Cost of Living

An estimation of a student's cost of living is made and revised yearly by the Norwegian Immigration Directorate. Their recommendation is that you need NOK 9 250 a month to cover your expenses as a student in Norway. Approximately one third of this budget will cover your housing expenses, another third will be needed for food, and the rest will cover books and other expenses.

Degree seeking students: please note that the budget above does not include tuition fees.

Consult the OANDA Currency Converter for the latest exchange rates.

Budget living

Transport in Oslo: the student ticket is good value. It can be used on all public transport in Oslo, including busses, metro (T-bane), trams (trikk) and ferry boats. The ticket costs NOK 380 (February 2013, subject to change) and is valid for 30 days. Additional tickets can be bought for additional zones if you are travelling out of Oslo.

A single ticket within Oslo costs NOK 30 (valid for one hour).

Please note: The student ticket is only valid together with your BI student ID card. Different prices apply for students aged 30 and over. Consult www.ruter.no for further information.

Groceries: some grocery stores are more expensive than others. Kiwi and Rema 1000 are the cheapest. Look for discount products from First Price, Euroshopper, Ica and Coop.

Head to Grønland (East of the city centre) to find international shops with fresh fruits and vegetables at lower prices.

Going out to eat or party: In Norway it is particularly expensive to eat (and drink) out. This is why Norwegians prefer to invite friends over to their home for dinner parties or pre-parties before going out on the town.

Another tradition, and a good way to save money, is the "matpakke" – packed lunch. The Norwegian version typically consists of bread slices with cheese and ham. It is very common in Norway to bring a matpakke to school, work or even for a picnic in the park.

Student canteens are typically cheaper than other cafes/restaurants. The Food Court at BI serves a wide variety of reasonably priced cold and hot dishes. Please note that no meal plans are available at BI.

Enjoy nature: the Norwegian “Allemannsretten” ensures your right to access uncultivated land in the countryside for recreation and exercise purposes. Feel free to pick berries, swim in the lakes and rivers, climb the mountains and make your camp under the stars.

Use your monthly transport pass to go island-hopping with ferry boats in the Oslo Fjord, or access the forest of Nordmarka by T-bane or bus.

Museums and galleries: entrance to a wide range of museums and galleries in Oslo is free of charge.

payment methods

Cash
It is always a good idea to carry some cash. ATMs are widespread and accessible. You can also withdraw cash in most shops if you buy something.

The Norwegian currency consists of "kroner" (NOK) and "øre". 100 “øre” make up 1 “krone”.

Credit cards
The use of credits cards is widespread in Norway, and they are normally accepted even for small amounts such as car park and toll fees. Eurocard, MasterCard, VISA, American Express and Diners Club are the most common credit cards.

Please note that some grocery stores/supermarkets do not accept foreign credit cards. If in doubt, ask before shopping.

Part time work

As a student, you are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week, as well as full-time during holidays. For most jobs, knowledge of the Norwegian language is a requirement, so finding a part time job can be difficult if you do not speak Norwegian. Your biggest chance is with unskilled jobs in the service sector (hotels, cafés, restaurants, bars).