😐A single person spends $2,744 per month in Stavanger vs $2,274 in Porsgrunn, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,187 per month in Stavanger vs $3,550 in Porsgrunn, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,629 per month in Stavanger vs $4,827 in Porsgrunn, rent included.
😐Stavanger costs about 21% more than Porsgrunn, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Stavanger and Porsgrunn sit above the global median – Stavanger by 105%, Porsgrunn by 70%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Porsgrunn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.49NOK 237
$28.72NOK 267
-11.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121NOK 1,122
$102NOK 944
18.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.31NOK 142
$13.57NOK 126
12.82%
Cappuccino
$5.17NOK 48.03
$4.83NOK 44.89
7.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04NOK 37.57
$2.05NOK 19.06
97.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47NOK 32.20
$2.06NOK 19.10
68.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.15NOK 104
$8.86NOK 82.3
25.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.27NOK 95.4
$9.68NOK 89.9
6.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Porsgrunn
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.45NOK 22.73
$2.06NOK 19.17
18.93%
White Bread(500g)
$3.02NOK 28.03
$3.43NOK 31.86
-11.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.56NOK 42.38
$3.20NOK 29.76
42.50%
Eggs
$4.46NOK 41.46
$2.48NOK 23.02
79.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.11NOK 122
$10.29NOK 95.6
27.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.72NOK 155
$10.20NOK 94.7
63.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.15NOK 252
$35.45NOK 329
-23.41%
Apples(1kg)
$3.58NOK 33.26
$2.01NOK 18.67
78.11%
Banana(1kg)
$2.56NOK 23.80
$1.65NOK 15.36
55.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.98NOK 27.72
$2.45NOK 22.80
21.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.61NOK 42.83
$2.86NOK 26.57
61.19%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09NOK 19.42
$1.03NOK 9.60
102.91%
Onion(1kg)
$3.09NOK 28.70
$2.22NOK 20.61
39.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.50NOK 23.27
$2.31NOK 21.42
8.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.81NOK 16.81
$1.83NOK 16.98
-1.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.37NOK 143
$14.31NOK 133
7.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.14NOK 178
$19.06NOK 177
0.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.63NOK 33.70
$2.96NOK 27.46
22.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13NOK 38.39
$3.96NOK 36.74
4.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Porsgrunn
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.66NOK 43.31
$3.39NOK 31.47
37.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.1NOK 623
$72.6NOK 674
-7.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$14.97NOK 139
$10.04NOK 93.3
49.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.12NOK 19.70
$1.45NOK 13.51
46.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$99.8NOK 927
$101NOK 941
-1.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.15NOK 19.96
$2.00NOK 18.56
7.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0KNOK 315.8K
$35.8KNOK 332.4K
-4.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8KNOK 304.4K
$38.0KNOK 352.7K
-13.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Porsgrunn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191NOK 1,778
$223NOK 2,068
-14.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.73NOK 397
$43.15NOK 401
-0.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$81.9NOK 761
$38.10NOK 354
114.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Porsgrunn
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.8NOK 519
$49.78NOK 462
12.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.64NOK 331
$35.51NOK 330
0.37%
Cinema Ticket
$19.51NOK 181
$14.80NOK 137
31.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Porsgrunn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$318NOK 2,957
$312NOK 2,898
2.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.8KNOK 118.6K
$10.3KNOK 95.3K
24.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Porsgrunn
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$119NOK 1,107
$50.3NOK 467
136.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.3NOK 542
$29.87NOK 277
95.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106NOK 981
$69.7NOK 647
51.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$157NOK 1,460
$102NOK 949
53.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Porsgrunn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604NOK 14.9K
$1,219NOK 11.3K
31.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,115NOK 10.4K
$909NOK 8,449
22.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,756NOK 25.6K
$1,840NOK 17.1K
49.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,738NOK 16.1K
$1,546NOK 14.4K
12.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,190NOK 57.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,435NOK 50.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Porsgrunn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,992NOK 46.4K
$3,571NOK 33.2K
39.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.51
3.8
18.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stavanger: May 30, 2026
Last update for Porsgrunn: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,604 in Stavanger versus $1,219 in Porsgrunn. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 40% higher in Stavanger, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $121 in Stavanger versus $102 in Porsgrunn. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $472 vs $409 – making Porsgrunn the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Porsgrunn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Stavanger and Porsgrunn compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,744 in Stavanger, $2,274 in Porsgrunn – roughly 21% apart. Stavanger costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Stavanger compared to Porsgrunn?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,117 per month in Stavanger and $3,410 in Porsgrunn. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Stavanger and Porsgrunn?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Porsgrunn, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Stavanger or Porsgrunn?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,744 in Stavanger and $2,274 in Porsgrunn. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Stavanger and Porsgrunn?
Public transport costs about 8% less in Porsgrunn. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Porsgrunn, where all-in costs run around $2,274, than in Stavanger at $2,744. In Porsgrunn it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stavanger it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Stavanger and Porsgrunn?
It depends on your priorities. Stavanger has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,274 in Porsgrunn to $2,744 in Stavanger. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Stavanger or Porsgrunn safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Stavanger and Porsgrunn?
If budget matters most, go with Porsgrunn. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Stavanger makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.