🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,040 in Steinkjer versus $2,744 in Stavanger.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,013 in Steinkjer versus $4,187 in Stavanger.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,985 in Steinkjer versus $5,629 in Stavanger.
🙂Living in Steinkjer costs roughly 26% less than in Stavanger, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Steinkjer52% above, Stavanger105% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Steinkjer
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.84NOK 212
$25.49NOK 237
-10.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.9NOK 510
$121NOK 1,122
-54.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.05NOK 121
$15.31NOK 142
-14.76%
Cappuccino
$4.64NOK 43.10
$5.17NOK 48.03
-10.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64NOK 33.80
$4.04NOK 37.57
-9.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87NOK 26.70
$3.47NOK 32.20
-17.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.01NOK 93.0
$11.15NOK 104
-10.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.13NOK 56.9
$10.27NOK 95.4
-40.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Steinkjer
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.96NOK 18.24
$2.45NOK 22.73
-20.00%
White Bread(500g)
$3.63NOK 33.73
$3.02NOK 28.03
20.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.07NOK 28.52
$4.56NOK 42.38
-32.68%
Eggs
$4.64NOK 43.13
$4.46NOK 41.46
4.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.14NOK 94.2
$13.11NOK 122
-22.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.08NOK 140
$16.72NOK 155
-9.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.06NOK 261
$27.15NOK 252
3.35%
Apples(1kg)
$3.93NOK 36.53
$3.58NOK 33.26
9.78%
Banana(1kg)
$2.25NOK 20.88
$2.56NOK 23.80
-12.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.57NOK 23.92
$2.98NOK 27.72
-13.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.08NOK 47.16
$4.61NOK 42.83
10.20%
Potato(1kg)
$2.03NOK 18.90
$2.09NOK 19.42
-2.87%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06NOK 19.18
$3.09NOK 28.70
-33.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.51NOK 23.35
$2.50NOK 23.27
0.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.40NOK 22.25
$1.81NOK 16.81
32.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.41NOK 134
$15.37NOK 143
-6.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.92NOK 176
$19.14NOK 178
-1.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.52NOK 32.66
$3.63NOK 33.70
-3.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.81NOK 44.68
$4.13NOK 38.39
16.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Steinkjer
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.01NOK 37.21
$4.66NOK 43.31
-13.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.3NOK 691
$67.1NOK 623
10.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$14.99NOK 139
$14.97NOK 139
0.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.23NOK 20.73
$2.12NOK 19.70
5.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$89.5NOK 831
$99.8NOK 927
-10.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.98NOK 18.35
$2.15NOK 19.96
-7.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8KNOK 295.3K
$34.0KNOK 315.8K
-6.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.7KNOK 396.6K
$32.8KNOK 304.4K
30.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Steinkjer
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150NOK 1,397
$191NOK 1,778
-21.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.78NOK 397
$42.73NOK 397
0.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.6NOK 470
$81.9NOK 761
-38.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Steinkjer
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.84NOK 286
$55.8NOK 519
-44.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.02NOK 335
$35.64NOK 331
1.07%
Cinema Ticket
$15.26NOK 142
$19.51NOK 181
-21.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Steinkjer
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$329NOK 3,060
$318NOK 2,957
3.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,468NOK 78.7K
$12.8KNOK 118.6K
-33.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Steinkjer
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.9NOK 473
$119NOK 1,107
-57.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.97NOK 278
$58.3NOK 542
-48.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.0NOK 567
$106NOK 981
-42.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129NOK 1,198
$157NOK 1,460
-17.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Steinkjer
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022NOK 9,499
$1,604NOK 14.9K
-36.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$648NOK 6,020
$1,115NOK 10.4K
-41.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,530NOK 14.2K
$2,756NOK 25.6K
-44.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$999NOK 9,278
$1,738NOK 16.1K
-42.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,278NOK 49.0K
$6,190NOK 57.5K
-14.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,870NOK 36.0K
$5,435NOK 50.5K
-28.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Steinkjer
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$4,992NOK 46.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.5
4.51
-66.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Steinkjer: June 1, 2026
Last update for Stavanger: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Steinkjer and $1,604 in Stavanger. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $55.0 in Steinkjer vs $121 in Stavanger for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $460 vs $472 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
Steinkjer vs Stavanger: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stavanger cheaper than Steinkjer?
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 $3,060 in Steinkjer and $4,117 in Stavanger 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 Steinkjer and Stavanger?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Steinkjer versus $1,604 in Stavanger. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Steinkjer vs Stavanger?
All in, you'll spend $2,040 per month in Steinkjer versus $2,744 in Stavanger – 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 Steinkjer or Stavanger?
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 Steinkjer or Stavanger 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, Steinkjer or Stavanger?
Safety-wise, Steinkjer and Stavanger 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.