Norway is one of Europe's more expensive countries. Many Norwegians, however, as well as long-term foreign residents, would say that this high cost of living was always balanced out by the high quality of living that comes with it.
Recent polling also showed that some 63 percent of foreign residents rated the cost of living negatively and it was one of the single biggest concerns foreigners had before moving to Norway in the first place
We at The Local asked for some insight from our readers about what they think and whether the quality of life in Norway is worth the high cost of living.
Here's what they told us.
Is the quality of life in Norway really worth the high cost of living?
Our survey included a poll and a more expansive question.
According to the poll results answering the above question, some 61 percent of respondents voted Yes (that life in Norway is worth the high costs) while 39 percent said No.
In the responses, readers provided a range of views.
For Sebastian, 35, living in Oslo and originally from Chile, the cost of living is hard to swallow sometimes but nonetheless comes with benefits: "I still feel robbed every time I want to have a nice burger out and they will charge you €15 for a simple one with just cheese and pickles. Rent, groceries or any service will cost you at least 50 percent extra than in most countries," he wrote.
"But then I have to remind myself that my kid can go to kindergarten almost for free, that his health is also free," he added. "My health care is very cheap and it has a max expense on a year, after that is free. That we feel super safe on the street and that we don't have to live worrying about our stuff being robbed if we leave them unattended in the park. That in Oslo you can go anywhere in the city with a very well connected public transport system... These kinds of things are the ones that counterbalance the bad feeling every time I want to buy anything and feel robbed by the high price. Is the high price worth it? If that is how a society can live worry free then I think it's worth it."
Another reader, Alex, said: "while the overall quality of life in Norway is generally high, I found that the exceptionally high cost of living is not always proportionate to the benefits received."
"Compared with the average salary levels, everyday expenses such as dining out, home maintenance, transportation, and personal services are particularly costly. The country’s small domestic market also limits competition, resulting in fewer choices of products, retailers, service providers, and direct international flight connections," he added.
M, Alesund, 41, from Canada, simply said that Norway is "too expensive, terrible private services, schools don’t teach anything, you don’t get your guaranteed kindergarten spot, hospitals are old, grocery stores have terrible selection".
For Ahmed, 30, living in Oslo and originally from Pakistan, class also plays a role here.
"If you belong to a skilled profession, you can afford a middle-class lifestyle and even then you won’t be able to save too much on a single income," he wrote. "But if you’re not in a skilled profession, it can get really tough."
"Life [in Norway] is a comfortable cage for skilled workers. They can afford a middle-class lifestyle but they can’t grow out of it into building wealth," he added.
For Adam, 43, living in Bodo but originally from the UK, a combination of factors have combined recently to worsen matters: "I think it’s getting closer to a tipping point. It’s not only the cost, it’s the weak kroner as well that means even trying to escape is even more expensive. What tips the scales for me now is having children."
Like other readers, he views quality of living as more holistic than simply prices and cost of living: "Knowing that back in the UK it's ten times more expensive for an inferior nursery, that wages are lower and that the UK is going through its own challenges and cost of living issue means we’re better off as a family overall in Norway. I accept each person has their own balance to weigh on this issue though."
Thomas, 40, an American living in Stavanger, valued the "great sense of safety and security for myself and my wife and children, which is a byproduct of the high levels of taxation that ensure most people’s basic needs are met."
For him, wealth is measured in more than money: "Norway’s vast, pristine natural beauty is a form of wealth few other places in the world can offer. I also find that while products are expensive, in general they are backed by long warranties that ensure I’ll be able to use a given product for many years, while in other countries products may be cheaper but end up in the dump six months after you bought them."
Lars, a reader in Nordre Follo, felt that the "high cost [of living] is offset by high salaries and what we pay for in taxes."
He said his two hip operations had cost him his co-payment fees (between 150–375 kronor per doctor's visit), and $80.
"I received my full salary for a year while recovering and the health system paid for my transport to my physical therapist and doctors. I am from the US and my quality of life is much better in Norway in large part because we all have it pretty good," he said. "We are smart enough in Norway not to be atomised and vote for views which are counter to our own interests. We know we are all in this together."
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