The cost of living in Norway

It’s true: daily life in Scandinavian countries can be expensive, especially if you’re visiting from another part of the world. And Norway might just be the most expensive Scandi nation of them all.

Visitors from almost all other countries will find food and drink (and alcohol in particular!) to be very, very pricey. However, there are other things – like transport and some types of accommodation, for example – that aren’t quite as bank-breaking as you might expect.

We’ve come up with a handy guide to how much you’re likely to pay for all the basics and essentials, whether you’re just in Norway on a brief city break or looking to live here for good.

Accommodation
Food prices
Public transport
Alcohol and tobacco
Sightseeing and tours
Entertainment
Staying in touch

It goes without saying that all the prices we’ve included here are approximate and subject to small fluctuations, but we’ll keep an eye on them over time and make sure they’re updated if they change considerably.

The sky’s the limit, of course, when it comes to hotel accommodation and if you’re pushing the boat out at a swanky Oslo hotel in peak season, or one of these fancy rentals, you’ll have no problem blowing upwards of 2000 NOK (around US $235) a night.

For those on a budget, however, Norway has an excellent network of good quality hostels, while good-value guesthouses and Airbnbs can be found in most parts of the country. An added bonus is that these usually have kitchen facilities so you can save money by cooking at home.

And if you have some flexibility as to when you travel, it will make a big difference to the price you pay. Many of the smarter, city hotels reduce their rates at weekends and during the summer, when most business people are on holiday.

The cheapest way to eat in Norway, of course, is to buy food at a supermarket and cook it for yourself. However, it would be a shame not to eat out a few times and sample at least some of the country’s fantastic cuisine.

The cheapest way to do this is to go at lunchtime, when many restaurants serve a good-value lunch menu. Or try the daily lunch special at one of the simple self-service kafeterias that locals frequent.

Alternatively, if you’re staying at a good hotel or hostel, a good tip is to fill up at one of the all-you-can-eat breakfast buffets.

Norway has a comprehensive and efficient public transport system. Train and bus fares are fairly reasonable, especially when you consider some of the distances involved (and the challenging landscape which calls for seemingly endless tunnels and bridges).

Flying to some of the more far-flung reaches from cities like Oslo can be expensive, so you’ll need to plan ahead to have any chance of getting a good deal.

Oslo’s city transport is also reasonably priced, or if you’re on a really tight budget, do as the locals do and cycle.

Although it’s widely served in bars and restaurants, booze is very heavily taxed in Norway and for many budget travellers it’s just too expensive to drink much more than the beer or odd glass of wine.

Beers with an alcohol content of less than 4.75% can be bought in local shops and supermarkets, but wines, spirits and any stronger beers are only sold in the state-run Vinmopolet shops (see this page for a list of locations). Stores close by 6pm on weekdays, and only stay open until 3pm on Saturdays. Oh, and Vinmonopolet is always closed on Sundays.

The cheapest wine at Vinmopolet starts at a not unreasonable 90 NOK, but spirits, such a bottle of Bushmills Irish whisky, will set you back around 470 NOK.

There’s no shortage of sightseeing tours available in Norway, and they can definitely save you time and hassle if you’re in a hurry.

However, it can be cheaper to do things yourself using public transport and by buying tickets for shorter tours individually. It’s possible to enjoy a lot of the same sights that appear on the popular Norway in a Nutshell tour, for example, by doing things under your own steam (this guide shows you how!).

Boats tours around Norway’s watery cities such as Oslo, can be fun, and usually come with a commentary, but you’ll often find that the public ferry follows a similar route, taking in the same sights, but for a much cheaper fare. There are other ideas for Oslo tours on this page.

Going out can be expensive in Norway. Some clubs charge an entrance fee of around 100 NOK (though this may include a free drink), while others are free – but don’t forget to factor in the exorbitant cost of drinks once inside.

Sports and activities can be pricey, too, but if you have your own skates there are plenty of outdoor ice rinks in winter that you can use for free. There are lots of events to enjoy throughout the year – check out our Norway calendar to see what’s on!

Data roaming charges depend on your individual phone provider and the country you’re visiting from. So while some phone deals will provide free data roaming, while others don’t. If you’re visiting from another European country, remember that Norway isn’t in the EU – read the small print and make sure you don’t get stung!

If your provider does apply high roaming charges and you’re staying in Norway for a while, it may be worth buying a Norwegian sim card – you can get the lowdown on finding a good deal on this page.

See also:
Free things to do in Oslo
The best places to stay in Norway