😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,744 in Stavanger versus $2,040 in Steinkjer.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,187 in Stavanger versus $3,013 in Steinkjer.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,629 in Stavanger versus $3,985 in Steinkjer.
😐Living in Stavanger is roughly 35% more expensive than Steinkjer, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stavanger105% above, Steinkjer52% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Steinkjer
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.49NOK 237
$22.84NOK 213
11.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121NOK 1,125
$54.9NOK 511
120.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.31NOK 143
$13.05NOK 122
17.32%
Cappuccino
$5.17NOK 48.13
$4.64NOK 43.19
11.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04NOK 37.65
$3.64NOK 33.87
10.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47NOK 32.27
$2.87NOK 26.75
20.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.15NOK 104
$10.01NOK 93.2
11.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.27NOK 95.6
$6.13NOK 57.0
67.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Steinkjer
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.45NOK 22.78
$1.96NOK 18.28
25.00%
White Bread(500g)
$3.02NOK 28.09
$3.63NOK 33.80
-16.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.56NOK 42.47
$3.07NOK 28.58
48.53%
Eggs
$4.46NOK 41.54
$4.64NOK 43.22
-3.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.11NOK 122
$10.14NOK 94.4
29.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.72NOK 156
$15.08NOK 140
10.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.15NOK 253
$28.06NOK 261
-3.24%
Apples(1kg)
$3.58NOK 33.33
$3.93NOK 36.61
-8.91%
Banana(1kg)
$2.56NOK 23.85
$2.25NOK 20.93
13.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.98NOK 27.78
$2.57NOK 23.97
15.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.61NOK 42.92
$5.08NOK 47.26
-9.25%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09NOK 19.46
$2.03NOK 18.94
2.96%
Onion(1kg)
$3.09NOK 28.76
$2.06NOK 19.22
50.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.50NOK 23.31
$2.51NOK 23.39
-0.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.81NOK 16.85
$2.40NOK 22.30
-24.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.37NOK 143
$14.41NOK 134
6.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.14NOK 178
$18.92NOK 176
1.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.63NOK 33.77
$3.52NOK 32.73
3.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13NOK 38.47
$4.81NOK 44.78
-14.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Steinkjer
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.66NOK 43.40
$4.01NOK 37.28
16.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.1NOK 624
$74.3NOK 692
-9.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$14.97NOK 139
$14.99NOK 140
-0.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.12NOK 19.74
$2.23NOK 20.77
-4.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$99.8NOK 929
$89.5NOK 833
11.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.15NOK 20.00
$1.98NOK 18.39
8.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0KNOK 316.4K
$31.8KNOK 296.0K
6.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8KNOK 305.1K
$42.7KNOK 397.4K
-23.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Steinkjer
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191NOK 1,782
$150NOK 1,400
27.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.73NOK 398
$42.78NOK 398
-0.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$81.9NOK 763
$50.6NOK 471
62.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Steinkjer
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.8NOK 520
$30.84NOK 287
81.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.64NOK 332
$36.02NOK 335
-1.05%
Cinema Ticket
$19.51NOK 182
$15.26NOK 142
27.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Steinkjer
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$318NOK 2,963
$329NOK 3,066
-3.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.8KNOK 118.9K
$8,468NOK 78.8K
50.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Steinkjer
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$119NOK 1,109
$50.9NOK 474
134.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.3NOK 543
$29.97NOK 279
94.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106NOK 983
$61.0NOK 568
73.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$157NOK 1,463
$129NOK 1,201
21.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Steinkjer
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604NOK 14.9K
$1,022NOK 9,519
56.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,115NOK 10.4K
$648NOK 6,033
72.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,756NOK 25.7K
$1,530NOK 14.2K
80.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,738NOK 16.2K
$999NOK 9,298
73.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,190NOK 57.6K
$5,278NOK 49.1K
17.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,435NOK 50.6K
$3,870NOK 36.0K
40.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Steinkjer
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,992NOK 46.5K
-
-
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: May 30, 2026
Last update for Steinkjer: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Stavanger and $1,022 in Steinkjer. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $121 in Stavanger vs $55.0 in Steinkjer for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $472 vs $460 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 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $4,117 in Stavanger and $3,060 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: $1,604 in Stavanger versus $1,022 in Steinkjer. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Stavanger vs Steinkjer?
All in, you'll spend $2,744 per month in Stavanger versus $2,040 in Steinkjer – a 35% 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 11% 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 Stavanger or Steinkjer?
At $2,040 in Steinkjer versus $2,744 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 35% less than in Stavanger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.