😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,202 in Stavanger versus $2,529 in Narvik.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,642 in Stavanger versus $3,902 in Narvik.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,082 in Stavanger versus $5,276 in Narvik.
🌍Living in Stavanger is roughly 27% more expensive than in Narvik, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stavanger134% above, Narvik85% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Narvik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.74NOK 243
$32.77NOK 309
-21.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$97.4NOK 917
$94.8NOK 893
2.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.15NOK 152
$15.78NOK 149
2.34%
Cappuccino
$6.37NOK 60.0
$5.11NOK 48.15
24.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.34NOK 50.3
$3.00NOK 28.25
78.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43NOK 41.75
$2.89NOK 27.21
53.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.88NOK 131
$11.84NOK 112
17.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.16NOK 115
$12.26NOK 116
-0.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Narvik
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.50NOK 23.55
$2.52NOK 23.75
-0.79%
White Bread(500g)
$3.60NOK 33.96
$3.37NOK 31.79
6.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.96NOK 37.33
$2.72NOK 25.63
45.59%
Eggs
$5.05NOK 47.55
$5.38NOK 50.7
-6.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.10NOK 142
$11.98NOK 113
26.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$17.22NOK 162
$15.25NOK 144
12.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$35.93NOK 339
$23.46NOK 221
53.15%
Apples(1kg)
$3.71NOK 34.97
$3.82NOK 36.00
-2.88%
Banana(1kg)
$2.78NOK 26.20
$2.09NOK 19.68
33.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.49NOK 32.84
$4.87NOK 45.85
-28.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.04NOK 47.53
$4.47NOK 42.08
12.75%
Potato(1kg)
$2.51NOK 23.69
$2.66NOK 25.05
-5.64%
Onion(1kg)
$3.12NOK 29.43
$4.84NOK 45.60
-35.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.91NOK 27.45
$2.97NOK 27.95
-2.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.42NOK 22.84
$2.24NOK 21.15
8.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.89NOK 169
$16.43NOK 155
8.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.83NOK 177
$16.14NOK 152
16.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.94NOK 37.16
$3.47NOK 32.71
13.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51NOK 42.46
$3.83NOK 36.13
17.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Narvik
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.82NOK 45.41
$4.62NOK 43.57
4.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.4NOK 824
$92.7NOK 873
-5.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.37NOK 60.0
$15.91NOK 150
-59.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.72NOK 16.18
$2.08NOK 19.59
-17.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$106NOK 1,003
$54.6NOK 514
95.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25NOK 21.21
$2.22NOK 20.89
1.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.6KNOK 467.6K
$40.5KNOK 381.4K
22.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.3KNOK 398.5K
$38.7KNOK 364.9K
9.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Narvik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$251NOK 2,362
$260NOK 2,454
-3.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.70NOK 336
$51.4NOK 484
-30.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.6NOK 788
$85.2NOK 803
-1.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Narvik
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.5NOK 495
$56.6NOK 534
-7.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.19NOK 350
$27.16NOK 256
36.93%
Cinema Ticket
$22.57NOK 213
$17.37NOK 164
29.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Narvik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$330NOK 3,112
$320NOK 3,017
3.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.5KNOK 136.6K
$7,707NOK 72.6K
88.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Narvik
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$131NOK 1,230
$126NOK 1,190
3.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.9NOK 574
$35.09NOK 331
73.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$158NOK 1,492
$143NOK 1,352
10.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$210NOK 1,978
$168NOK 1,584
24.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Narvik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,708NOK 16.1K
$930NOK 8,766
83.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,391NOK 13.1K
$745NOK 7,019
86.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794NOK 26.3K
$1,670NOK 15.7K
67.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,084NOK 19.6K
$1,229NOK 11.6K
69.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,179NOK 58.2K
$5,415NOK 51.0K
14.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,479NOK 51.6K
$4,789NOK 45.1K
14.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Narvik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,006NOK 47.2K
$3,580NOK 33.7K
39.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.27
5.01
5.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stavanger: September 14, 2026
Last update for Narvik: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,708 in Stavanger and $930 in Narvik. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stavanger pays 40% 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: $97.0 in Stavanger vs $95.0 in Narvik for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $532 vs $461 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, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Stavanger or Narvik?
Average pay runs 40% higher in Stavanger, 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: $1,708 in Stavanger versus $930 in Narvik. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Stavanger and in Narvik?
All in, you'll spend $3,202 per month in Stavanger versus $2,529 in Narvik – a 27% 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 6% 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 living in Stavanger or in Narvik?
At $2,529 in Narvik versus $3,202 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 27% less than in Stavanger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.