Cost of Living Comparison Between Tonsberg and Stavanger Cost of Living Comparison Between Tonsberg and Stavanger

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,542 in Tonsberg versus $2,741 in Stavanger.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,649 in Tonsberg versus $4,135 in Stavanger.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,756 in Tonsberg versus $5,530 in Stavanger.

Living in Tonsberg costs roughly 7% less than in Stavanger, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Tonsberg 90% above, Stavanger 105% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tonsberg
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.74 NOK 239
$25.17 NOK 234
2.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 NOK 940
$121 NOK 1,128
-16.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.93 NOK 130
$15.07 NOK 140
-7.56%
Cappuccino
$4.88 NOK 45.42
$4.98 NOK 46.28
-2.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.42 NOK 50.4
$4.03 NOK 37.46
34.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.99 NOK 46.45
$3.35 NOK 31.18
48.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$10.14 NOK 94.3
$11.18 NOK 104
-9.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.39 NOK 87.4
$10.23 NOK 95.2
-8.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tonsberg
Stavanger
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.28 NOK 21.18
$2.37 NOK 22.02
-3.80%
White Bread (500g)
$3.26 NOK 30.33
$3.03 NOK 28.22
7.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.30 NOK 30.71
$4.48 NOK 41.64
-26.34%
Eggs
$4.27 NOK 39.74
$4.35 NOK 40.46
-1.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.26 NOK 114
$13.27 NOK 123
-7.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.50 NOK 135
$16.31 NOK 152
-11.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$28.42 NOK 264
$27.77 NOK 258
2.34%
Apples (1kg)
$3.61 NOK 33.55
$3.54 NOK 32.92
1.98%
Banana (1kg)
$2.45 NOK 22.83
$2.61 NOK 24.32
-6.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.28 NOK 30.46
$3.00 NOK 27.90
9.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.43 NOK 41.20
$4.66 NOK 43.33
-4.94%
Potato (1kg)
$2.39 NOK 22.21
$2.12 NOK 19.73
12.74%
Onion (1kg)
$2.55 NOK 23.69
$2.97 NOK 27.59
-14.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.88 NOK 26.75
$2.50 NOK 23.27
15.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 NOK 17.28
$1.76 NOK 16.39
5.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.24 NOK 142
$14.97 NOK 139
1.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.36 NOK 152
$18.93 NOK 176
-13.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.35 NOK 31.15
$3.62 NOK 33.68
-7.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16 NOK 38.65
$3.98 NOK 37.00
4.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Tonsberg
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.29 NOK 39.88
$4.45 NOK 41.34
-3.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.0 NOK 679
$67.7 NOK 630
7.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.28 NOK 95.6
$15.12 NOK 141
-32.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.40 NOK 12.97
$2.17 NOK 20.17
-35.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$47.03 NOK 437
$101 NOK 942
-53.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.98 NOK 18.41
$2.14 NOK 19.91
-7.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K NOK 326.8K
$34.2K NOK 317.7K
2.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.4K NOK 356.7K
$32.6K NOK 303.0K
17.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tonsberg
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$239 NOK 2,226
$193 NOK 1,796
23.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.05 NOK 354
$42.05 NOK 391
-9.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.8 NOK 519
$82.6 NOK 768
-32.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tonsberg
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.84 NOK 464
$56.6 NOK 527
-11.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.95 NOK 334
$36.06 NOK 335
-0.31%
Cinema Ticket
$16.68 NOK 155
$19.57 NOK 182
-14.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tonsberg
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$286 NOK 2,659
$322 NOK 2,992
-11.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,999 NOK 93.0K
$13.2K NOK 122.8K
-24.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tonsberg
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.9 NOK 882
$120 NOK 1,116
-20.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.7 NOK 490
$59.8 NOK 556
-11.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 NOK 1,005
$105 NOK 973
3.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152 NOK 1,413
$158 NOK 1,473
-4.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tonsberg
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,210 NOK 11.3K
$1,639 NOK 15.2K
-26.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$924 NOK 8,595
$1,140 NOK 10.6K
-18.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,426 NOK 13.3K
$2,764 NOK 25.7K
-48.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,224 NOK 11.4K
$1,791 NOK 16.7K
-31.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,488 NOK 51.0K
$5,956 NOK 55.4K
-7.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,639 NOK 43.1K
$5,337 NOK 49.6K
-13.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tonsberg
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,643 NOK 43.2K
$4,925 NOK 45.8K
-5.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.38
4.51
-2.88%

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

Last update for Tonsberg: April 22, 2026

Last update for Stavanger: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,210 in Tonsberg and $1,639 in Stavanger. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Stavanger pays 6% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $101 in Tonsberg vs $121 in Stavanger for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $452 vs $470 per month, with Tonsberg 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
Tonsberg vs Stavanger: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stavanger cheaper than Tonsberg?
Tonsberg is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tonsberg or Stavanger?
On paper, Stavanger earns 6% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Tonsberg and Stavanger?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,210 in Tonsberg versus $1,639 in Stavanger. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Tonsberg vs Stavanger?
All in, you'll spend $2,542 per month in Tonsberg versus $2,741 in Stavanger – a 8% 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 Tonsberg runs roughly 8% less than in Stavanger. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Tonsberg or Stavanger?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Tonsberg is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Tonsberg or Stavanger more family-friendly?
For families, Tonsberg 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, Tonsberg or Stavanger?
Safety-wise, Tonsberg 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 Tonsberg gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Stavanger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Tonsberg vs other spots: cost of living compared

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