Today’s post is an update of a past post on cost of living. It strives to give you an idea of what you might expect to spend on daily expenses in Bergen/Norway. Keep in mind, these are just rough ideas of different common costs, you may have to think through other expenses – such as if you’re bringing clothes, bedding, and other household items or if you’ll have to buy them here.
Sadly, Norway is not a cheap place to live. Image: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/21/map-expensive-countries_n_6510018.html
The University of Bergen (UiB) offers a page that details the cost of living, that helps give an idea of expenses. While Norway does have a high cost of living, the UiB page estimates NOK 10 400 per month (2016) would cover most expenses including books, study materials, food, housing, clothing, transport and social activities on a student budget.
Let’s talk about your penger (money). Image: http://inspiringtravellers.com/expensive-norway/
The UiB page also offers examples of Norwegian prices, to which I’ve made a few additions:
Monthly Expenses
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- Monthly rent at Fantoft for a single student room: between NOK 2715-3175 (and some options as low as NOK 2045-2835) for an individual (including electricity and internet)/month. Prices may range lower or higher for Sammen (formerly SiB) student housing depending on the unit. (Prices may increase each August)
- Student seasonal transit pass for 1 month (Skyss): NOK 485/per month (students under 32), NOK 810/per month (students over 32) for 1-2 zone travel (Bergen zone).
- Groceries NOK 300-400 per week, NOK 1500 – 2000/mo. Read more about grocery shopping in Norway here, or here.
Image: http://www.benjaminfoods.com/products/groceries/
Occasional Expenses
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- Textbooks (1 semester): approx. NOK 1,600–3,500 (from UiB’s 2016 information). Check out this blog for ideas on how to seek out cheaper textbooks.
- Dinner at the student cafeteria: the UiB page estimated NOK 55-100 for 2016
- Dinner at an inexpensive restaurant: UiB estimated NOK 120-160 in 2016 (Keep in mind, it costs extra to eat at the restaurant rather than take food to go). I personally think those prices are more descriptive of fast take-out food, and dinner in a restaurant, even an inexpensive one, is more likely to be NOK 170, give or take. A fast food-type restaurant, however might have options for as low as NOK 70-100 (I recommend Tre Kroner (pictured below), Nirvana Kebab, Pasty World and Gresk Pai in the Sentrum.
Trekroneren (The 3 kroner… or crowns), the most famous hot dog joint in Bergen. Sorry, it will not cost you 3 kroners. Image: http://www.travelramblr.com/norway/eating-in-bergen.html
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- Ingredients for making an inexpensive dinner for one person at home: approx. NOK 30–60 (UiB 2010/2011 estimate).
- Cinema ticket: NOK ~120-160 (remember you can also potentially win cinema tickets from Student Bergen!)
- Semester fee: NOK 590
- Student membership at Sammen training (the gym): NOK 1100
Image: http://www.bergenbyarkiv.no/bergenbyleksikon/arkiv/1425003
Some possible expenses that the UiB page didn’t address include:
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- Wine and Beer at a bar (remember, with restaurants and bars, tips are not large and generally not expected): average around NOK 70-120 per drink (sometimes there are cheap options ranging from NOK 35-60)
- Beer in Vinmonopolet (the wine/beer/liquor store): 40-120 per bottle
- Concerts: NOK 50-600
Reggie Watts concert at Nattjazz, Photo: Stand Hiestand
- Cell phone, either prepaid (from 0,99 per minute for calls (Telenor), NOK 10 per MB data (max per day is also NOK 10), 0,69 per SMS) or subscription (NOK 249-799/mo). For more mobile phone information, check out this post.
- Haircut: starting at ~ NOK 200 (men), 300 (women). Click here for more information about haircuts.
‘Sometimes a really good cappuccino is worth the 40 kroner’, or ‘Kaffemisjonen has good coffee’. Image: http://www.kaffemisjonen.no/
- Coffee shop cappuccino: NOK 35-49
- Doctor visit copays: starting at ~190 for a consultation
For another resource that gives estimates of typical costs in Norway, click here.
Hi There,
This page contains valuable information for living expenses, Thank you for upgrading the latest information. However, I would like to ask about financial matter. I have been admitted to University of Bergen and for visa purpose I have to transfer my fund to SIB deposit account. I want to know, if for some reason my visa is rejected will I be refunded the transferred amount?
Please upload any link regarding this issue or any information that will be helpful for students.
Hi there,
You have a very understandable concern. I’m a student so I don’t know the details of this particular issue. But my basic understanding is: this is your money, when you arrive in Norway you get a personal bank account and transfer it there. So, if you were unable to come for some reason, you should of course get it back. It isn’t exactly a refund because this money is not a deposit to the university, but rather just your money in an SiB account (put there so the immigration agency (UDI) can verify that you have it). I would recommend checking out the SiB page about the account for visa purposes and emailing them directly at sib.okonomi@sib.no to get confirmation on this and to find out exactly the details of how the transfer back to your home bank account would work. Hope that helps!
Hi Saifun,
I asked the same question and I was told if I didn’t end up going I would get the money back.
All the best,
Anthony
Thanks for sharing your experience, Anthony!
Hi there,
Thank you so much for your valuable information’s regarding living and other costs. I am planning to apply for UIB. I have a question. Is there any opportunity for students to work? Will it cover my living expenses? (I am asking this question because I am an International student and it is difficult for me to manage my daily expenses from my parents)
It would be a great help if you kindly inform me about this matter.
Cheers
Waich
Hi there Waich, thanks so much for taking the time to comment! Yes indeed there is a chance of working as a student. Students with a study permit are allowed to work up to 20 hours while in school and longer during breaks. It can be difficult to find a job if you are a non-Norwegian speaker, but it is possible with persistence to find something. Check out my blog on trying to find work in Bergen for more tips. This link may also be helpful for more information about working in Norway. I wish you luck finding a job and managing your expenses, I know it can be a challenge!
Hello , this post is valuable . Thank you for the updated information . However , I would like to ask about some matters . Is there any chance of getting a part time job in Bergen so that I can arrange these expenses ??? And do you have any idea , after reaching Bergen how much time it may take to arrange a part time job ?? I will be grateful if you let me know .
Thanks in advance .
Hi there,
Yes of course there is a chance of getting a job. It can be difficult as a non-Norwegian speaker, but it is possible with persistence to find something. I am sorry I can’t predict how long it would take you to find something, it depends a lot on a variety of factors, but if you are determined to find something and work hard at that, it may go faster 🙂 You can take a look here for my blog on trying to find work in Bergen. When looking for a job it may be helpful to contact employers directly or check finn.no or other sites that have job vacancy postings (click here for a list). If you are looking for more information about working in Norway, this link may be helpful. I wish you luck finding a job!
Your blog is sooooooo helpful thank you so much. I am from South Africa and looking to study in Norway, all the information here has been so helpful❤️
Really glad to hear you are getting something out of it 🙂
Hope you come out to Norway to study!