😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,709 in Stavanger versus $2,557 in Lillestrom.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,113 in Stavanger versus $3,952 in Lillestrom.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,516 in Stavanger versus $5,346 in Lillestrom.
🌍Living in Stavanger is roughly 6% more expensive than in Lillestrom, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stavanger103% above, Lillestrom91% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Lillestrom
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.19NOK 242
$20.77NOK 199
21.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121NOK 1,160
$99.8NOK 957
21.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.28NOK 147
$11.01NOK 106
38.78%
Cappuccino
$5.14NOK 49.25
$4.90NOK 46.96
4.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91NOK 37.50
$2.51NOK 24.07
55.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29NOK 31.59
$2.19NOK 21.02
50.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.23NOK 108
$9.28NOK 89.0
21.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.04NOK 96.3
$10.20NOK 97.8
-1.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Lillestrom
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.34NOK 22.45
$2.19NOK 20.98
6.85%
White Bread(500g)
$3.12NOK 29.92
$3.34NOK 32.05
-6.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.59NOK 44.01
$3.25NOK 31.18
41.23%
Eggs
$4.35NOK 41.68
$4.17NOK 40.01
4.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.30NOK 128
$11.51NOK 110
15.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.55NOK 159
$13.67NOK 131
21.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.18NOK 261
$25.08NOK 241
8.37%
Apples(1kg)
$3.43NOK 32.90
$3.14NOK 30.16
9.24%
Banana(1kg)
$2.52NOK 24.21
$2.34NOK 22.47
7.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.07NOK 29.46
$3.36NOK 32.26
-8.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.60NOK 44.08
$4.03NOK 38.63
14.14%
Potato(1kg)
$2.13NOK 20.48
$2.26NOK 21.63
-5.75%
Onion(1kg)
$3.02NOK 28.95
$2.12NOK 20.37
42.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.57NOK 24.68
$2.08NOK 19.91
23.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.77NOK 16.99
$1.89NOK 18.16
-6.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.02NOK 144
$14.44NOK 139
4.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.00NOK 173
$16.84NOK 161
6.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.55NOK 34.04
$3.17NOK 30.42
11.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16NOK 39.94
$3.87NOK 37.09
7.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Lillestrom
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.44NOK 42.58
$4.18NOK 40.06
6.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.3NOK 645
$72.9NOK 699
-7.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$14.99NOK 144
$4.98NOK 47.72
201.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.16NOK 20.72
$1.40NOK 13.47
54.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$102NOK 978
$61.0NOK 585
67.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.12NOK 20.35
$2.15NOK 20.66
-1.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9KNOK 325.2K
$34.5KNOK 330.6K
-1.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9KNOK 316.0K
$30.7KNOK 294.5K
7.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Lillestrom
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$193NOK 1,855
$60.1NOK 576
222.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.48NOK 407
$43.09NOK 413
-1.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$81.0NOK 777
$37.40NOK 359
116.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Lillestrom
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9NOK 536
$71.0NOK 681
-21.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.09NOK 337
$17.77NOK 170
97.47%
Cinema Ticket
$18.85NOK 181
$14.42NOK 138
30.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Lillestrom
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$321NOK 3,079
$237NOK 2,276
35.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.9KNOK 123.6K
$4,234NOK 40.6K
204.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Lillestrom
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$117NOK 1,126
$97.1NOK 932
20.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0NOK 556
$48.01NOK 460
20.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103NOK 991
$98.5NOK 945
4.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158NOK 1,518
$179NOK 1,720
-11.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Lillestrom
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633NOK 15.7K
$1,212NOK 11.6K
34.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,134NOK 10.9K
$1,204NOK 11.5K
-5.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,713NOK 26.0K
$2,475NOK 23.7K
9.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,748NOK 16.8K
$2,209NOK 21.2K
-20.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,159NOK 59.1K
$6,785NOK 65.1K
-9.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,339NOK 51.2K
$4,466NOK 42.8K
19.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Lillestrom
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,993NOK 47.9K
$3,658NOK 35.1K
36.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.51
4.38
2.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stavanger: July 20, 2026
Last update for Lillestrom: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Stavanger and $1,212 in Lillestrom. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stavanger pays 36% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $121 in Stavanger vs $100 in Lillestrom for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $468 vs $426 per month, with Lillestrom 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 Lillestrom: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Stavanger or Lillestrom?
Lillestrom wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Stavanger. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lillestrom the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Stavanger or in Lillestrom?
Average pay runs 36% higher in Stavanger, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Stavanger compared to Lillestrom?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Stavanger versus $1,212 in Lillestrom. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Stavanger and in Lillestrom?
Childcare runs $321 in Stavanger versus $237 in Lillestrom. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Stavanger or in Lillestrom?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% 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 in Lillestrom?
At $2,557 in Lillestrom versus $2,709 in Stavanger, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lillestrom but tight or insufficient in Stavanger. The gap between the two cities makes Lillestrom the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Stavanger or Lillestrom?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lillestrom delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,557 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lillestrom hard to pass up.
How safe is Stavanger compared to Lillestrom?
Safety-wise, Stavanger and Lillestrom 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 Lillestrom gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Stavanger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.