Post: #1

Norway, and espcially the capital, Oslo, is ridiculous expensive.
I guess you heard before!
The prices here does not compare to anywhere else. Gardemoen Oslo is rated as the most expensive airport in the world.
That being said you can still enjoy some days here with out breaking the bank!
That meaning staying in guesthouses or do couhsurfing, minimum transportation (forget about Taxis- even the Pirat (illigals) ones charge hefty these days, get food at the local supermarket, eating at the "cheap" foregin places and street snack (7/11 pizza, bagel, hot dog etc). And offcourse the drinking, wich for many its the major cost.
This is the kinda of place where even a 100 USD won't guarantee you a decent meal!
Food is generally not that good and expensive.
Taking a girl out---forget it! Fuck a wining and dining! Better stick to a cafe date.

For those wanting to come to "the land of one-night" stands, here is alittle price list as of June the 19th to help you see what to expect and plan better.

FOODMARKET, OSLO GARDEMOEN AIRPORT
Baconcheeseburger: 31U$D
Waffel: 7,5U$D
Big Baguett with shrimps: 21U$D

KARL JOHAN, OSLO
(Nr. 1 Spot for tourists, they all come here. Famous and important buildings and instituions are all here etc. Nationaltheather, Parlament, University. Basar, street artists and musicans are a big part of the street picture.

Milkshake: 11 U$D
Ice Cream 2scoops: 8 U$D
Ringnes Beer 0,6l (local): 15U$D
Carslberg 0.33l: 11U$D
1 glass of Whitewine (Sancerre): 24U$D


AKKER BRYGGE
(Shoping, cafes, nightclubs, bars, peoplewatching, parks, entertainment. Some 12 milion people visit this area which have come 70 shops, 40 cafes, restaurants, bars and nightclubs every year).

Sparkling Water 0,5l: 9U$D
Caffe Latte: 7U$D

OSLO CINEMA
Big popcorn: 12U$D
Movie Ticket: 16U$D

COLLECTIVE TRANSPORTATION
Single ticket (1Sone): 8U$D
Pre-Paid Single ticket (1sone): 5U$D

PRICES AT LOCAL SUPERMARKET (ICA)
20 Malboro: 15U$D
50g Tobacco: 33U$D
0,5l Heineken Beer: 4U$D
0,275l Smirnoff Ice4%: 5.5U$D
1l Milk: 2,6U$D
1kg Cheese: 17U$D
12 Eggs: 6,5U$D
330ml Ice Coffee: 3U$D
1kg Bananas: 3U$D
650g Chicken Filet: 16.5U$D
100g Ham: 4U$D
500g Butter: 4U$D
Original Pringles: 4U$D
10pcs Chewing Gum: 1.8U$D
1 Bread (750g): 4U$D
Newspaper: 2-4U$D

On the side note, it should be mentioned that Ica is seen as one of the more expensive chains of supermarkets in Norway.
There is something like 2300 stores to be found in Norway and Sweden.

This is not meant to be puting anyone off from going!
If you to decide to go, come between May and August.
Enjoy and welcome!

I have added a link to a site where you can compare prices in different countries and cities. I found it useful and it works good as a "point finger" to what one should expect cost wise.
http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/com...ntries.jsp

-Rdp

Post: #2

Thanks, rdp! I'd heard that it's the food and booze that get you the worst in Oslo; guess your list just confirms it.

Post: #3

If I went to Norway I would take a suitcase full of food with me Haha

Post: #4

Is it the same with Stockholm?

Post: #5

(07-20-2012 08:18 PM)Byzzy Wrote:  Is it the same with Stockholm?

Not quite, about 80-90% of those figures.

Post: #6

(07-20-2012 05:43 PM)Deb Auchery Wrote:  If I went to Norway I would take a suitcase full of food with me Haha

Duty-free m-----er, duty-free

Post: #7

I bought alcohol at the duty free in the airport.and lived off of shot like banana, muffins, lunch meat etc.
to do Oslo cheap..you have to pretty much be s bum.

don't even start about finding a place to stay...you'll be bankrupt in a weekend.

but..with decent game..you should be able to get laid. there's so many variables.
I was flat approached by girls.my friend had to do work
and in my opinion..there isn't shot to do in Oslo

Post: #8

rdp - did you say you are born and raised there, how do you like living there?

Post: #9

(07-20-2012 10:21 PM)Vicious Wrote:  

(07-20-2012 08:18 PM)Byzzy Wrote:  Is it the same with Stockholm?

Not quite, about 80-90% of those figures.

that's good cause I'll spend a weekend in stockholm in february

Post: #10

After visiting Oslo and Southern Norway for a couple of weeks in last January and after having talked to the natives, I think the most important reason why dairy is so expensive in Norway is not the general price level and high salaries but because the country is not part of the EU. Due of this reason they cannot apply for agriculture benefits.

On the other hand compared to e.g. Finland, any kind of fish is much cheaper. When I was there I ate salmon every single day and did not get bored!

Post: #11

Holy cow. $31 for a Cheeseburger? You could almost have a decent meal for two with drinks for that price here. I knew alcohol was expensive there, but seems food is too.

Do they have Lidl in Norway?

Post: #12

I think i paid like 20 bucks for a burger and coke..at 7/11
Shits outrageous.

Find yourself a bitch quick(doesnt even have to be rich..poor people get paid enough in scandinavia)
..I got lucky,at least in sweden..When a fat chick and her use up friends paid for my drinks for 2 days straight.
Didnt even have to bang any of them

Post: #13

LAst year when I went to oslo, I was walking I saw the menu for big mac in mcdonald, it was like 180kroners, before the exchange before was like 5.6 to 5.7 to 1 usd, it was maybe 28-30. Now it is more like 6 to 1.
I remembered paying 500 to 550 kroners for lunch at Lofoten seafood. I hear u can spend ups to grands of kroners for a good meal for two people . Even the cheaper resturants Kaffistova, it is like 150-180kr for a meatball meal. Expect to spend 40-60USD for just the main meal and 15-22usd for a beer in a restaurant.
Even hostel was expensive, like 200-250nok.
Stockholm was similar except the higher exchange 7 to 1, I remembered a good meal costing maybe around 400-500sek, if u want cheap, kebab is the place.

Post: #14

(07-23-2012 12:55 PM)Bad Hussar Wrote:  Do they have Lidl in Norway?

There used to be Lidl in Norway from 2004, but as off 2008 they were (50 stores) sold out, and bought by the biggest retail chain in Norway.
Boycotted out some would say.

-Rdp

Post: #15

(07-21-2012 11:09 PM)rudebwoy Wrote:  rdp - did you say you are born and raised there, how do you like living there?

I am born and raised in Norway, been living all my life here.
I have seen alot of changes the last 10-15 years in the way people act, mentality, specialy the younger generation. Their priorities are very different from what I am used to. Generation Me , I like to call it.
I am very greatful for being born in Norway, and having a Norwegian passport and citizen.
It gives me alot of possibilities and security.
Offcourse there is some things I don't like about this country and could care less for.
I find my city (Bergen) too be fucking boring, and the weather is shit (268 days with rain last year).
One of the best things; this country gives me possibilites to make good money, save and travel abroad.

Your question is really a big one, and for me its difficult to put an decent answer in just some lines.
I have put togehter a sheet with some information for those interested in Norway, and wanting to understand more.

NORWAY

It's a developed, functional, peaceful, safe and stable country.
We have Democracy, equality freedom of speech and publication. There is little corruption. Crime is low. Some discrimination and racism do exsists (there is alot of ignorance towards the Jews).
Free medical benefits, free healthcare, a good welfare system, school and education for everbody, jobs for those who want to work. Getting an education the Government will support you financially.

Human Development Index/Reports & OECD Index
If you look at The Human Development Index, Human Development Report or The OECD - Better Life Index, Norway does pretty good on all fields.
This is without doubt to thank all that black gold for - a gift and a curse!


http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/#/11111115505
http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/


Our society has changed dramatically the last 10-15 years, and along with it affcourse the people. Peoples priorities, happiness, lifestyle, mentality, what we spend our money and time on, we travel more, complain more, eat more and drink more, buy more and spend more.
It's a rich country. But the citizens of this country is non the less the worlds most in debt people. Houses, apartments, yacht, country house, cars, vacations is all paid with borrowed money.
We have become so caught up in what our neighbours have and do, that we feel that if they get a new car, then hell I'm also getting one. Jealousy is very much alive.
The average housekeep today spends 4100 U$D a year on housing renovation.
It's a throwaway society in every way!
We work less and have longer vacations.
A working week today consists of 37,5hours.
Most people have five weeks "paid" vacation.
Retairment age is 62 years.

Medication & Health

Today there is a many as 800 000 norwegians using painkillers prescribed by a doctor (Ibux, Voltaren, Celebra, Naproxen etc.), and about 200 000 using without prescription.
This is among the highest numbers in Euorpe.
There is a lack of doctors with all the right competence.
There is not enough nursing homes for elderly. Many living under real bad circumstances.
Almost 1 million Norwegians are considered obesed, thats 20% of the population.

Welfare

There is ten thousands of youths on welfare, living of NAV (Work and Welfare Trust/Administration) today.
Kids are getting spoiled and lazy, they have wrong picture on reality. They do not except nothing less than the “dream work”. Generation me.
As many as 1.5 million Norwegians are living (receives some form of help) of welfare today, and the numbers are steadily increasing.
There is phrase for this; to Nav'e we say.
"Hey! So what is it you do?"
"I am Nav'ing!"
"Cool!"

Why is this; many people find it easier to exploit the system. Why get up early every day for work, when you can get NAV to help pay for "everything".
People loss motivation to work and contribute when you have people collecting more than those that actually works.
Example; if you are unemployed NAV will give you 66% of your BRUTTO salary you made the last year.
Can you imagine the amount of money paid every year to this “group”.
That means we have to import cheap labor force.

Employment

Since 2003 Norway has imported 600.000 new hours of labor every year.
By the end of 2009 there were 326.000 foreigners working in Norway. That’s 13% of the employment, or every eight worker.
The majority coming from Poland, Sweden (26,000), Ukraine and Lithuania.
Some even start their own businesses.
It's expected as many as 45000 persons will come to work here every year for the next couple of years.
The poverty rate is set at 9-10% of the population.
The Government has done very little the last years to reduce these numbers.
The Oil riches have not benefited this "group".

Unemployment is set to 2.7% as of July 2012 and BNP growth 2,9%.
70% export (oil, gas, fish, metal) to Europe. Germany and Sweden being our most important trading partners.
Now that the Germany economy is starting to break, we while definitely notice it.
Compared to other countries;



Unemployment Expected BNP Growth 2012

Sweden 7,8% 0,7%
Denmark 6,2% 0,6%
Great Britain 4,9% 0,3%
Germany 6,7% 0,9%
France 9,6% 0,3%
Italy 9,8% -1,8%
Spain 25% -1,6%
Greece 22,7% -6,3%
USA 8,2% 2,2%

Crime

Lithuania’s are considered the biggest crime threat to Norway. The last 5 years there has been 6 murders with Lithuanians involved, on a whole there is about 30 murders yearly.
Off the 3642 inmates in Norwegian jails, 1 out of 3 is of foreign citizen.
There is an average of 20 (reported) rapes per 100.000 citizen, that makes us nr. 10 in the world. (Lesotho , Sweden, New Zealand and USA being in the “top”).
Crime and corruption are low. Police corruption/bribing towards the average man I believe would never happen in Norway.

Cost of Living

The State (Norway AS) made 1 113 billion NOK in 2011.
While expenses for 2011 was 960 billion NOK.
The Norwegian Petroleum fond is today over 3 500 billion NOK.
Despite all this, we are still "lacking" money for "everything"; healthcare, medical benefits, elderly housing, roads, public housing, schools (being among the worst in Europe, and youths are scoring low on all sorts of tests. It's easy to see why).
At the same time the Royal family is taking out a yearly salary of 31,250,000 U$D. for personal use.

The average monthly salary in 2011 for men was 6,756 U$D for men, and for women 5,762 U$D.
A growth of average 6% (3,151 U$D) from 2010.
For the next years prognoses shows growth of: 3.9% (2013), 4.2% (2014) and 4.3% (2015).

For 2012 there was a growth on average 4.1% in the salaries.
In the Petroleum Industry significant higher, the yearly average being 165,000 U$D, having a growth of 19% from 2007 till 2009.
That means that the salaries are 125% more than the average on world basis.
While workers in other European countries agrees on cuts of as much as 7-15% in salaries, Norwegian workers goes on strike in lack of a mere 0.2% more.
We make more than ever, and spend more, but at the same time people In general have becoming better at putting money aside (savings).
Consumer index for 2012 so far has an increase of 3.9%.
At the same time it has been getting more expensive to live.
From 1981 until 2011 prices (food, goods etc.) had an increase of 3.6% yearly.
In the same period salaries had an increase of 5.3% yearly.
Taxes are by the way 36%.

Taxes

Taxes help keeping the prices ridiculous high. For example behind a bottle of Vodka there is alcohol fee, disposable fee, environment fee, serving fee, sales fee, community fees (to sell) and off course a 25% value added tax. Go figure!!
So if you buy a bottle of Vodka for 66U$D; the liquor store makes 7U$D.
The rest, Treasury profit.
The same applies to almost all goods and services sold and transacted.

Commune tax (water, drainage, renovation) has increases 7% the last year, and an average of 25% the last 10 years.
In some Municipalities as much as 134% the last 10 years.
Yearly average is now 1907 U$D. In 2002 it was 1176 U$D.


For my 3 rooms, 87Sqm apartment, outside the city, expenses for rent and community taxes is 642U$D a month. Three years ago it was 415U$D.
Then there is another 213U$D a year for TV license and a couple of hundreds for Electricity.


-Rdp

Post: #16

Great intel.

Post: #17

I'd like to work in the oil industry in norway.

You forgot to mention the Norwegian Oil Fund. Really smart thing to do!

Post: #18

RDP - your assessment does not sound too bad in my opinion. The salaries seem very high, how do you find that in comparison to the price of goods?
Did I read that right, you pay $642 for rent every month! Is this your own apartment?
I visited Oslo a few years back, I landed at Torp airport and took the coach into the city. I was shocked at how many boats that were in the harbours along the coast.

Post: #19

What you have to factor when looking at the tax levels and wage is that they include health insurance, unemployment insurance, student grants etc and such that you'd have to maintain privately in the west so because of that extra 20% of tax you should multiply the wage by 1.2 to get a fair comparison with for example the US.

Post: #20

I'm a norwegian as well, and this is straight on.

It's a VERY good country to live and work in.

But for tourists I can imagine it is hell.

I don't recommend people going there.

If you go couchsurfing, make your own meals and pre-party it is nice.

Post: #21

Wreckingball: I briefly mention the oil in the begining of my post. The oil and thanks to the foregin investments and "protection" of own business and industry the country is well off. The americans found oil here in 1969 (at that time Norway had high unemployment and poverty), the government at that time made sure that all oil found on norwegian soil would stay on norwegian hands. (not be given to foregin companies).

The Oil fund is our "security"; and money are invested in mostly foreign countries, business and industry. (It would take something like a world war to create a economic crisis here - to put it on the edge).
It is stated that 4% of generated profit from the fund should be invested in building Norway and suport the welfare system.
That's why people are always complaining about bad roads, schools, hospitals etc. - there isnt enough money set aside.
The fund has passed 400 billion NOK; these are distributed ; 58,7% invested in shares, 41% in bonds og 0,3 % in property (abroad). Imagne the earnings.

Btw Statoil and Aker Solutions are in a demand for competent labour. Now is a good time to apply!

rudeboy: well actually now it is more like 700U$D a month. And this is my own apartment.
The last years salaries on average have increased more than consumer prices, as a result people naturally spend more money on food, goods, and shit they dont really need.
It is expensive to live here, and some things are ridiculious expensive. But salaries are high, so people can afford.
Most people manage good and live good. compared, it is good.
But having a meal at a restaurant, go skiing, cinema/nights out, partying , regular visits to cafes, club memebership at fitness club, staying healthy, transportation (bus/taxi/flights/train), vacationing here ( I have never once done travelling vacation style in my own country---to f*ing expensive); these are the things that are way too expensive.
Clothes and electronic can be reasonable and cheap.
Supermarket/grocery selection are shit compared with other nordic and european countries.
i.ex. Charging 50U$D for a small pizza, without a glass of Pepsi; what the fuck is that about??!!


freshcream: from where?


-rdp

Post: #22

Oslo is supposed to be the most expensive city in the world

Post: #23

Rdp - the Norway model is what ALL countries should aspire too. Canada has loads of oil and other raw materials but I can assure you there is no fund, well not for everyone.

$50 for a pizza is crazy, we pay about $20 and that is expensive in my opinion.

I did like the country when I visited but it seems a bit quite for my tastes, although the scenery and the women were nice.

How cold is it there now?

Post: #24

(01-19-2013 01:09 PM)rdp Wrote:  freshcream: from where?


-rdp

south of Oslo ^^. But I've lived in Tromsø for 5 years...

Post: #25

Hen is in Oslo as we speak. Will be intresting to get a report from him after his stay. Scandinavia is suffering a cold front this weekend with temps down to -20 centigrade.