Is food expensive in Norway?
One of the first things people will say to you when asking about life in Norway is “I've heard it's really expensive”, often before asking how much a beer costs. Prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages in Norway are the second highest in Europe, according to Eurostat.
While meal prices in Norway can vary, the average cost of food in Norway is kr278 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Norway should cost around kr111 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner.
How much is a meal in Norway? Depending on the restaurant and what you order, count 150-300 NOK (15-30 EUR) for a warm meal for lunch or dinner in Norway.
Cost of Living
However, higher salaries offset these prices. The average cost of living in Norway will depend on the lifestyle you lead and where in the country you choose to settle. Generally, though, you can expect to spend between 20,000 to 40,000 NOK (2,176–4,352 USD) per month to live in this Nordic country.
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Cost of Living in Norway.
| Restaurants | Edit |
|---|---|
| Cappuccino (regular) | 43.62kr |
| co*ke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) | 30.23kr |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) | 26.81kr |
| Markets | Edit |
| Rank | City | McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Stavanger, Norway | 13.36 |
| 9 | Tromso, Norway | 12.40 |
| 10 | Arhus, Denmark | 11.79 |
| 11 | Oslo, Norway | 11.45 |
| Norway - Big Mac menu - price, September 2020 | |
|---|---|
| NOK | 89.000 |
| USD | 8.453 |
| EUR | 8.550 |
| Meal in a cheap restaurant | 190 NOK (119-300) |
|---|---|
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | 120 NOK (100-140) |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) | 90 NOK (70-110) |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | 90 NOK (65-112) |
| co*ke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) | 31 NOK (20-45) |
As an example, the minimum salary in Norway is as of 2022: 175 NOK (roughly 18 USD) for hospitality workers per hour. Cleaning staff gets 187.66 NOK or 21.80 USD per hour. More information on the minimum wages in Norway per economic sector are available on the Arbeidstilsynet website.
Similar to its European neighbors, Norway's tipping customs are entirely optional, because the employee's wage is already built into the final price. At restaurants, you'll see this reflected in the service charge, and at hotels, gratuity is lumped into your nightly rate.
Can I use euros in Norway?
Does Norway use the Euro? No. Norway is not a member of the EU and so would not be eligible to use the Euro.
Glasses of wine averaged around 90-110 NOK pretty much everywhere.
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- Bulgaria.
| Meal in a cheap restaurant | 199 NOK (142-300) |
|---|---|
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | 900 NOK (600-1,500) |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | 110 NOK (100-140) |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) | 90 NOK (80-110) |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | 90 NOK (80-120) |
The vast majority of Norwegians speak English in addition to Norwegian – and generally on a very high level. Many university degree programmes and courses are taught in English.
There is no hiding that Norway is one of the most expensive countries in the world. There are many reasons for this, but the single most important is the fact that labour costs are high. Because most products and services entail the application of human labour, the cost of these products and services is increased.
Over the last 100 years or so, typical traditional Norwegian dinner dishes have included meatballs (made with beef, pork, lamb, or reindeer meat), lapskaus (a stew made with potatoes, vegetables, and whatever else you have to hand – this is a great dish for using up leftover meat), fårikål (a hearty stew made with ...
While meal prices in Oslo can vary, the average cost of food in Oslo is kr261 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Oslo should cost around kr104 per person.
Norwegians eat lapskaus for dinner any day of the week all year round. It's wholesome and filling, particularly during the colder months. Traditional lapskaus is made with beef, potatoes, carrots, swede, and leeks. All are added to a pot, as you would with a stew.
1. Switzerland. Switzerland has one of the highest costs of living in the world. Rent is only $1,516.83 but worldwide income tax can run up to 40%.
What is Norway minimum wage?
As an example, the minimum salary in Norway is as of 2022: 175 NOK (roughly 18 USD) for hospitality workers per hour. Cleaning staff gets 187.66 NOK or 21.80 USD per hour. More information on the minimum wages in Norway per economic sector are available on the Arbeidstilsynet website.
The reason for the high prices has nothing to do with the ingredients, but rather the labor costs. Restaurants must meet certain wage minimums which means the chef at the pizzeria makes almost as much as that fine-dining chef. The result is that the higher labor costs are in turn passed down to the consumer.
