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How much money do you need to earn to live comfortably in Oslo?

Average pay, Oslo rents and the fixed monthly costs.

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Short answer

There is no official figure for a comfortable salary in Oslo, but the average monthly pay in Norway was NOK 62,070 before tax in 2025. In 2025 an average one-room flat in Oslo and Bærum rented for NOK 10,090 a month and a two-room flat for NOK 15,260. A 30-day public transport ticket for zone 1 costs NOK 655.

Salary and tax in Norway a wallet with a few Norwegian krone coins, a receipt and a small price tag in front of a mountain silhouette

Why

  1. Statistics Norway (SSB) puts average monthly earnings in 2025 at NOK 62,070, up 4.5 per cent from NOK 59,370 in 2024, with part-time pay converted to full-time equivalents.
  2. In SSB's 2025 rental survey, rents in Oslo and Bærum were above the national level: NOK 10,090 for a one-room flat against NOK 8,770 for Norway as a whole.
  3. Ruter cut the adult 30-day ticket for zone 1 in Oslo from NOK 805 to NOK 655 on 3 May 2026.

Details

SSB's earnings figure is gross pay, so the amount you take home after tax is lower. After rent and transport, the rest of the budget goes to food, electricity and other costs. OsloMet's SIFO reference budget, updated with 2026 figures, shows normal monthly consumer costs for different households, but it leaves out housing, electricity, holiday travel and eating out.

Tip

Use the SIFO reference budget calculator for your household type, then add your actual rent and electricity, which the budget does not include.

What may differ

A family needs more than a single person, and rents differ between neighbourhoods. SSB's rent figures for Oslo also include Bærum.

People also ask

  • What salary do you need to live in Oslo?

Sources

Prices change, so check Statistics Norway (SSB) and Ruter before you go.

Salary and tax in Norway

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