You’ve probably heard before that the cost of living in Norway is very high. We will not pretend – it’s true. At a certain moment, the level of food prices in this country was almost 50% higher than the EU average. In order to prepare you for this price shock, we have prepared a list of the most important costs, which will probably not be missed by most emigrants who are starting their adventure in Norway. Remember that the first expenses will pay off quickly – fortunately, wages are proportional to the prices in stores. Read more about costs of living in Norway.
Earnings in Norway
According to statistics, immigrants earn on average a little less, i.e. about NOK 40 000 (EUR 4000). Below you can see the average monthly gross earnings in Norway in the most popular industries:
| Position | Average monthly gross earnings |
| Welder | NOK 39 630 ( EUR 3900) |
| Roofer | NOK 38 330 (EUR 3880) |
| Truck Driver | NOK 37 540 (EUR 3700) |
| Carpenter | NOK 36 830 (EUR 3600) |
| Bus Driver | NOK 36 690 (EUR 3600) |
| Painter | NOK 36 630 (EUR 3590) |
| Loading and unloading worker | NOK 35 920 (EUR 3500) |
| Cooker | NOK 34 200 (EUR 3350) |
| Construction assistant | NOK 33 780 (EUR 3300) |
| Cleaner in the company | NOK 33 080 (EUR 3240) |
| Nurse | NOK 25 000 (EUR 2500) |
Accommodation – prices of rooms and apartments in Norway
The first, necessary expenditure that you will incur in Norway will probably be renting a room or an apartment. Even if you are planning a trip with the help of an employment agency that will arrange the renting formalities for you, you will probably have to bear the cost of accommodation.
We recommend that you look for accommodation in Norway by yourself, as agencies usually do not help for free. Finding an apartment by yourself may turn out to be much cheaper.Before you start looking for an apartment or a room where you will spend the next few months (or years… who knows?), remember to conclude a contract directly with the person responsible for the premises under the law – the owner or manager.
Apartment prices in Norway
The rental prices of apartments in Norway are also much higher than the prices of the rest of European countries – this information should come as no surprise.
The monthly total cost of a studio apartment varies between NOK 10 000 and NOK 12 000 (EUR 1000 – 1200) in the center of large cities such as Oslo. 2-3-room apartments for several people can cost up to NOK 16 000 (EUR 1600).
To sum up, even if you live with several people, the cost of renting is in the range of NOK 3000-6000 (EUR 300-600) per person. The price differences are mainly related to the location and standard of the equipment.
The most often sought-after premises by „fresh” Polish immigrants is however, a single room – its price is around NOK 4000 – 7000 (EUR 400 – 700) per month. Some municipalities can help you find an apartment or a room to rent. Usually, however, they focus on people in a very difficult situation who cannot afford either to buy their own apartment or to rent an apartment on the private market.
Where to find an apartment in Norway?
It is best to look for apartments on Norwegian-language websites. Then you know that the offer prices are not inflated for foreigners. It is worth enlisting the help of someone who knows the language (if you do not know it yourself). One of the most popular classifieds websites is finn.no. A large part of Norwegian websites and portals is also available in English (e.g. nestpick.com and rentberry.com).
However, when you know that you cannot use Norwegian-language websites, you can search for offers from Poles on internet forums for the Polish community:
The accommodation provided by the employer at the disposal of the employee, should be properly arranged and maintained – in accordance with the accepted standard. Often offered are hotel-style rooms – with a separate bathroom for everyone.
Costs of living in Norway – food products
Food costs largely depend on food preferences, family size and the appetite of family members. People who go to Norway spend around NOK 3000 (EUR 300) per month on food and so-called chemistry. When a couple leaves for work – costs can be expected to double. It is most advantageous to shop in supermarkets Kiwi and Rema 1000.
In addition, when shopping in Norway, it is worth paying attention to the product labeling when it comes to the expiry date, including:
- best før, men ikke dårlig etter – that is, it is best to eat it already, but after the expiry date the product will not spoil (quite often we find a similar mark on the milk).
- mini thermometers – usually appear on the meat packaging.
- utgått på dato – means that the product has expired.
When stocking up on groceries and more, you must remember that on Sundays shops in Oslo are closed! There are only small shops – similar to our Żabka – where you can buy basic items, usually at much higher prices. The most popular are 7eleven, Narvesen and Deli De Luca.
Sample prices in Norway 2022 – food products
| Product | Sample price |
| Loaf of bread | NOK 29 (EUR 2) |
| Milk 1liter | NOK 18 (EUR 1.76) |
| Eggs 10 pieces | NOK 49 (EUR 4.8) |
| Tomatoes 1kg | NOK 39 (EUR 3.8) |
| Pasta 1kg | NOK 29 (EUR 2.84) |
| Chicken breast | NOK 134 (EUR 13) |
| Water 1.5 liter | NOK 22 (EUR 2.15) |
| Potatoes 1kg | NOK 18 (EUR 1.8) |
| Tea 1 pack | NOK 35 (EUR 3.4) |
| Bananas 1kg | NOK 16 (EUR 1.57) |
| Apples 1kg | NOK 29 (EUR 2.84) |
Costs of living in Norway – Transport
Norway has a well-developed public transport and an extensive network of bus, ferry, rail and air connections. For short distances, local buses should be used. However, on Saturday and Sunday, unfortunately, they practically do not run. ruter.no is a portal where you will find public transport timetables throughout the country.
It lists, among other things, departure times of buses, ferries and other means of transport. You can also get additional information by calling the telephone number: 177. Below you will see sample prices for bus tickets in Oslo:
| Type of the ticket | Cost |
| One-time ticket | NOK 39 (EUR 3.8) |
| Ticket for 24 hours | NOK 117 (EUR 11.4) |
| Ticket for 7 days | NOK 323 (EUR 32) |
| Ticket for 30 days | NOK 814 (EUR 79) |
| Year-round ticket | NOK 8140 (EUR 798) |
If you don’t like public transport, we have bad news for you – Norwegian taxis are very expensive. The Norwegians themselves use them as a last resort, which means that it is a really big expense.
Fuel price in Norway
Fuel in Norway is also not the cheapest. For example, for 1 liter of gasoline 95, you will pay about NOK 23 (EUR 2.25). And for 1 liter of diesel we will spend around NOK 22 (EUR 2.15).
Conclusions – is it worth working in Norway? How much are the costs of living in Norway?
To sum up – yes, moving to Norway is associated with high costs of living. Let’s not forget, however, that in this country it is earned the best in Europe! Also, despite the initial loss while shopping and the constant conversion of prices into zlotys, over time you will get used to the differences and you will be able to enjoy increasing savings.We remind you that the minimum wage for seasonal jobs (i.e. those less paid) is around NOK 20 000 (EUR 1950). This means that the earnings are attractive enough and in most cases allow you to save part of the salary for the family in the country (with minimum earnings you can save from NOK 3000-4000 per month).
Related entries:
The minimum wage in Europe in 2022
