🙂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: Tonsberg90% above, Stavanger105% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tonsberg
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.74NOK 239
$25.17NOK 234
2.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101NOK 940
$121NOK 1,128
-16.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.93NOK 130
$15.07NOK 140
-7.56%
Cappuccino
$4.88NOK 45.42
$4.98NOK 46.28
-2.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.42NOK 50.4
$4.03NOK 37.46
34.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.99NOK 46.45
$3.35NOK 31.18
48.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.14NOK 94.3
$11.18NOK 104
-9.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.39NOK 87.4
$10.23NOK 95.2
-8.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tonsberg
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.28NOK 21.18
$2.37NOK 22.02
-3.80%
White Bread(500g)
$3.26NOK 30.33
$3.03NOK 28.22
7.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.30NOK 30.71
$4.48NOK 41.64
-26.34%
Eggs
$4.27NOK 39.74
$4.35NOK 40.46
-1.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.26NOK 114
$13.27NOK 123
-7.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.50NOK 135
$16.31NOK 152
-11.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.42NOK 264
$27.77NOK 258
2.34%
Apples(1kg)
$3.61NOK 33.55
$3.54NOK 32.92
1.98%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45NOK 22.83
$2.61NOK 24.32
-6.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.28NOK 30.46
$3.00NOK 27.90
9.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.43NOK 41.20
$4.66NOK 43.33
-4.94%
Potato(1kg)
$2.39NOK 22.21
$2.12NOK 19.73
12.74%
Onion(1kg)
$2.55NOK 23.69
$2.97NOK 27.59
-14.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.88NOK 26.75
$2.50NOK 23.27
15.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.86NOK 17.28
$1.76NOK 16.39
5.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.24NOK 142
$14.97NOK 139
1.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.36NOK 152
$18.93NOK 176
-13.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.35NOK 31.15
$3.62NOK 33.68
-7.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16NOK 38.65
$3.98NOK 37.00
4.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Tonsberg
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.29NOK 39.88
$4.45NOK 41.34
-3.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.0NOK 679
$67.7NOK 630
7.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.28NOK 95.6
$15.12NOK 141
-32.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.40NOK 12.97
$2.17NOK 20.17
-35.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$47.03NOK 437
$101NOK 942
-53.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.98NOK 18.41
$2.14NOK 19.91
-7.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1KNOK 326.8K
$34.2KNOK 317.7K
2.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.4KNOK 356.7K
$32.6KNOK 303.0K
17.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tonsberg
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$239NOK 2,226
$193NOK 1,796
23.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.05NOK 354
$42.05NOK 391
-9.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.8NOK 519
$82.6NOK 768
-32.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tonsberg
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.84NOK 464
$56.6NOK 527
-11.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.95NOK 334
$36.06NOK 335
-0.31%
Cinema Ticket
$16.68NOK 155
$19.57NOK 182
-14.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tonsberg
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$286NOK 2,659
$322NOK 2,992
-11.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,999NOK 93.0K
$13.2KNOK 122.8K
-24.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tonsberg
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.9NOK 882
$120NOK 1,116
-20.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.7NOK 490
$59.8NOK 556
-11.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108NOK 1,005
$105NOK 973
3.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152NOK 1,413
$158NOK 1,473
-4.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tonsberg
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,210NOK 11.3K
$1,639NOK 15.2K
-26.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$924NOK 8,595
$1,140NOK 10.6K
-18.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,426NOK 13.3K
$2,764NOK 25.7K
-48.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,224NOK 11.4K
$1,791NOK 16.7K
-31.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,488NOK 51.0K
$5,956NOK 55.4K
-7.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,639NOK 43.1K
$5,337NOK 49.6K
-13.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tonsberg
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,643NOK 43.2K
$4,925NOK 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.