🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,009 in Trondheim versus $3,202 in Stavanger.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,335 in Trondheim versus $4,642 in Stavanger.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,661 in Trondheim versus $6,082 in Stavanger.
🌍Living in Trondheim costs roughly 6% less than in Stavanger, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Trondheim120% above, Stavanger134% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Trondheim
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.98NOK 198
$25.74NOK 243
-18.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$110NOK 1,036
$97.4NOK 917
12.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.84NOK 149
$16.15NOK 152
-1.92%
Cappuccino
$5.62NOK 52.9
$6.37NOK 60.0
-11.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.77NOK 54.4
$5.34NOK 50.3
8.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37NOK 41.15
$4.43NOK 41.75
-1.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.62NOK 128
$13.88NOK 131
-1.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$13.21NOK 124
$12.16NOK 115
8.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trondheim
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.59NOK 24.38
$2.50NOK 23.55
3.60%
White Bread(500g)
$3.55NOK 33.49
$3.60NOK 33.96
-1.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.90NOK 36.79
$3.96NOK 37.33
-1.52%
Eggs
$4.88NOK 46.01
$5.05NOK 47.55
-3.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49NOK 127
$15.10NOK 142
-10.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.46NOK 155
$17.22NOK 162
-4.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$32.40NOK 305
$35.93NOK 339
-9.82%
Apples(1kg)
$3.89NOK 36.66
$3.71NOK 34.97
4.85%
Banana(1kg)
$2.94NOK 27.67
$2.78NOK 26.20
5.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.00NOK 37.69
$3.49NOK 32.84
14.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.77NOK 54.3
$5.04NOK 47.53
14.48%
Potato(1kg)
$2.89NOK 27.23
$2.51NOK 23.69
15.14%
Onion(1kg)
$3.14NOK 29.57
$3.12NOK 29.43
0.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.87NOK 27.07
$2.91NOK 27.45
-1.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.25NOK 21.23
$2.42NOK 22.84
-7.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.01NOK 170
$17.89NOK 169
0.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.22NOK 181
$18.83NOK 177
2.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.54NOK 33.33
$3.94NOK 37.16
-10.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69NOK 44.19
$4.51NOK 42.46
3.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Trondheim
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.88NOK 46.00
$4.82NOK 45.41
1.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$102NOK 963
$87.4NOK 824
16.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.49NOK 89.4
$6.37NOK 60.0
48.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.61NOK 15.15
$1.72NOK 16.18
-6.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.3NOK 577
$106NOK 1,003
-42.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.38NOK 22.41
$2.25NOK 21.21
5.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$47.1KNOK 444.0K
$49.6KNOK 467.6K
-5.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.4KNOK 437.1K
$42.3KNOK 398.5K
9.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trondheim
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$282NOK 2,655
$251NOK 2,362
12.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.46NOK 344
$35.70NOK 336
2.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.6NOK 787
$83.6NOK 788
-0.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trondheim
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.16NOK 416
$52.5NOK 495
-15.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.28NOK 389
$37.19NOK 350
11.00%
Cinema Ticket
$21.08NOK 199
$22.57NOK 213
-6.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trondheim
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304NOK 2,861
$330NOK 3,112
-8.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,455NOK 42.0K
$14.5KNOK 136.6K
-69.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trondheim
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110NOK 1,040
$131NOK 1,230
-15.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.7NOK 496
$60.9NOK 574
-13.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124NOK 1,172
$158NOK 1,492
-21.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158NOK 1,485
$210NOK 1,978
-24.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trondheim
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,496NOK 14.1K
$1,708NOK 16.1K
-12.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236NOK 11.6K
$1,391NOK 13.1K
-11.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,253NOK 21.2K
$2,794NOK 26.3K
-19.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,690NOK 15.9K
$2,084NOK 19.6K
-18.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,555NOK 61.8K
$6,179NOK 58.2K
6.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,105NOK 48.1K
$5,479NOK 51.6K
-6.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trondheim
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,338NOK 40.9K
$5,006NOK 47.2K
-13.35%
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 Trondheim: September 12, 2026
Last update for Stavanger: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,496 in Trondheim and $1,708 in Stavanger. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stavanger pays 15% 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: $110 in Trondheim vs $97.0 in Stavanger. Groceries flip the comparison at $517 vs $532, with Trondheim cheaper for home cooking.
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
Trondheim vs Stavanger: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stavanger cheaper than Trondheim?
Trondheim is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Trondheim or Stavanger?
On paper, salaries run 15% lower in Stavanger. 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 Trondheim and Stavanger?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,496 in Trondheim versus $1,708 in Stavanger. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Trondheim and in Stavanger?
All in, you'll spend $3,009 per month in Trondheim versus $3,202 in Stavanger – a 6% 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 Trondheim runs roughly 17% less than in Stavanger. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $3,000 enough to cover costs in Trondheim or in Stavanger?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Trondheim is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Trondheim or Stavanger more family-friendly?
For families, Trondheim 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, Trondheim or Stavanger?
Safety-wise, Trondheim 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 Trondheim gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Stavanger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.