😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,218 in Stavanger versus $2,741 in Kongsvinger.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,673 in Stavanger versus $4,119 in Kongsvinger.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,128 in Stavanger versus $5,498 in Kongsvinger.
🌍Living in Stavanger is roughly 17% more expensive than in Kongsvinger, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stavanger133% above, Kongsvinger99% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Kongsvinger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.27NOK 234
$21.10NOK 196
19.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$97.7NOK 906
$108NOK 1,004
-9.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.20NOK 150
$16.21NOK 150
-0.06%
Cappuccino
$6.50NOK 60.3
$5.72NOK 53.1
13.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.65NOK 52.4
$4.25NOK 39.46
32.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62NOK 42.85
$3.17NOK 29.36
45.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.72NOK 127
$11.71NOK 109
17.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.21NOK 113
$10.62NOK 98.5
14.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Kongsvinger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.39NOK 22.16
$4.02NOK 37.30
-40.55%
White Bread(500g)
$3.69NOK 34.25
$3.63NOK 33.71
1.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.04NOK 37.50
$3.85NOK 35.68
4.94%
Eggs
$5.03NOK 46.67
$5.08NOK 47.10
-0.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.21NOK 141
$13.38NOK 124
13.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$17.62NOK 163
$15.26NOK 142
15.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$35.78NOK 332
$30.65NOK 284
16.74%
Apples(1kg)
$3.58NOK 33.17
$3.41NOK 31.62
4.99%
Banana(1kg)
$2.90NOK 26.88
$2.78NOK 25.78
4.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.63NOK 33.71
$3.52NOK 32.63
3.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.87NOK 45.18
$5.42NOK 50.3
-10.15%
Potato(1kg)
$2.62NOK 24.32
$3.02NOK 27.98
-13.25%
Onion(1kg)
$3.24NOK 30.03
$2.95NOK 27.37
9.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.85NOK 26.41
$3.06NOK 28.42
-6.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.31NOK 21.43
$2.41NOK 22.34
-4.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.75NOK 165
$17.87NOK 166
-0.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.90NOK 175
$16.90NOK 157
11.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.03NOK 37.43
$3.46NOK 32.09
16.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53NOK 42.06
$4.22NOK 39.14
7.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Kongsvinger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.75NOK 44.10
$4.60NOK 42.71
3.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.1NOK 808
$84.7NOK 786
2.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.21NOK 57.6
$12.29NOK 114
-49.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.80NOK 16.70
$1.82NOK 16.86
-1.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$105NOK 971
$70.9NOK 657
47.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.29NOK 21.25
$2.32NOK 21.56
-1.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.3KNOK 466.2K
$48.7KNOK 452.0K
3.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.0KNOK 398.5K
$45.1KNOK 418.0K
-4.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Kongsvinger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$261NOK 2,424
$279NOK 2,589
-6.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.80NOK 332
$33.51NOK 311
6.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.6NOK 794
$58.6NOK 543
46.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Kongsvinger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1NOK 484
$51.6NOK 479
1.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.84NOK 351
$37.75NOK 350
0.24%
Cinema Ticket
$22.77NOK 211
$18.10NOK 168
25.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Kongsvinger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$332NOK 3,079
$251NOK 2,326
32.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.2KNOK 132.2K
$12.0KNOK 111.2K
18.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Kongsvinger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$127NOK 1,182
$101NOK 934
26.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.6NOK 571
$55.5NOK 515
10.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$156NOK 1,447
$128NOK 1,187
21.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$206NOK 1,914
$157NOK 1,461
31.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Kongsvinger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,757NOK 16.3K
$1,233NOK 11.4K
42.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,393NOK 12.9K
$1,050NOK 9,738
32.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,793NOK 25.9K
$2,020NOK 18.7K
38.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,062NOK 19.1K
$1,685NOK 15.6K
22.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,206NOK 57.6K
$6,390NOK 59.3K
-2.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,375NOK 49.9K
$4,299NOK 39.9K
25.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Kongsvinger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,012NOK 46.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.27
4.96
6.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stavanger: September 6, 2026
Last update for Kongsvinger: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,757 in Stavanger and $1,233 in Kongsvinger. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $98.0 in Stavanger vs $108 in Kongsvinger. Groceries flip the comparison at $533 vs $511, with Kongsvinger cheaper for home cooking.
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 Kongsvinger: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Stavanger or Kongsvinger?
Kongsvinger wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Stavanger. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kongsvinger the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Stavanger and in Kongsvinger?
You'd need roughly $4,827 in Stavanger and $4,112 in Kongsvinger 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 compared to Kongsvinger?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,757 in Stavanger versus $1,233 in Kongsvinger. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Stavanger and in Kongsvinger?
Dining out is cheaper in Kongsvinger – a meal for two runs $108 versus $98.0 in Stavanger. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Stavanger compared to Kongsvinger?
All in, you'll spend $3,218 per month in Stavanger versus $2,741 in Kongsvinger – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Stavanger or in Kongsvinger?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Kongsvinger is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Stavanger or Kongsvinger?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kongsvinger delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,741 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kongsvinger hard to pass up.
How safe is Stavanger compared to Kongsvinger?
Safety-wise, Stavanger and Kongsvinger 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 Kongsvinger gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Stavanger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.