Living and working in Norway

Cultural experiences

It would not be right to discuss Norway without mentioning Nordic mythology, beloved for its tales across many other cultures. Norse mythology is still cherished in Norway through celebrations such as the annual Viking Festival in Avaldsnes, held on the island of Karmøy. The festival offers Viking reenactments with battles, traditional crafts, and music. Norwegians also pay homage to Norse culture through museums (the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo), statues (Odin in Trondheim), and replicas of runestones and other Norse imagery.

You can also experience Norse culture reinterpreted through a modern lens. If you like your music loud and heavy, you need to check out Norway’s black metal scene, which often throws references to Viking culture. The Norse-inspired modern literature, comics, and TV shows are also worth mentioning.

Explore Norwegian cuisine

When thinking about Norwegian cuisine, always think of fresh, locally grown ingredients. The country has a tradition of using its own natural resources to create signature dishes. There are so many meat, fish, seafood, and pastry options. Each ingredient has a whole bunch of unique variations. For example, for fish, you can have it smoked, dried (as Klippfisk), cured and served with mash (as Gravlaks), fermented (as Rakfisk), or turned into a soup (as a Fiskesuppe). This definitely showcases inventiveness, if not anything else!

Accommodation in Norway

Start your housing search online on Norwegian housing portals like finn.no, which is largest, or hybel.no, which has all content accessible in English. Connect to your network and ask your employer, as they may have housing options available. In any case, start your search in advance and do not hesitate to use anything from websites to Facebook groups to find the best living arrangement for you. Expect this for the monthly rental costs in Norway:

• 1-bedroom apartment in the city center: €1,500-€1,900
• 1-bedroom apartment outside the city center: €1,000-€1,300
• Room in a shared apartment: €600-€950

Cost of living in Norway

Norway is quite expensive, especially compared to Southern European countries. We list the most important costs for expats living in Norway:

• Groceries: €280-€380 a month
• Basic meal in a restaurant: €18-€30
• Coffee in a café: €4-€7
• 0.5L Beer in a bar: €9-€12
• Gym membership: €30-€60 a month
• Cinema ticket: €12-€18

Still not convinced about Norway?

Prepare yourself for encounters with myth everywhere in Norway:

• The troll, which you will encounter everywhere, is their way of bringing their fears to light.
• Despite the troll danger, another charming cultural oddity of the Norwegians has to do with how safe the country is. It is not uncommon to see baby strollers left out in the cold, unattended – this is seen as a way to boost the child’s health. This is a common trait in Scandinavian countries.
• Perhaps this safety – and also the strong tolerance to the cold, even for babies – comes from the Norwegians’ concept of kos, which stands for a feeling of warmth brought by small things. “Kos is like giving a hug”, it is said.