Cost of Living Comparison Between Stavanger and Lillestrom Cost of Living Comparison Between Stavanger and Lillestrom

Monthly Cost of Living

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: Stavanger 103% above, Lillestrom 91% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Lillestrom
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.19 NOK 242
$20.77 NOK 199
21.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121 NOK 1,160
$99.8 NOK 957
21.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.28 NOK 147
$11.01 NOK 106
38.78%
Cappuccino
$5.14 NOK 49.25
$4.90 NOK 46.96
4.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 NOK 37.50
$2.51 NOK 24.07
55.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 NOK 31.59
$2.19 NOK 21.02
50.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.23 NOK 108
$9.28 NOK 89.0
21.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.04 NOK 96.3
$10.20 NOK 97.8
-1.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Lillestrom
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.34 NOK 22.45
$2.19 NOK 20.98
6.85%
White Bread (500g)
$3.12 NOK 29.92
$3.34 NOK 32.05
-6.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.59 NOK 44.01
$3.25 NOK 31.18
41.23%
Eggs
$4.35 NOK 41.68
$4.17 NOK 40.01
4.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.30 NOK 128
$11.51 NOK 110
15.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.55 NOK 159
$13.67 NOK 131
21.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$27.18 NOK 261
$25.08 NOK 241
8.37%
Apples (1kg)
$3.43 NOK 32.90
$3.14 NOK 30.16
9.24%
Banana (1kg)
$2.52 NOK 24.21
$2.34 NOK 22.47
7.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.07 NOK 29.46
$3.36 NOK 32.26
-8.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.60 NOK 44.08
$4.03 NOK 38.63
14.14%
Potato (1kg)
$2.13 NOK 20.48
$2.26 NOK 21.63
-5.75%
Onion (1kg)
$3.02 NOK 28.95
$2.12 NOK 20.37
42.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.57 NOK 24.68
$2.08 NOK 19.91
23.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 NOK 16.99
$1.89 NOK 18.16
-6.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.02 NOK 144
$14.44 NOK 139
4.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.00 NOK 173
$16.84 NOK 161
6.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.55 NOK 34.04
$3.17 NOK 30.42
11.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16 NOK 39.94
$3.87 NOK 37.09
7.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Lillestrom
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.44 NOK 42.58
$4.18 NOK 40.06
6.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.3 NOK 645
$72.9 NOK 699
-7.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$14.99 NOK 144
$4.98 NOK 47.72
201.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.16 NOK 20.72
$1.40 NOK 13.47
54.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$102 NOK 978
$61.0 NOK 585
67.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.12 NOK 20.35
$2.15 NOK 20.66
-1.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K NOK 325.2K
$34.5K NOK 330.6K
-1.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K NOK 316.0K
$30.7K NOK 294.5K
7.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Lillestrom
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$193 NOK 1,855
$60.1 NOK 576
222.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.48 NOK 407
$43.09 NOK 413
-1.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$81.0 NOK 777
$37.40 NOK 359
116.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Lillestrom
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.9 NOK 536
$71.0 NOK 681
-21.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.09 NOK 337
$17.77 NOK 170
97.47%
Cinema Ticket
$18.85 NOK 181
$14.42 NOK 138
30.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Lillestrom
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$321 NOK 3,079
$237 NOK 2,276
35.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.9K NOK 123.6K
$4,234 NOK 40.6K
204.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Lillestrom
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$117 NOK 1,126
$97.1 NOK 932
20.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 NOK 556
$48.01 NOK 460
20.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 NOK 991
$98.5 NOK 945
4.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158 NOK 1,518
$179 NOK 1,720
-11.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Lillestrom
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 NOK 15.7K
$1,212 NOK 11.6K
34.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,134 NOK 10.9K
$1,204 NOK 11.5K
-5.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,713 NOK 26.0K
$2,475 NOK 23.7K
9.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,748 NOK 16.8K
$2,209 NOK 21.2K
-20.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,159 NOK 59.1K
$6,785 NOK 65.1K
-9.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,339 NOK 51.2K
$4,466 NOK 42.8K
19.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Lillestrom
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,993 NOK 47.9K
$3,658 NOK 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.

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