$2.46NOK 23.17
-1.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.89NOK 169
$18.05NOK 170
-0.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.83NOK 177
$16.19NOK 153
16.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.94NOK 37.15
$3.50NOK 32.98
12.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51NOK 42.45
$3.99NOK 37.57
13.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Kongsberg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.82NOK 45.40
$3.18NOK 29.95
51.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.4NOK 824
$96.1NOK 906
-9.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.37NOK 60.0
$12.44NOK 117
-48.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.72NOK 16.18
$1.85NOK 17.40
-7.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$106NOK 1,003
$31.91NOK 301
233.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25NOK 21.21
$2.34NOK 22.07
-3.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.6KNOK 467.5K
$48.9KNOK 460.8K
1.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.3KNOK 398.4K
$44.8KNOK 421.9K
-5.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Kongsberg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$251NOK 2,362
$323NOK 3,045
-22.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.70NOK 336
$28.89NOK 272
23.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.6NOK 788
$56.3NOK 530
48.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Kongsberg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.5NOK 495
$47.47NOK 447
10.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.19NOK 350
$56.7NOK 534
-34.37%
Cinema Ticket
$22.57NOK 213
$19.37NOK 182
16.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Kongsberg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$330NOK 3,112
$250NOK 2,355
32.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.5KNOK 136.6K
$3,926NOK 37.0K
269.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Kongsberg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$131NOK 1,230
$94.5NOK 890
38.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.9NOK 574
$56.1NOK 529
8.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$158NOK 1,492
$135NOK 1,275
17.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$210NOK 1,977
$158NOK 1,489
32.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Kongsberg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,708NOK 16.1K
$1,088NOK 10.2K
56.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,391NOK 13.1K
$1,058NOK 9,970
31.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794NOK 26.3K
$2,046NOK 19.3K
36.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,084NOK 19.6K
$1,712NOK 16.1K
21.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,179NOK 58.2K
$6,368NOK 60.0K
-2.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,479NOK 51.6K
$4,275NOK 40.3K
28.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Kongsberg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,006NOK 47.2K
$3,695NOK 34.8K
35.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.27
4.98
5.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stavanger: September 14, 2026
Last update for Kongsberg: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,708 in Stavanger versus $1,088 in Kongsberg. 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 35% 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 $74.0 in Kongsberg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $532 vs $433 – making Kongsberg 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 Kongsberg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kongsberg cheaper than Stavanger?
Yes – Stavanger is pricier by about 19%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,803 per month in Stavanger and $4,035 in Kongsberg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kongsberg, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Stavanger and in Kongsberg?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,202 in Stavanger and $2,690 in Kongsberg. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 10% less in Kongsberg. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Stavanger or in Kongsberg?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Kongsberg, where all-in costs run around $2,690, than in Stavanger at $3,202. In Kongsberg it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stavanger it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Stavanger or Kongsberg more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kongsberg – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Stavanger or Kongsberg?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kongsberg. 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.