Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tromso and Stavanger

For one person, living costs are similar in Tromso and in Stavanger: $3,272 and $3,248 a month, rent and utilities included.

Tromso, Norway
Stavanger, Norway
Tromso
🇳🇴 Norway
$3,272
/mo nomad
Stavanger
🇳🇴 Norway
$3,248
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tromso and in Stavanger

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tromso and in Stavanger actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,272 in Tromso versus $3,248 in Stavanger.

  • Tromso $3,272
  • Stavanger $3,248

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,928 in Tromso versus $4,717 in Stavanger.

  • Tromso $4,928
  • Stavanger $4,717

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,584 in Tromso versus $6,186 in Stavanger.

  • Tromso $6,584
  • Stavanger $6,186

Monthly costs are close between Tromso and Stavanger; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Tromso 140% above, Stavanger 139% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tromso
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$34.84 NOK 324
$24.67 NOK 229
41.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$107 NOK 991
$98.0 NOK 910
8.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.13 NOK 150
$16.23 NOK 151
-0.62%
Cappuccino
$6.87 NOK 63.8
$6.22 NOK 57.7
10.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.02 NOK 46.63
$5.89 NOK 54.7
-14.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 NOK 35.27
$4.53 NOK 42.07
-16.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.79 NOK 119
$13.76 NOK 128
-7.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$13.94 NOK 130
$10.62 NOK 98.7
31.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tromso
Stavanger
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.61 NOK 24.24
$2.53 NOK 23.48
3.16%
White Bread (500g)
$3.47 NOK 32.28
$3.52 NOK 32.69
-1.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.95 NOK 36.73
$3.98 NOK 36.94
-0.75%
Eggs
$5.42 NOK 50.3
$4.75 NOK 44.17
14.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.93 NOK 111
$15.22 NOK 141
-21.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.18 NOK 141
$17.54 NOK 163
-13.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$42.51 NOK 395
$36.16 NOK 336
17.56%
Apples (1kg)
$4.23 NOK 39.26
$3.53 NOK 32.81
19.83%
Banana (1kg)
$3.03 NOK 28.17
$2.86 NOK 26.55
5.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.42 NOK 50.4
$3.62 NOK 33.62
49.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.08 NOK 56.5
$4.93 NOK 45.80
23.33%
Potato (1kg)
$3.53 NOK 32.79
$2.55 NOK 23.73
38.43%
Onion (1kg)
$4.89 NOK 45.43
$3.11 NOK 28.91
57.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.97 NOK 27.61
$2.90 NOK 26.91
2.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 NOK 19.85
$2.33 NOK 21.66
-8.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$16.48 NOK 153
$18.27 NOK 170
-9.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.78 NOK 165
$18.94 NOK 176
-6.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.04 NOK 37.56
$3.80 NOK 35.34
6.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.95 NOK 45.97
$4.51 NOK 41.90
9.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Tromso
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.07 NOK 47.12
$4.75 NOK 44.09
6.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.8 NOK 630
$85.4 NOK 794
-20.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$16.35 NOK 152
$6.27 NOK 58.3
160.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.16 NOK 20.08
$1.80 NOK 16.73
20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$57.4 NOK 533
$106 NOK 983
-45.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.38 NOK 22.08
$2.46 NOK 22.90
-3.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.0K NOK 464.6K
$49.1K NOK 456.2K
1.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.5K NOK 413.0K
$42.2K NOK 392.2K
5.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tromso
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$266 NOK 2,467
$260 NOK 2,412
2.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.7 NOK 471
$33.92 NOK 315
49.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.0 NOK 789
$79.9 NOK 742
6.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tromso
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.89 NOK 454
$52.0 NOK 483
-5.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$48.46 NOK 450
$37.64 NOK 350
28.75%
Cinema Ticket
$17.45 NOK 162
$22.16 NOK 206
-21.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tromso
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$324 NOK 3,013
$325 NOK 3,023
-0.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,850 NOK 72.9K
$14.3K NOK 133.2K
-45.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tromso
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.8 NOK 639
$130 NOK 1,205
-46.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.13 NOK 326
$61.9 NOK 575
-43.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$153 NOK 1,423
$151 NOK 1,401
1.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$166 NOK 1,539
$206 NOK 1,911
-19.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tromso
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,780 NOK 16.5K
$1,805 NOK 16.8K
-1.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,392 NOK 12.9K
$1,429 NOK 13.3K
-2.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,215 NOK 29.9K
$2,895 NOK 26.9K
11.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,341 NOK 21.8K
$2,145 NOK 19.9K
9.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,342 NOK 77.5K
$6,468 NOK 60.1K
28.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,634 NOK 52.3K
$5,430 NOK 50.4K
3.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tromso
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,302 NOK 40.0K
$5,086 NOK 47.3K
-15.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.01
5.24
-4.39%

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

Last update for Tromso: October 26, 2026

Last update for Stavanger: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tromso
$1.4K
Stavanger
$1.4K 2.6% $37
Groceries & Markets
Tromso
$553
Stavanger
$530 4% $22
Eating Out
Tromso
$537
Stavanger
$452 15.7% $84
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tromso
$401
Stavanger
$373 6.9% $28
Clothing & Footwear
Tromso
$190
Stavanger
$247 29.7% $56
Getting Around
Tromso
$115
Stavanger
$120 3.9% $4.5
Sport & Entertainment
Tromso
$84
Stavanger
$96 14.9% $12

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,780 in Tromso and $1,805 in Stavanger. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Stavanger pays 18% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $107 in Tromso vs $98 in Stavanger for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $553 vs $530 per month, with Stavanger cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇳🇴 Tromso
🇳🇴 Stavanger
🕒 Local time
23:54 11:54 PM
23:54 11:54 PM
Same time as Tromso
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
78,908
149,330
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to NOK – Norwegian Krone Converter

Norwegian Krone exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 9.29 NOK (1 NOK = 0.108 USD). 1 EUR = 10.34 NOK (100 NOK = 9.67 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tromso Stavanger 1,340 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Tromso
  • Stavanger

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Tromso vs Stavanger: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Where can you earn more: Tromso or Stavanger?
On paper, salaries run 15% lower in Tromso. 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 Tromso and Stavanger?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,780 in Tromso versus $1,805 in Stavanger. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $324 in Tromso versus $325 in Stavanger. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Tromso or in Stavanger?
Dining out is cheaper in Stavanger – a meal for two runs $98 versus $107 in Tromso. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Tromso or in Stavanger?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Stavanger is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is it better to live in Tromso or in Stavanger?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Tromso or Stavanger?
Safety-wise, Tromso and Stavanger are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

Tromso vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?