😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,179 in Stavanger versus $2,748 in Steinkjer.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,668 in Stavanger versus $3,954 in Steinkjer.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,158 in Stavanger versus $5,161 in Steinkjer.
🌍Living in Stavanger is roughly 16% more expensive than in Steinkjer, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stavanger131% above, Steinkjer100% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Steinkjer
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.10NOK 242
$21.44NOK 199
21.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100NOK 929
$59.4NOK 551
68.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.98NOK 148
$14.16NOK 131
12.85%
Cappuccino
$6.53NOK 60.7
$4.96NOK 46.07
31.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.57NOK 51.7
$5.74NOK 53.3
-2.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55NOK 42.21
$4.23NOK 39.25
7.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.62NOK 126
$10.62NOK 98.6
28.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.09NOK 112
$6.55NOK 60.8
84.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Steinkjer
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.49NOK 23.11
$2.59NOK 24.08
-3.86%
White Bread(500g)
$3.60NOK 33.46
$3.56NOK 33.06
1.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.96NOK 36.73
$3.88NOK 35.99
2.06%
Eggs
$4.97NOK 46.18
$4.85NOK 45.01
2.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.64NOK 136
$13.50NOK 125
8.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$17.53NOK 163
$16.65NOK 155
5.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$35.75NOK 332
$29.88NOK 277
19.65%
Apples(1kg)
$3.70NOK 34.37
$4.05NOK 37.56
-8.64%
Banana(1kg)
$2.86NOK 26.53
$2.92NOK 27.11
-2.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.58NOK 33.20
$3.94NOK 36.58
-9.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.90NOK 45.45
$5.69NOK 52.8
-13.88%
Potato(1kg)
$2.60NOK 24.18
$2.95NOK 27.36
-11.86%
Onion(1kg)
$3.17NOK 29.42
$3.05NOK 28.35
3.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.90NOK 26.95
$2.94NOK 27.29
-1.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.31NOK 21.46
$2.26NOK 21.02
2.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.65NOK 164
$17.78NOK 165
-0.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.17NOK 178
$18.66NOK 173
2.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.85NOK 35.74
$3.67NOK 34.11
4.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61NOK 42.76
$4.53NOK 42.06
1.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Steinkjer
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.89NOK 45.43
$4.31NOK 40.05
13.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.1NOK 809
$87.0NOK 808
0.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.48NOK 60.1
$9.58NOK 89.0
-32.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.78NOK 16.56
$1.67NOK 15.55
6.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$105NOK 976
$61.8NOK 574
70.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32NOK 21.58
$2.34NOK 21.72
-0.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.7KNOK 452.4K
$46.0KNOK 426.8K
5.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.8KNOK 388.4K
$45.9KNOK 426.2K
-8.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Steinkjer
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$257NOK 2,389
$276NOK 2,564
-6.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.59NOK 330
$36.55NOK 339
-2.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$84.9NOK 788
$83.1NOK 772
2.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Steinkjer
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6NOK 489
$53.6NOK 498
-1.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.90NOK 343
$42.75NOK 397
-13.68%
Cinema Ticket
$22.33NOK 207
$16.01NOK 149
39.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Steinkjer
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$325NOK 3,018
$303NOK 2,814
7.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.4KNOK 133.5K
$4,430NOK 41.1K
224.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Steinkjer
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$126NOK 1,169
$110NOK 1,017
14.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.7NOK 564
$51.0NOK 473
19.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$155NOK 1,440
$122NOK 1,132
27.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$203NOK 1,886
$162NOK 1,503
25.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Steinkjer
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,746NOK 16.2K
$1,247NOK 11.6K
39.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,387NOK 12.9K
$1,129NOK 10.5K
22.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,840NOK 26.4K
$1,832NOK 17.0K
55.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,044NOK 19.0K
$1,898NOK 17.6K
7.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,241NOK 57.9K
$6,007NOK 55.8K
3.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,530NOK 51.3K
$3,779NOK 35.1K
46.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Steinkjer
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,111NOK 47.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.27
5.32
-0.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stavanger: August 31, 2026
Last update for Steinkjer: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,746 in Stavanger and $1,247 in Steinkjer. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $100 in Stavanger vs $59.0 in Steinkjer for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $530 vs $510 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 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $4,768 in Stavanger and $4,122 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: $1,746 in Stavanger versus $1,247 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 $3,179 per month in Stavanger versus $2,748 in Steinkjer – a 16% 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 0% less than in Stavanger. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,000 enough to cover costs in Stavanger or in Steinkjer?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Steinkjer is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
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 16% less than in Stavanger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.