🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,748 in Steinkjer versus $3,179 in Stavanger.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,954 in Steinkjer versus $4,668 in Stavanger.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,161 in Steinkjer versus $6,158 in Stavanger.
🌍Living in Steinkjer costs roughly 14% less than in Stavanger, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Steinkjer100% above, Stavanger131% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Steinkjer
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.44NOK 199
$26.10NOK 242
-17.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.4NOK 551
$100NOK 929
-40.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16NOK 131
$15.98NOK 148
-11.39%
Cappuccino
$4.96NOK 46.07
$6.53NOK 60.7
-24.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74NOK 53.3
$5.57NOK 51.7
3.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.23NOK 39.25
$4.55NOK 42.21
-7.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.62NOK 98.6
$13.62NOK 126
-22.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.55NOK 60.8
$12.09NOK 112
-45.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Steinkjer
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.59NOK 24.08
$2.49NOK 23.11
4.02%
White Bread(500g)
$3.56NOK 33.06
$3.60NOK 33.46
-1.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.88NOK 35.99
$3.96NOK 36.73
-2.02%
Eggs
$4.85NOK 45.01
$4.97NOK 46.18
-2.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.50NOK 125
$14.64NOK 136
-7.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.65NOK 155
$17.53NOK 163
-5.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$29.88NOK 277
$35.75NOK 332
-16.42%
Apples(1kg)
$4.05NOK 37.56
$3.70NOK 34.37
9.46%
Banana(1kg)
$2.92NOK 27.11
$2.86NOK 26.53
2.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.94NOK 36.58
$3.58NOK 33.20
10.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.69NOK 52.8
$4.90NOK 45.45
16.12%
Potato(1kg)
$2.95NOK 27.36
$2.60NOK 24.18
13.46%
Onion(1kg)
$3.05NOK 28.35
$3.17NOK 29.42
-3.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.94NOK 27.29
$2.90NOK 26.95
1.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.26NOK 21.02
$2.31NOK 21.46
-2.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.78NOK 165
$17.65NOK 164
0.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.66NOK 173
$19.17NOK 178
-2.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.67NOK 34.11
$3.85NOK 35.74
-4.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53NOK 42.06
$4.61NOK 42.76
-1.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Steinkjer
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.31NOK 40.05
$4.89NOK 45.43
-11.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.0NOK 808
$87.1NOK 809
-0.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.58NOK 89.0
$6.48NOK 60.1
47.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.67NOK 15.55
$1.78NOK 16.56
-6.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.8NOK 574
$105NOK 976
-41.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.34NOK 21.72
$2.32NOK 21.58
0.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.0KNOK 426.8K
$48.7KNOK 452.4K
-5.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.9KNOK 426.2K
$41.8KNOK 388.4K
9.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Steinkjer
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$276NOK 2,564
$257NOK 2,389
7.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.55NOK 339
$35.59NOK 330
2.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.1NOK 772
$84.9NOK 788
-2.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Steinkjer
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.6NOK 498
$52.6NOK 489
1.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$42.75NOK 397
$36.90NOK 343
15.85%
Cinema Ticket
$16.01NOK 149
$22.33NOK 207
-28.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Steinkjer
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303NOK 2,814
$325NOK 3,018
-6.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,430NOK 41.1K
$14.4KNOK 133.5K
-69.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Steinkjer
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110NOK 1,017
$126NOK 1,169
-13.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.0NOK 473
$60.7NOK 564
-16.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$122NOK 1,132
$155NOK 1,440
-21.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$162NOK 1,503
$203NOK 1,886
-20.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Steinkjer
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,247NOK 11.6K
$1,746NOK 16.2K
-28.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,129NOK 10.5K
$1,387NOK 12.9K
-18.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,832NOK 17.0K
$2,840NOK 26.4K
-35.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,898NOK 17.6K
$2,044NOK 19.0K
-7.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,007NOK 55.8K
$6,241NOK 57.9K
-3.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,779NOK 35.1K
$5,530NOK 51.3K
-31.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Steinkjer
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$5,111NOK 47.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.32
5.27
0.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Steinkjer: September 1, 2026
Last update for Stavanger: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,247 in Steinkjer and $1,746 in Stavanger. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $59.0 in Steinkjer vs $100 in Stavanger for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $510 vs $530 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 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 $4,122 in Steinkjer and $4,768 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: $1,247 in Steinkjer versus $1,746 in Stavanger. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Steinkjer and in Stavanger?
All in, you'll spend $2,748 per month in Steinkjer versus $3,179 in Stavanger – 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 Steinkjer or in Stavanger?
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 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 16% less than in Stavanger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.