Scandinavian countries both encourage and scare potential labor migrants. On the one hand – several times higher earnings, and on the other – a harsh climate and strict law, that oversees literally every aspect of everyday life. Next, we will find out what life in Norway looks like. Is it worth immigrating there? Living in Norway – Advantages and disadvantages
What to bring to Norway? – A list of necessary things
As we already know, a trip to this country is not the shortest. Apart from that, it is worth remembering that we are talking about a Scandinavian country, characterized by a harsh climate.
If we are talking about going to work, we should beforehand make sure if the employer provides work clothes, especially if we are talking about working in specific conditions (e.g. in the open spaces, in a cold store, in production, etc.). Otherwise, we recommend that before leaving, to prepare the following:
- comfortable (warm) footwear
- a winter jacket (preferably windproof)
- warm clothes
- hat / gloves
- thermal-insulated underwear
It will also be necessary to stock up on cash in Norwegian Krone (NOK). Especially for people who for the first time are planning a trip to Norway.
Going to work in Norway – What to take, what to bring?
Living in Norway – first formalities
At entering Norway, you must show your ID card or passport, however, it is recommended to use the latter document.
Pay attention to the validity of your document and its technical condition, to avoid problems when crossing the border. As an EU citizen, you have the right to stay in Norway for 3 months for tourist purposes without applying for a residence permit.
For jobseekers who have registered with the Norwegian Employment Agency, the stay can last up to 6 months. After this period, application should be submitted immediately for permanent residence at the Norwegian Office for Foreigners – Utenriksdepartementet.
How to find a job in Norway?
There is no doubt that the knowledge of English language, and especially Norwegian language will be an asset on the Norwegian labor market. In most positions, a good knowledge of English is enough to find a job, because almost every Norwegian is fluent in it.
In Norway, attention is also paid to competence and experience in the profession, however, this does not mean that you will not find a job at the beginning of your professional career. In the case of permanent job, employers are looking for, among others:
- welders
- drivers (for trucks, garbage trucks and buses)
- construction workers
- mechanics
- electricians
- carpenter
- fixers
- production workers
The period of seasonal summer jobs has ended, however, we can answer the question of how to find a seasonal job in Norway? The greatest demand is seen in the following positions:
- help with painting summer houses
- assistance in fishing ports
- maid
- work in gastronomy (waiter / cook / dishwasher)
- assistance in tourist centers
Important! In the case of seasonal jobs, knowledge of foreign languages or experience will not be a decisive factor in employment.
Is it easy to find a job in Norway?
As we can see, in Norway there is a constant demand for skilled workers, but also there will not be a shortage of seasonal work. Nevertheless, unlike Germany or the Netherlands, work for a longer period requires from the potential candidate, both the knowledge of the Norwegian language and experience.
On the other hand, Norway is not a popular destination for economic emigration. And this, in turn, reduces competition on the labor market and allows one to find a job faster. Perhaps it’s worth taking a chance?
Earnings in Norway 2022
According to statistics, immigrants earn an average of NOK 40,000 (€ 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 (€ 3,900) |
| Roofer | NOK 38,330 (€ 3,880) |
| Truck driver | NOK 37,540 (€ 3,700) |
| Carpenter | NOK 36,830 (€ 3,600) |
| Bus driver | NOK 36,690 (€ 3,600) |
| Painter | NOK 36,630 (€ 3,590) |
| Loading and unloading worker | NOK 35,920 (€ 3,500) |
| Cook | NOK 34,200 (€ 3,350) |
| Assistant in construction | NOK 33,780 (€ 3,300) |
| Cleaning lady in the company | NOK 33,080 (€ 3,240) |
| Nurse | NOK 25,000 (€ 2,500) |
However, if we are talking about minimum rates in Norway, the situation is as follows:
| Position / industry | Minimum hourly rates |
| Construction worker | NOK 220 (€ 21) |
| Engineer | NOK 180 (€ 17) |
| Harvest work | NOK 135 (€ 13) |
| Cleaning | NOK 196 (€ 19) |
| Fishing | NOK 205 (€ 19) |
| Electrician | NOK 196 (€ 19) |
| Truck driver | NOK 185 (€ 18) |
| Bus driver | NOK 174 (€ 16) |
| Restaurant / Hospitality | NOK 175 (€ 17) |
Living in Norway – sample expenses
| Living in Norway | Sample monthly costs |
Accommodation | single room: NOK 4000 – 7000 (€ 400 – 700) studio apartment: NOK 10,000 – 12,000 (€ 1,000 – 1,200) 2-3 rooms apartment: up to NOK 16,000 (€ 1,600) |
| Food for 1 person | around NOK 3,000 (€ 300) |
Transport (Oslo bus tickets) | single ticket: NOK 39 (€ 3.8) 7-days ticket: NOK 323 (€ 32) 30-days ticket: NOK 814 (€ 79) |
More in our previous article: Cost of living in Norway – Accommodation, food, transport
How is life in Norway? Social package and taxes
For many, despite the earnings and the cost of living, the social package is the decisive factor when it comes to going abroad. Norway’s policy, like every Scandinavian country, puts a strong emphasis on pro-community.
Accordingly, the Norwegian state therefore offers a range of opportunities to support young families and people who have found themselves in a difficult financial situation.
Check how the education system in Norway looks like?
| Social benefits in Norway | How much is? |
| Family allowance for every child born | 0-6 years: NOK 1,354/month (€ 131)6-18 years: NOK 1,054/month (€ 102) |
| Care allowance for children who do not attend a state nursery | NOK 7,500/month (€ 730) |
| Parental benefits | 59 weeks paid parental leave after childbirth, paid 100% of salary |
| Babies | NOK 84,720 (€ 8,252) |
| Benefits for unemployed | paid up to 104 weeks after losing a job, paid 62% of salary |
Financial assistance for people in a difficult financial situation | The amount is determined individually, to some extent it changes from month to month. The period of payment of the benefits is to be as short as possible, i.e. the state expects the person to indicate solutions to improve his own financial situation |
| Retirement (entitled after at least 5 years of work in Norway) | The average amount is around NOK 10,000/month (€ 974) |
All information on the rules (amounts) of benefits granted should be checked via the website: https://www.nav.no/en/home.
Health insurance in Norway
The Norwegian social security system covers all patients legally residing in Norway. If you belong to this group and work there legally, you automatically from day one become a member of the Norwegian social security system. The entry will be made together with the check-in.
Insurance premiums are deducted from your salary, so you don’t have to worry about formalities.
On the other hand, we must remember that Norwegian insurance covers only part of the costs, so we will have to pay extra for, among others:
- visit to a specialist (e.g. dentist)
- issuing a prescription for medicines
- sanitary transport
Important! If you do not speak Norwegian or English, you have the right to have an interpreter present during your visit to the clinic. It is provided by medical staff, but you need to inform them about it a few days before the visit. The service is completely free.
Taxes in Norway
In 2022, the tax brackets in Norway are as follows:
| The amount of earned income | Tax bracket |
| up to 190,350 (€ 18,540) | 22% |
| from NOK 190,350 to NOK 267,900 (€ 18,540 – 26,000) | +1.7% |
| from NOK 267,900 to NOK 643,800 (€ 26,000 – 62,700) | +4% |
| from NOK 643,800 to NOK 969,200 (€ 62,700 – 94,400) | +13.4% |
| from NOK 969,200 (€ 94,400) | +16.4% |
The tax-free amount in 2022 in Norway is NOK 60,000 (approx. € 5,840).
Remember! At the beginning of 2019, the Norwegian tax office introduced a new form of tax settlement, the so-called withholding tax (kildeskatt).
It consists mainly in the fact that the 25% of the taxpayer’s salary will be deducted, regardless of how much the annual earnings are.
Withholding tax will mainly apply to:
- Foreigners working in Norway
- People who are not tax residents (having a D-number)
- People who became tax residents in 2019
Living in Norway – advantages and disadvantages
If you managed to get through the whole article, where practically every aspect of life in Norway was described in detail, now is the time for reflections and summaries – the advantages and disadvantages of living in Norway.
Advantages and disadvantages
Undoubtedly, Norway is a highly developed country, where salaries are almost the highest in Europe. In addition, there is an extensive social package, i.e. even people with low income can count on support from the state. Interestingly, the rules for paying social benefits are focused on short-term assistance. It’s not about lack of funding, quite the opposite – the state tries to motivate such people to get out of the financial crisis as quickly as possible (moderate support from the state). Apart from that, we list such advantages as:
- cost of living adequate to earnings
- security
- closeness to nature
- retirement benefits that ensure financial stability
Unfortunately, there will also be disadvantages of living in Norway:
- geographical distance
- harsh climate
- high taxation
- completely different culture
- cautious approach to foreigners
- Leaving permanently is connected with learning the Norwegian language
- social security covers only a small part of medical services
When asked whether it is worth emigrating to Norway, we always answer that the final decision rests with the person concerned.
