Cost of Living Comparison Between Stillwater, MN and Sandefjord Cost of Living Comparison Between Stillwater, MN and Sandefjord

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,876 per month in Stillwater, MN vs $2,391 in Sandefjord, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,012 per month in Stillwater, MN vs $3,522 in Sandefjord, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,147 per month in Stillwater, MN vs $4,654 in Sandefjord, rent included.

Stillwater, MN costs about 20% more than Sandefjord, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Stillwater, MN and Sandefjord sit above the global median – Stillwater, MN by 115%, Sandefjord by 78%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.65 $17.65

$19.02 NOK 177

-7.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.6 $80.6

$103 NOK 953

-21.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.11 $12.11

$13.53 NOK 126

-10.50%

Cappuccino

$5.65 $5.65

$5.03 NOK 46.71

12.33%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.47 NOK 22.96

-20.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.13 NOK 19.83

4.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.23 $6.23

$9.37 NOK 87.1

-33.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.09 $7.09

$10.15 NOK 94.3

-30.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$2.20 NOK 20.41

-57.73%

White Bread (500g)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.02 NOK 28.06

18.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$2.80 NOK 26.02

96.79%

Eggs

$3.69 $3.69

$3.69 NOK 34.31

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.09 $11.09

$11.51 NOK 107

-3.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.17 $14.17

$16.60 NOK 154

-14.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.34 $16.34

$35.29 NOK 328

-53.70%

Apples (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$2.71 NOK 25.16

140.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.23 NOK 20.69

-17.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.86 $6.86

$2.35 NOK 21.80

191.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.67 $5.67

$3.67 NOK 34.11

54.50%

Potato (1kg)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.11 NOK 19.57

43.60%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.22 NOK 20.62

71.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.64 NOK 24.56

-2.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.90 NOK 17.61

22.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.60 $7.60

$14.49 NOK 135

-47.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.73 $15.73

$13.56 NOK 126

16.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$3.70 NOK 34.41

-41.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.94 $4.94

$4.23 NOK 39.33

16.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$4.95 NOK 45.96

-59.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$82.2 $82.2

$71.8 NOK 667

14.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.79 $4.79

$10.06 NOK 93.5

-52.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.40 NOK 13.01

21.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.16 $24.16

$63.4 NOK 589

-61.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$2.21 NOK 20.49

-61.09%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.3K $30.3K

$35.6K NOK 330.9K

-15.03%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.7K $21.7K

$35.8K NOK 332.4K

-39.25%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$132 $132

$220 NOK 2,039

-40.03%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$51.4 $51.4

$42.75 NOK 397

20.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.0 $68.0

$38.61 NOK 359

76.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 $42.15

$47.95 NOK 445

-12.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.33 NOK 328

Cinema Ticket

$15.25 $15.25

$12.87 NOK 120

18.49%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,608 $1,608

$287 NOK 2,662

461.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.7K $26.7K

$4,768 NOK 44.3K

460.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.8 $63.8

$103 NOK 954

-37.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.11 $43.11

$46.87 NOK 435

-8.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.8 $88.8

$99.9 NOK 928

-11.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.3 $50.3

$140 NOK 1,305

-64.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,471 $1,471

$1,205 NOK 11.2K

22.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,622 $1,622

$970 NOK 9,011

67.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,130 $2,130

$1,447 NOK 13.4K

47.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,246 $2,246

$1,256 NOK 11.7K

78.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,008 $3,008

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,917 $2,917

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,439 $6,439

$4,123 NOK 38.3K

56.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

4.38

48.63%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Stillwater, MN: May 30, 2026

Last update for Sandefjord: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,471 in Stillwater, MN versus $1,205 in Sandefjord. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 56% higher in Stillwater, MN, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Stillwater, MN versus $103 in Sandefjord. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $441 vs $454 – making Stillwater, MN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Stillwater, MN vs Sandefjord: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Stillwater, MN costs about 20% more than Sandefjord, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,313 per month in Stillwater, MN and $3,587 in Sandefjord. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sandefjord, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 15% less in Sandefjord. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,608 per month in Stillwater, MN and $287 in Sandefjord. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,876 in Stillwater, MN and $2,391 in Sandefjord. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Sandefjord – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Sandefjord. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Stillwater, MN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.