Rough guide to expenses in Norway

Fortunately, plenty of low-cost airlines fly to Norway, so if you book early, flights don’t have to break the bank. On average, you should budget around €250 to €350 for a round-trip ticket. Just keep in mind that domestic flights within Norway (like heading out west or up north) can easily cost as much as flying into the country from abroad.

Getting from Oslo Airport (Gardermoen) to the City Center

• The Regular Train (Vy): This is your best bet. It costs about €11.50 (134 NOK), runs constantly, and takes 23 minutes.

• The Airport Express (Flytoget): Costs about €23 (268 NOK). It only saves you a mere two minutes compared to the regular train, but it does run slightly more frequently.

• The Shuttle Bus (Flybussen): Around €20 (230 NOK). This is mainly useful if your hotel is outside the immediate city center and closer to one of the specific bus stops.

• Taxis: Taxis in Norway are notoriously expensive. A ride from the airport into town can easily run you €80 to €100+, so it’s usually best to stick to the trains.

Public Transport in Oslo

Oslo has a fantastic, fully integrated transit system called Ruter. The exact same ticket works across all metros, trams, buses, and local ferries within the city center. It’s easiest to just download the Ruter app and buy tickets as you go:

• Single ticket (valid for one hour): ~€4 (46 NOK)

• 24-hour ticket: ~€10.50 (123 NOK)

• 7-day ticket: ~€29 (337 NOK)

Cafés & Quick Bites

• Sandwiches & Wraps: €7 to €12 at a bakery or grab-and-go spot.

• Coffee or Tea: €4 to €6 depending on whether you are getting a regular filter coffee or a latte.

• Soft Drinks: €3 to €4 at a grocery store or kiosk, though it will be closer to €5 to €6 if ordered at a sit-down restaurant.

• Café Meals: Around €18 to €26 for a standard lunch item like a pizza, a burger, or a large salad at a casual diner.

Sit-Down Restaurants

• Pasta Dishes: Expect to pay between €22 and €28 at a mid-range restaurant.

• Main Meat or Fish Courses: Typically start around €32 to €38 in the evening.

• A Beer (0.4L/0.5L draft): Usually runs between €9 and €13 in most central pubs and restaurants, though you can find local neighborhood spots on the east side that serve them closer to €7 or €8.

For a standard single room in the city center, you should expect to pay between €120 and €180 per night.

• Personnel Costs: The average monthly salary within the Norwegian NGO sector typically ranges between €4,500 and €6,200 gross per month before taxes (the employee tax rate is usually around 30%). Crucially, Norwegian employers must also cover an additional employer’s National Insurance contribution (up to 14.1%) plus mandatory occupational pensions and social expenses. These significantly increase total salary costs; ensure you clarify the full “employer cost” model with your potential Norwegian partner during the budgeting phase.

• Honoraria: Average honoraria for a specialized lecture or workshop generally falls between €350 and €600, heavily depending on the speaker’s qualifications, required preparation time, and presentation length.

• Project Auditing: The cost for an independent audit of incurred project expenses varies significantly. Depending on the project’s scale, the volume of transactions, and the specific auditing firm, costs generally range from €1,200 to €3,500 or more. It is highly recommended to request a quote early in the planning process.

• Venue Rental: Prices for renting event or workshop venues in urban centers vary widely, typically starting from €425 and upwards per day depending on the size, technical setup, and location.´
• Per Diems in Norway: Official travel subsistence allowances follow the Norwegian state regulations. The rate is 1,012 NOK per day for overnight travel. If specific meals are provided or covered by the project hosting entities, the rate is reduced accordingly by meal deductions: 20% for breakfast, 30% for lunch, and 50% for dinner.
• Per Diems for Norwegian Partners Traveling Abroad: For activities taking place outside of Norway, please consult the official government overview for travel expenses outside Norway