Article: Calculating Your Family’s Budget for Living in Norway
Article: Culture Shock Norway : Cost of Living
Norway is ranked as one of the most expensive countries to live in. Expenses are high when it comes to food, accommodation, transport and other costs. This is probably the reason that Norwegian immigration control is very strict about making sure you can sustain yourself financially in the country before allowing you to go there.
Food expenses in Norway are about 50% higher than the EU average. A liter of milk in Norway will set you back by about 13NOK while a carton of 12 eggs costs about 36.50NOK. A loaf of bread costs about 20NOK and 400g of butter costs about 15NOK.
For those who consume alcohol, the prices of beer and wine in Norway can be quite prohibitive. A pint of beer will cost about 30.50NOK in the supermarkets and 60 to 120NOK in clubs. You can save on your alcohol expenses by shopping in supermarkets and drinking at home before you head out to the city. It is common to have a house party before going to town.
Wining and dining in Norwegian restaurants is also quite expensive. A dinner for two including a bottle of wine can cost anywhere from 550NOK to 2000NOK. Fast food meals range from 70NOK to 100NOK. It is smart to leave eating out at fancy restaurants to the special occasion, since it can easily break the bank.
Income taxes are also very high. However, the salary one gets in Norway is also comparatively high. One should be able to live comfortably on what one makes. There is the added advantage that working in Norway makes one eligible for some support from the government in terms of healthcare and education of children. Education in public schools is free and of a very high quality. You will also be entitled to a doctor for you and your family. The Norwegian welfare state is one of the best in the entire world.
If you are a student going to Norway for your studies, you will require about 8000 to 10.000 NOK per month to be able to live comfortably in Norway. This does not include the cost of tuition. Fortunately, higher education in Norway may be free depending on where you are coming from and there are a wide variety of scholarships and grants that may offset your living expenses. You are also allowed to work part time in Norway while you study and you can use this to get some extra cash for paying for your daily expenses. If you are planning to sponsor your stay in Norway yourself, you will need to prove to the authorities that you can cover your expenses for your period of study before they can grant you the residence permit.
Before moving to Norway, work out your planned expenditure carefully. It is advisable that you have at least three months’ expenses ready to give you time to adjust to the financial situation in Norway. Also, don’t forget that you will usually need to put down a deposit for the rental of your apartment. However, you can also take up extra work in your free time to get a side income. While Norway is expensive, it offers great opportunities to those that are ready to grab it.
