Many people who have never lived in Norway live with this misconception as if Norway was a country full of money and whoever works there, he must be rich. Maybe for very few, it’s the truth, but for most of us – not.
I remember one time, around two years ago, I visited in Gjøvik a family (not mine, someones I have no longer contact with), that from afar seemed quite rich, because they owned a big wooden house, etc. However, when I entered, you came into a poor, village style house, with really, really small bedrooms and the only thing that was expensive in this building was TV. Since then, my view on Norwegian living changed. Or rather: my idea of how Norwegians really live.
Don’t get me wrong: there’s nothing wrong with having the wrong idea of how people really live if you have never lived somewhere and no one from your family really did. And come on, there’s literally nothing about Norway in media, at least when it comes to Polish ones. Till late high school, I didn’t even see much difference between Scandinavian countries… and I ended up studying Norwegian language and culture (you never know where you will end up, so don’t stress out too much with choosing schools if you do it now).
Anyway, I did a blog post about the monthly cost of living in Norway here. I provided the numbers, but I didn’t include all the other things that come and happens in normal life. Because when I was living as a student, I didn’t have a car to pay for. I didn’t have to consider paying for taxes also, didn’t think about paying hundreds for some pills. I mean, no one really thinks about such things until they have to.
To go bowling costs hundreds of NOK. To buy pills costs hundreds, to go for coffee costs around two hundred, and don’t even start me on buying alcohol. And you have to be really lucky with a job to have enough money to cover all those treats or necessities when you have to pay rent, food, and gas for a car. No wonder people from there are known to live minimalistic. Because you can have your expenses and have some savings, but then suddenly you get fined for wrong parking and thousands are gone.
Moral from the story is that nowhere is really colorful about money until you’re having a good job (which technically you can have anywhere). Norwegian payment is only good if you’re spending it abroad, not in Norway itself (although there still are some products that are sometimes cheaper than in Europe).
I hope you guys enjoyed my insight on finances in Norway. Hopefully, you’re having a lovely weekend as well (my partner is currently visiting me so I’m over the moon). See you on Wednesday!
againorway 