💸 Student budget 2025/26: a real case study by month
🏠 Rent
Housing is the largest expense.
● Oslo: NOK 6,000–8,500/month (SiO is cheaper, hybel is more expensive).
● Bergen: NOK 5,000–7,500/month (Sammen offers the most affordable rooms).
● Trondheim: NOK 4,500–7,000/month (Sit dormitories compete with the private market).
📌 Tip: choose a student union hall of residence for stable prices and priority for accommodation.
🍞 Food
Average budget — 3000–4000 NOK/month.
● Kiwi and Rema 1000 are the cheapest shops.
● Meny and Coop are more expensive but offer more choice.
● There are cheap student canteens at UiO, UiB, and NTNU.
👉 Life hack: buy frozen food in large packages and cook with your neighbours.
🚍 Transport
● Oslo (Ruter): 550 NOK/month with a student discount.
● Bergen (Skyss): 490 NOK/month.
● Trondheim (AtB): 475 NOK/month.
📌 Studentbevis (Sikt) is required to activate the student discount.
📚 Study materials
Usually 500–1000 NOK/month.
● Subscriptions to electronic libraries reduce costs.
● Paper textbooks can often be purchased second-hand through Finn.no or student clubs.
🎉 Leisure
Average budget — 1000–2000 NOK/month.
● Gym membership at Sammen/Sit/SiO ~250–400 NOK/month.
● Cinema: NOK 120–150 per ticket (with student discount).
● Coffee shops and bars — 50–100 NOK per drink.
📌 Tip: take advantage of student discounts and look for free events — concerts, lectures, interest clubs.
🏙️ Oslo
🌧️ Bergen
🎓 Trondheim
The great thing about studying in Norway is that the cost of living varies from city to city, so you can really tailor your budget to your lifestyle! Oslo is a bit more expensive but offers so many more opportunities. Bergen and Trondheim are cheaper, but you'll need to plan ahead.
📌 Here's a great tip: keep track of your expenses in a table or app, and set aside at least 10% in advance for those unexpected expenses.
FAQ
On average, NOK 12,000–14,000 per month, including accommodation, food, transport and leisure activities.
Demand is higher, especially in the summer. SiO dormitories are cheaper than hybel on the private market.
Only if you live in a dormitory, cook at home and minimise your leisure activities. It's almost impossible in Oslo, but slightly easier in Trondheim.
Textbooks, stationery, online library subscriptions and sometimes software.
Buy groceries at Kiwi/Rema 1000, cook in groups, and use discount apps (Too Good To Go).
Yes, according to UDI rules, students can work up to 20 hours per week during the semester and full-time during the holidays. This helps cover transport and part of the cost of food.
In winter, expenses increase for clothing and heating (if you have a hybel with separate bills). The average increase is 500–1000 NOK.
No. There is sufficient public transport in cities. It only makes sense to have a car for travelling around the country.
