😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Stavanger versus $2,281 in Narvik.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,140 in Stavanger versus $3,445 in Narvik.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,584 in Stavanger versus $4,609 in Narvik.
😐Living in Stavanger is roughly 18% more expensive than Narvik, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stavanger101% above, Narvik70% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Narvik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.22NOK 235
$20.04NOK 187
25.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$119NOK 1,113
$92.2NOK 860
29.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.32NOK 143
$15.01NOK 140
2.07%
Cappuccino
$5.05NOK 47.09
$5.45NOK 50.8
-7.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01NOK 37.36
$2.54NOK 23.71
57.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46NOK 32.25
$2.56NOK 23.82
35.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.16NOK 104
$11.00NOK 102
1.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.94NOK 92.7
$11.20NOK 104
-11.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Narvik
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.45NOK 22.84
$2.39NOK 22.25
2.51%
White Bread(500g)
$3.10NOK 28.90
$3.30NOK 30.77
-6.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.61NOK 42.97
$2.48NOK 23.12
85.89%
Eggs
$4.34NOK 40.44
$4.81NOK 44.80
-9.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.93NOK 120
$11.42NOK 106
13.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.27NOK 152
$15.34NOK 143
6.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.67NOK 258
$21.71NOK 202
27.45%
Apples(1kg)
$3.41NOK 31.76
$3.28NOK 30.59
3.96%
Banana(1kg)
$2.62NOK 24.42
$2.06NOK 19.20
27.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.01NOK 28.07
$3.55NOK 33.12
-15.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.55NOK 42.42
$4.24NOK 39.54
7.31%
Potato(1kg)
$2.07NOK 19.28
$2.49NOK 23.24
-16.87%
Onion(1kg)
$2.99NOK 27.85
$3.63NOK 33.86
-17.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.47NOK 23.00
$2.73NOK 25.45
-9.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.84NOK 17.14
$1.76NOK 16.45
4.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.09NOK 141
$15.26NOK 142
-1.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.20NOK 179
$19.75NOK 184
-2.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.55NOK 33.07
$3.34NOK 31.12
6.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01NOK 37.39
$3.52NOK 32.84
13.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Narvik
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.48NOK 41.78
$5.16NOK 48.11
-13.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$66.9NOK 623
$85.5NOK 797
-21.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.00NOK 140
$12.90NOK 120
16.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09NOK 19.44
$1.38NOK 12.91
51.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$102NOK 951
$51.2NOK 477
99.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11NOK 19.66
$2.08NOK 19.43
1.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8KNOK 315.5K
$30.2KNOK 281.5K
12.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0KNOK 307.7K
$30.9KNOK 288.2K
6.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Narvik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191NOK 1,782
$250NOK 2,332
-23.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.15NOK 402
$48.29NOK 450
-10.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$80.5NOK 750
$75.7NOK 705
6.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Narvik
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.0NOK 522
$55.0NOK 512
1.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.16NOK 328
$25.69NOK 239
36.86%
Cinema Ticket
$19.31NOK 180
$17.03NOK 159
13.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Narvik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$322NOK 2,998
$335NOK 3,123
-4.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.2KNOK 123.5K
$7,159NOK 66.7K
85.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Narvik
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$117NOK 1,087
$90.7NOK 845
28.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.7NOK 547
$33.34NOK 311
75.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107NOK 994
$132NOK 1,233
-19.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159NOK 1,484
$136NOK 1,264
17.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Narvik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,580NOK 14.7K
$938NOK 8,738
68.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,123NOK 10.5K
$694NOK 6,465
61.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,783NOK 25.9K
$1,557NOK 14.5K
78.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,781NOK 16.6K
$1,174NOK 10.9K
51.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,940NOK 55.4K
$5,382NOK 50.2K
10.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,361NOK 50.0K
$4,879NOK 45.5K
9.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Narvik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,014NOK 46.7K
$3,657NOK 34.1K
37.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.51
4.27
5.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stavanger: April 25, 2026
Last update for Narvik: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,580 in Stavanger and $938 in Narvik. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stavanger pays 37% 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: $119 in Stavanger vs $92.0 in Narvik for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $470 vs $436 per month, with Narvik 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 Narvik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Narvik cheaper than Stavanger?
Narvik is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Stavanger or Narvik?
Stavanger pays 37% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Stavanger and Narvik?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,580 in Stavanger versus $938 in Narvik. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Stavanger vs Narvik?
All in, you'll spend $2,695 per month in Stavanger versus $2,281 in Narvik – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Narvik runs roughly 28% less than in Stavanger. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Stavanger or Narvik?
At $2,281 in Narvik versus $2,695 in Stavanger, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Narvik but tight or insufficient in Stavanger. The gap between the two cities makes Narvik the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Stavanger or Narvik more family-friendly?
For families, Narvik is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Stavanger, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Stavanger or Narvik?
Safety-wise, Stavanger and Narvik 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Narvik gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Stavanger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.