Cost of Living Comparison Between Trondheim and Stavanger Cost of Living Comparison Between Trondheim and Stavanger

Monthly Cost of Living

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: Trondheim 120% above, Stavanger 134% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Trondheim
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.98 NOK 198
$25.74 NOK 243
-18.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$110 NOK 1,036
$97.4 NOK 917
12.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.84 NOK 149
$16.15 NOK 152
-1.92%
Cappuccino
$5.62 NOK 52.9
$6.37 NOK 60.0
-11.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.77 NOK 54.4
$5.34 NOK 50.3
8.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 NOK 41.15
$4.43 NOK 41.75
-1.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$13.62 NOK 128
$13.88 NOK 131
-1.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$13.21 NOK 124
$12.16 NOK 115
8.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trondheim
Stavanger
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.59 NOK 24.38
$2.50 NOK 23.55
3.60%
White Bread (500g)
$3.55 NOK 33.49
$3.60 NOK 33.96
-1.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.90 NOK 36.79
$3.96 NOK 37.33
-1.52%
Eggs
$4.88 NOK 46.01
$5.05 NOK 47.55
-3.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 NOK 127
$15.10 NOK 142
-10.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.46 NOK 155
$17.22 NOK 162
-4.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$32.40 NOK 305
$35.93 NOK 339
-9.82%
Apples (1kg)
$3.89 NOK 36.66
$3.71 NOK 34.97
4.85%
Banana (1kg)
$2.94 NOK 27.67
$2.78 NOK 26.20
5.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.00 NOK 37.69
$3.49 NOK 32.84
14.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.77 NOK 54.3
$5.04 NOK 47.53
14.48%
Potato (1kg)
$2.89 NOK 27.23
$2.51 NOK 23.69
15.14%
Onion (1kg)
$3.14 NOK 29.57
$3.12 NOK 29.43
0.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.87 NOK 27.07
$2.91 NOK 27.45
-1.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.25 NOK 21.23
$2.42 NOK 22.84
-7.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.01 NOK 170
$17.89 NOK 169
0.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.22 NOK 181
$18.83 NOK 177
2.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.54 NOK 33.33
$3.94 NOK 37.16
-10.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69 NOK 44.19
$4.51 NOK 42.46
3.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Trondheim
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.88 NOK 46.00
$4.82 NOK 45.41
1.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$102 NOK 963
$87.4 NOK 824
16.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$9.49 NOK 89.4
$6.37 NOK 60.0
48.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.61 NOK 15.15
$1.72 NOK 16.18
-6.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$61.3 NOK 577
$106 NOK 1,003
-42.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.38 NOK 22.41
$2.25 NOK 21.21
5.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$47.1K NOK 444.0K
$49.6K NOK 467.6K
-5.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.4K NOK 437.1K
$42.3K NOK 398.5K
9.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trondheim
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$282 NOK 2,655
$251 NOK 2,362
12.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.46 NOK 344
$35.70 NOK 336
2.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.6 NOK 787
$83.6 NOK 788
-0.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trondheim
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.16 NOK 416
$52.5 NOK 495
-15.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.28 NOK 389
$37.19 NOK 350
11.00%
Cinema Ticket
$21.08 NOK 199
$22.57 NOK 213
-6.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trondheim
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 NOK 2,861
$330 NOK 3,112
-8.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,455 NOK 42.0K
$14.5K NOK 136.6K
-69.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trondheim
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110 NOK 1,040
$131 NOK 1,230
-15.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.7 NOK 496
$60.9 NOK 574
-13.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$124 NOK 1,172
$158 NOK 1,492
-21.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158 NOK 1,485
$210 NOK 1,978
-24.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trondheim
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,496 NOK 14.1K
$1,708 NOK 16.1K
-12.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,236 NOK 11.6K
$1,391 NOK 13.1K
-11.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,253 NOK 21.2K
$2,794 NOK 26.3K
-19.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,690 NOK 15.9K
$2,084 NOK 19.6K
-18.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,555 NOK 61.8K
$6,179 NOK 58.2K
6.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,105 NOK 48.1K
$5,479 NOK 51.6K
-6.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trondheim
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,338 NOK 40.9K
$5,006 NOK 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.

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