😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,744 in Stavanger versus $2,430 in Ulsteinvik.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,187 in Stavanger versus $3,741 in Ulsteinvik.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,629 in Stavanger versus $5,052 in Ulsteinvik.
😐Living in Stavanger is roughly 13% more expensive than Ulsteinvik, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stavanger105% above, Ulsteinvik81% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.49NOK 237
$25.66NOK 238
-0.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121NOK 1,122
$103NOK 957
17.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.31NOK 142
$13.92NOK 129
9.99%
Cappuccino
$5.17NOK 48.03
$5.02NOK 46.64
2.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04NOK 37.57
$3.21NOK 29.81
25.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47NOK 32.20
$2.92NOK 27.16
18.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.15NOK 104
$10.24NOK 95.1
8.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.27NOK 95.4
$9.64NOK 89.5
6.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.45NOK 22.73
$2.19NOK 20.35
11.87%
White Bread(500g)
$3.02NOK 28.03
$3.33NOK 30.95
-9.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.56NOK 42.38
$3.28NOK 30.44
39.02%
Eggs
$4.46NOK 41.46
$4.33NOK 40.21
3.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.11NOK 122
$11.82NOK 110
10.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.72NOK 155
$14.52NOK 135
15.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.15NOK 252
$27.67NOK 257
-1.88%
Apples(1kg)
$3.58NOK 33.26
$3.45NOK 32.01
3.77%
Banana(1kg)
$2.56NOK 23.80
$2.37NOK 21.98
8.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.98NOK 27.72
$3.24NOK 30.10
-8.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.61NOK 42.83
$4.56NOK 42.38
1.10%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09NOK 19.42
$2.45NOK 22.78
-14.69%
Onion(1kg)
$3.09NOK 28.70
$2.50NOK 23.21
23.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.50NOK 23.27
$2.82NOK 26.20
-11.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.81NOK 16.81
$1.83NOK 16.99
-1.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.37NOK 143
$15.10NOK 140
1.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.14NOK 178
$18.31NOK 170
4.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.63NOK 33.70
$3.33NOK 30.95
9.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13NOK 38.39
$3.99NOK 37.02
3.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Ulsteinvik
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.66NOK 43.31
$4.37NOK 40.61
6.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.1NOK 623
$74.2NOK 689
-9.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$14.97NOK 139
$10.27NOK 95.4
45.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.12NOK 19.70
$1.41NOK 13.06
50.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$99.8NOK 927
$46.03NOK 428
116.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.15NOK 19.96
$2.14NOK 19.90
0.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0KNOK 315.8K
$35.7KNOK 331.9K
-4.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8KNOK 304.4K
$38.6KNOK 358.4K
-15.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191NOK 1,778
$241NOK 2,238
-20.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.73NOK 397
$38.38NOK 357
11.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$81.9NOK 761
$55.1NOK 512
48.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.8NOK 519
$48.91NOK 454
14.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.64NOK 331
$35.72NOK 332
-0.22%
Cinema Ticket
$19.51NOK 181
$16.69NOK 155
16.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$318NOK 2,957
$285NOK 2,650
11.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.8KNOK 118.6K
$10.0KNOK 92.9K
27.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$119NOK 1,107
$94.3NOK 876
26.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.3NOK 542
$51.4NOK 477
13.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106NOK 981
$110NOK 1,018
-3.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$157NOK 1,460
$153NOK 1,424
2.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Ulsteinvik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604NOK 14.9K
$1,220NOK 11.3K
31.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,115NOK 10.4K
$897NOK 8,332
24.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,756NOK 25.6K
$1,846NOK 17.1K
49.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,738NOK 16.1K
$1,559NOK 14.5K
11.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,190NOK 57.5K
$5,240NOK 48.7K
18.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,435NOK 50.5K
$4,283NOK 39.8K
26.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,992NOK 46.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.51
4.38
2.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stavanger: May 30, 2026
Last update for Ulsteinvik: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Stavanger and $1,220 in Ulsteinvik. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $121 in Stavanger vs $103 in Ulsteinvik for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $472 vs $451 per month, with Ulsteinvik 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 Ulsteinvik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ulsteinvik cheaper than Stavanger?
Ulsteinvik is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 13% 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 $3,645 in Ulsteinvik 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 Ulsteinvik?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Stavanger versus $1,220 in Ulsteinvik. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Stavanger vs Ulsteinvik?
All in, you'll spend $2,744 per month in Stavanger versus $2,430 in Ulsteinvik – a 13% 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 Ulsteinvik runs roughly 11% less than in Stavanger. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $3,000 enough to cover costs in Stavanger or Ulsteinvik?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Ulsteinvik is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Stavanger or Ulsteinvik more family-friendly?
For families, Ulsteinvik 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 Ulsteinvik?
Safety-wise, Stavanger and Ulsteinvik 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 Ulsteinvik gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Stavanger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.