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Intro: How to Make the Move

We are happy that you are considering Oslo as your next home and look forward to welcoming you here.

To help you navigate and prepare for your move, see the introductory tips below. For information on immigration requirements specific to you, visit UDI, the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration.

If you’ve already moved to Oslo, refer to Getting Settled and explore the Oslopolitan website to see all the resources available to you. The city's Welcome to Oslo website provides detailed relocation information.

  1. 01 Do I Need a Job?
  2. 02 Obtain a Residence Permit
  3. 03 Get a D-number for Temporary Stays or a National ID
  4. 04 Relocate With Family
  5. 05 Find a Job in Norway
  6. 06 Recognition of Foreign Education
  7. 07 Coming to Oslo as a Student
  8. 08 Open a Norwegian Bank Account
  9. 09 Find Housing
  10. 10 Cost of Living
  11. 11 Customs for Pets and Belongings
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10 Cost of Living

Curious about the cost of living in Oslo? You can use online calculators and AI to compare salary levels, rent, utilities, healthcare and other costs in Oslo vs your origin city to help set expectations.

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You may be surprised to see how well the cost of living in Oslo compares to other cities, especially when factoring in free or very low-cost healthcare, education, and activities. Oslo consistently ranks high for overall life quality that goes far beyond the numbers. See Monocle's Quality of Life 2026 survey here (Oslo ranks 10th).

To estimate your cost of living in Oslo, you can input data into AI or use Cost of Living calculators such as NerdWallet or Forbes. View average annual salaries, a rent calculator and other statistics at Norway's Statistics Bureau.

Refer to the "Work" section of Oslopolitan to find job search engines, recruitment agencies and support services. The city's business development and international promotion agency, Oslo&Co, is available to connect you with relevant networks to facilitate the transition.

Tips for your budget in Oslo

Facts & figures to help you plan:

  1. Housing: On average, a one-bedroom apartment in the city center can range from 14,000 to 20,000 NOK per month. Rent is cheaper as you move farther from the city center and can still be within an easy commute with public transportation, plus you can enjoy being even closer to the coast or mountains.
  2. Groceries: A shopping trip for essentials can be about 500 NOK for a single person.
  3. Dining out: Oslo has a vibrant culinary scene. Eating at mid-range restaurants costs around 300 NOK per person for a meal.
  4. Transportation: A single ticket for the metro, bus, tram or commuter ferry typically costs around 40 NOK. You can buy a discounted monthly pass or discounted tickets based on how often you take the tram/metro.
  5. Healthcare and education: Norway offers high-quality healthcare and education, which are mostly subsidized by the government. Dental care and prescription medications are covered out-of-pocket but are reasonable. The Frikort is an exemption card for public health services. Once you have paid more than a certain amount in user fees, you do not have to pay user fees for the rest of the calendar year.
  6. Education: Higher education is generally tuition-free for Norwegian and EU/EEA students, but non-EU students may have to pay tuition fees.
  7. Taxes: Income tax rates range from about 22% for low-income earners to 45% for high-income earners.
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