😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,773 in Stavanger versus $2,011 in Steinkjer.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,121 in Stavanger versus $3,053 in Steinkjer.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,469 in Stavanger versus $4,095 in Steinkjer.
🌍Living in Stavanger is roughly 38% more expensive than in Steinkjer, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stavanger108% above, Steinkjer51% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Steinkjer
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.15NOK 243
$22.75NOK 219
10.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$124NOK 1,193
$55.3NOK 533
123.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.47NOK 149
$13.35NOK 129
15.88%
Cappuccino
$5.09NOK 49.08
$4.44NOK 42.78
14.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97NOK 38.27
$3.68NOK 35.51
7.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42NOK 32.99
$2.95NOK 28.42
15.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.30NOK 109
$10.31NOK 99.4
9.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.04NOK 96.8
$6.15NOK 59.3
63.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Steinkjer
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.43NOK 23.46
$1.99NOK 19.23
22.11%
White Bread(500g)
$3.04NOK 29.28
$3.65NOK 35.24
-16.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.50NOK 43.38
$3.03NOK 29.19
48.51%
Eggs
$4.44NOK 42.80
$4.49NOK 43.33
-1.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.96NOK 125
$10.31NOK 99.5
25.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.11NOK 155
$14.95NOK 144
7.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.22NOK 262
$28.55NOK 275
-4.66%
Apples(1kg)
$3.47NOK 33.48
$3.76NOK 36.24
-7.71%
Banana(1kg)
$2.54NOK 24.45
$2.26NOK 21.80
12.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.10NOK 29.92
$2.63NOK 25.34
17.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.76NOK 45.89
$5.08NOK 49.02
-6.30%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16NOK 20.79
$1.99NOK 19.15
8.54%
Onion(1kg)
$3.09NOK 29.77
$2.01NOK 19.35
53.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.61NOK 25.12
$2.60NOK 25.12
0.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.74NOK 16.78
$2.40NOK 23.17
-27.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.94NOK 144
$14.01NOK 135
6.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.99NOK 173
$18.06NOK 174
-0.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.49NOK 33.68
$3.59NOK 34.64
-2.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.14NOK 39.93
$4.60NOK 44.38
-10.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Steinkjer
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.67NOK 45.02
$3.93NOK 37.88
18.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$68.4NOK 660
$74.7NOK 720
-8.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.04NOK 145
$15.06NOK 145
-0.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.15NOK 20.77
$2.20NOK 21.19
-2.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$101NOK 976
$87.7NOK 845
15.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.18NOK 21.00
$2.04NOK 19.68
6.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5KNOK 332.5K
$31.4KNOK 303.2K
9.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2KNOK 319.8K
$42.5KNOK 410.2K
-22.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Steinkjer
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191NOK 1,842
$150NOK 1,447
27.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.05NOK 415
$42.93NOK 414
0.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$81.9NOK 790
$50.6NOK 488
61.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Steinkjer
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.0NOK 540
$30.69NOK 296
82.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.99NOK 337
$35.73NOK 345
-2.07%
Cinema Ticket
$19.39NOK 187
$15.06NOK 145
28.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Steinkjer
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$315NOK 3,038
$330NOK 3,185
-4.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.8KNOK 123.3K
$8,521NOK 82.2K
50.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Steinkjer
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$119NOK 1,152
$50.4NOK 486
137.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.8NOK 576
$30.83NOK 297
93.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107NOK 1,029
$60.3NOK 581
77.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161NOK 1,552
$132NOK 1,273
21.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Steinkjer
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,617NOK 15.6K
$1,011NOK 9,749
59.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,134NOK 10.9K
$657NOK 6,337
72.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,719NOK 26.2K
$1,530NOK 14.8K
77.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,738NOK 16.8K
$1,026NOK 9,892
69.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,982NOK 57.7K
$6,066NOK 58.5K
-1.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,156NOK 49.7K
$3,692NOK 35.6K
39.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Steinkjer
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,945NOK 47.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.51
1.5
200.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stavanger: July 13, 2026
Last update for Steinkjer: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,617 in Stavanger and $1,011 in Steinkjer. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $124 in Stavanger vs $55.0 in Steinkjer for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $466 vs $459 per month, with Steinkjer 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 Steinkjer: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Steinkjer cheaper than Stavanger?
Steinkjer is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $4,159 in Stavanger and $3,017 in Steinkjer to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Stavanger and Steinkjer?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,617 in Stavanger versus $1,011 in Steinkjer. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Stavanger and in Steinkjer?
All in, you'll spend $2,773 per month in Stavanger versus $2,011 in Steinkjer – a 38% 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 Steinkjer runs roughly 9% less than in Stavanger. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Stavanger or in Steinkjer?
At $2,011 in Steinkjer versus $2,773 in Stavanger, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Steinkjer but tight or insufficient in Stavanger. The gap between the two cities makes Steinkjer the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Stavanger or Steinkjer more family-friendly?
For families, Steinkjer 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 Steinkjer?
Safety-wise, Stavanger and Steinkjer 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 Steinkjer gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Stavanger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.