😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,179 in Stavanger versus $2,751 in Ulsteinvik.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,668 in Stavanger versus $4,113 in Ulsteinvik.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,158 in Stavanger versus $5,476 in Ulsteinvik.
🌍Living in Stavanger is roughly 16% more expensive than in Ulsteinvik, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stavanger131% above, Ulsteinvik100% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.10NOK 242
$20.97NOK 195
24.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100NOK 929
$114NOK 1,055
-11.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.98NOK 148
$13.88NOK 129
15.13%
Cappuccino
$6.53NOK 60.7
$4.96NOK 46.05
31.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.57NOK 51.7
$4.33NOK 40.22
28.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55NOK 42.21
$3.02NOK 28.06
50.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.62NOK 126
$11.05NOK 103
23.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.09NOK 112
$11.92NOK 111
1.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.49NOK 23.11
$2.49NOK 23.07
-
White Bread(500g)
$3.60NOK 33.46
$3.73NOK 34.67
-3.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.96NOK 36.73
$3.84NOK 35.64
3.13%
Eggs
$4.97NOK 46.18
$4.92NOK 45.66
1.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.64NOK 136
$13.33NOK 124
9.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$17.53NOK 163
$15.73NOK 146
11.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$35.75NOK 332
$30.44NOK 283
17.44%
Apples(1kg)
$3.70NOK 34.37
$3.49NOK 32.41
6.02%
Banana(1kg)
$2.86NOK 26.53
$2.75NOK 25.56
4.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.58NOK 33.20
$3.64NOK 33.82
-1.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.90NOK 45.45
$5.15NOK 47.84
-4.85%
Potato(1kg)
$2.60NOK 24.18
$2.68NOK 24.89
-2.99%
Onion(1kg)
$3.17NOK 29.42
$2.84NOK 26.41
11.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.90NOK 26.95
$3.09NOK 28.65
-6.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.31NOK 21.46
$2.60NOK 24.13
-11.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.65NOK 164
$18.16NOK 169
-2.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.17NOK 178
$16.85NOK 156
13.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.85NOK 35.74
$3.52NOK 32.71
9.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61NOK 42.76
$4.85NOK 45.01
-4.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Ulsteinvik
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.89NOK 45.43
$4.24NOK 39.41
15.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.1NOK 809
$85.1NOK 790
2.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.48NOK 60.1
$13.47NOK 125
-51.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.78NOK 16.56
$1.78NOK 16.55
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$105NOK 976
$72.3NOK 671
45.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32NOK 21.58
$2.40NOK 22.24
-3.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.7KNOK 452.4K
$45.7KNOK 423.8K
6.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.8KNOK 388.4K
$40.5KNOK 375.8K
3.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$257NOK 2,389
$273NOK 2,530
-5.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.59NOK 330
$28.09NOK 261
26.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$84.9NOK 788
$58.6NOK 544
44.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6NOK 489
$50.5NOK 469
4.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.90NOK 343
$39.37NOK 365
-6.27%
Cinema Ticket
$22.33NOK 207
$16.27NOK 151
37.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$325NOK 3,018
$246NOK 2,282
32.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.4KNOK 133.5K
$12.8KNOK 119.0K
12.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$126NOK 1,169
$93.7NOK 870
34.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.7NOK 564
$54.5NOK 506
11.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$155NOK 1,440
$127NOK 1,178
22.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$203NOK 1,886
$148NOK 1,376
37.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Ulsteinvik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,746NOK 16.2K
$1,329NOK 12.3K
31.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,387NOK 12.9K
$1,127NOK 10.5K
23.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,840NOK 26.4K
$1,777NOK 16.5K
59.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,044NOK 19.0K
$1,726NOK 16.0K
18.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,241NOK 57.9K
$6,426NOK 59.7K
-2.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,530NOK 51.3K
$4,719NOK 43.8K
17.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,111NOK 47.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.27
4.96
6.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stavanger: August 31, 2026
Last update for Ulsteinvik: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,746 in Stavanger and $1,329 in Ulsteinvik. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $100 in Stavanger vs $114 in Ulsteinvik. Groceries flip the comparison at $530 vs $500, with Ulsteinvik cheaper for home cooking.
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, 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 $4,126 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: $1,746 in Stavanger versus $1,329 in Ulsteinvik. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Stavanger and in Ulsteinvik?
All in, you'll spend $3,179 per month in Stavanger versus $2,751 in Ulsteinvik – 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 Ulsteinvik runs roughly 2% 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 in 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 16% less than in Stavanger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.