Study in Norway: Housing & Living Costs

There are no two ways about it: Norway is expensive. In fact, Oslo has some of the highest living costs of any capital city in the world. This means that you’ll need to budget carefully. Below you'll find an overview of living expenses in Norway as well as some tips for budget-conscious students.

International students can find themselves studying throughout Norway, and costs and infrastructure will vary depending on the location. Your personal situation will also impact your cost of living. For the most part, this guide will reflect the cost of living as a single student in the capital city, Oslo.

Average costs

The Norwegian government stipulates that non-EU/EEA/EFTA students should be able to cover at least NOK 151,690 per year to support their studies and that such students can work up to 20 hours per week during term time. With that in mind, here are some average living costs in Norway:

*Rent in Norway can be expensive. That’s why many students, Norwegian and international alike, choose to live in shared student housing. These can be like dorms in the US or a shared apartment with other students or young people.

** You can drink the tap water in Norway, so you won’t have to factor this into your everyday expenses. In fact, Norway has some of the cleanest water in the world and even some of the mountain springs are drinkable!

💸 Pro tip: the Norwegian Krone (NOK) is heavily tied to the price of oil, so it can fluctuate a lot. That means that these conversions can change. For international students, it also means that your national currency's value can go up and down during your study period. It's wise to pay attention to the conversion rates before making large purchases or money transfers.

Housing

We've already noted that housing can be expensive in Norway, even for Norwegian students. It's important to consider your budget when looking for housing.

Most students find housing through their university or through the private rental market. You can reach out to the admissions office or program leaders of your university to find out about student housing on or around the university campus. For private rentals, most people use websites like finn.no to find apartments and houses to rent.

Transportation

Norway has excellent public transportation that is generally safe and punctual. Oslo has an extensive underground system that extends into the suburbs. Oslo's public transportation system is divided into zones and allows for transfers between types of transport. Students (under age 30) can purchase discounted travel passes that cover one or more zones.

In most cities and towns, buses, trams, and bike and scooter rentals are common. The national rail and transport service, Vy, connects most of Norway via local, regional, and long-distance trains.

Most of Norway's public transportation systems are serviced by mobile apps that allow purchasing travel passes and individual tickets. In fact, Norway is a largely cash-free society with bank-cards and payment apps used frequently for most payments.

Outside of Oslo, many Norwegians own cars, with electric cars becoming increasingly popular. You can legally drive in Norway using an EU/EEA driving license. If your license was issued outside of the EU/EEA you will need to convert it to Norwegian license within a set amount of time, usually one year.

Tips for saving money

Norway can be expensive but there are plenty of ways to save money and enjoy the country at the same time.

Look for student discounts

Discounts on travel, restaurants, entertainment, and more are available for students throughout Norway.

Eat like a local

Norway is famous for its matpakke, or packed lunch. From the smallest children to government employees, eating a packed lunch is a healthy and affordable way to eat. Most Norwegians pack open-faced sandwiches, as well as fruit and vegetables.

Enjoy friluftsliv

Norwegians love the outdoors, and outdoor activities like hiking, cross-country skiing, and swimming are usually free at the point of access.

Cross the border

Don't be surprised if a Norwegian tells you they're going grocery shopping in Sweden. Certain products, like meat, candy, and alcohol, can be significantly less expensive on the other side of the border. Norwegians also love duty-free shopping when they travel. In both cases, be aware of your allowed quotas. Norway has strict limits on things like alcohol bought outside of the country.

Get a job

EU/EEA/EFTA students are allowed to work while they study and non-EU/EEA/EFTA students can work up to 20 hours a week during term time. Most Norwegians speak some English, so you don't need to be fluent to find a job but knowing some Norwegian can help.

Register for National Insurance

International students on programs lasting more than three months may be eligible for the National Insurance Scheme (nav.no). Among other benefits, National Insurance grants access to excellent and universal healthcare in Norway. Members of the National Insurance Scheme can visit their doctor for a small fee, and individual medical expenses are capped at NOK 3278 annually. This includes some prescriptions. Depending on your income level, you may be eligible for free healthcare.