Cost of Living Comparison Between Stavanger and Kongsberg Cost of Living Comparison Between Stavanger and Kongsberg

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$25.74 NOK 242
$21.13 NOK 199
21.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$97.4 NOK 917
$74.0 NOK 697
31.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.15 NOK 152
$16.39 NOK 154
-1.46%
Cappuccino
$6.37 NOK 60.0
$5.30 NOK 49.92
20.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.34 NOK 50.3
$4.09 NOK 38.50
30.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43 NOK 41.74
$3.40 NOK 32.05
30.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$13.88 NOK 131
$11.78 NOK 111
17.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.16 NOK 115
$10.66 NOK 100
14.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Kongsberg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.50 NOK 23.54
$2.64 NOK 24.85
-5.30%
White Bread (500g)
$3.60 NOK 33.95
$3.18 NOK 29.94
13.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.96 NOK 37.32
$4.71 NOK 44.38
-15.92%
Eggs
$5.05 NOK 47.53
$5.10 NOK 48.08
-0.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.10 NOK 142
$11.08 NOK 104
36.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.22 NOK 162
$12.49 NOK 118
37.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$35.93 NOK 339
$18.77 NOK 177
91.42%
Apples (1kg)
$3.71 NOK 34.96
$3.29 NOK 31.01
12.77%
Banana (1kg)
$2.78 NOK 26.20
$2.66 NOK 25.06
4.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.49 NOK 32.83
$3.53 NOK 33.29
-1.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.04 NOK 47.51
$4.93 NOK 46.41
2.23%
Potato (1kg)
$2.51 NOK 23.68
$2.69 NOK 25.37
-6.69%
Onion (1kg)
$3.12 NOK 29.42
$2.54 NOK 23.91
22.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.91 NOK 27.44
$3.07 NOK 28.94
-5.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 NOK 22.84
$2.46 NOK 23.17
-1.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.89 NOK 169
$18.05 NOK 170
-0.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.83 NOK 177
$16.19 NOK 153
16.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.94 NOK 37.15
$3.50 NOK 32.98
12.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 NOK 42.45
$3.99 NOK 37.57
13.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Kongsberg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.82 NOK 45.40
$3.18 NOK 29.95
51.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$87.4 NOK 824
$96.1 NOK 906
-9.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.37 NOK 60.0
$12.44 NOK 117
-48.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.72 NOK 16.18
$1.85 NOK 17.40
-7.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$106 NOK 1,003
$31.91 NOK 301
233.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 NOK 21.21
$2.34 NOK 22.07
-3.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.6K NOK 467.5K
$48.9K NOK 460.8K
1.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.3K NOK 398.4K
$44.8K NOK 421.9K
-5.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Kongsberg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$251 NOK 2,362
$323 NOK 3,045
-22.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.70 NOK 336
$28.89 NOK 272
23.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.6 NOK 788
$56.3 NOK 530
48.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Kongsberg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.5 NOK 495
$47.47 NOK 447
10.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.19 NOK 350
$56.7 NOK 534
-34.37%
Cinema Ticket
$22.57 NOK 213
$19.37 NOK 182
16.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Kongsberg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$330 NOK 3,112
$250 NOK 2,355
32.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.5K NOK 136.6K
$3,926 NOK 37.0K
269.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Kongsberg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$131 NOK 1,230
$94.5 NOK 890
38.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.9 NOK 574
$56.1 NOK 529
8.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$158 NOK 1,492
$135 NOK 1,275
17.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$210 NOK 1,977
$158 NOK 1,489
32.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Kongsberg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 NOK 16.1K
$1,088 NOK 10.2K
56.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,391 NOK 13.1K
$1,058 NOK 9,970
31.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,794 NOK 26.3K
$2,046 NOK 19.3K
36.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,084 NOK 19.6K
$1,712 NOK 16.1K
21.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,179 NOK 58.2K
$6,368 NOK 60.0K
-2.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,479 NOK 51.6K
$4,275 NOK 40.3K
28.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Kongsberg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,006 NOK 47.2K
$3,695 NOK 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.

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