How much does it cost to raise a child in Norway: nurseries, clubs, nappies and benefits (updated 2025)

Parents in Norway like to joke that 'First, the state takes your taxes, and then it gives them back to your children'. The joke is actually quite close to the truth: childcare is subsidised, nappies are 50% off, and every child contributes barnetrygd to the family budget every month. But how much does it actually cost mum and dad? So, to make things easier, we've put together a list of the 10 most common questions we've received about raising a child in 2025. We've got all the answers, along with some helpful tips and tricks to make life a bit easier for you.

How much does a full day at nursery (barnehage) cost today?

Hey, just so you know, as of 1 January 2025, the government's 'makespris' has been reduced to 2,000 NOK/month, plus an average of

380 NOK for food and tour fees. SSB statistics show an annual median of 22,803 NOK, which is 28% less than in 2024, thanks to the new cap. Don't worry - the cap is there to make sure that private kindergartens can't charge more than a certain price. If they do, they might lose their state subsidy.

What benefits reduce the cost of kindergarten?

The '6% income' rule is there to make sure that a family will never pay more than 6% of their total gross income for a place. We really want to help parents with an annual income of less than NOK 400,000, so this is great news for them! And for those with younger children, there's a really generous 20 hours of free 'kjernetid' for kids aged 2–5, which is available for families with incomes under NOK 669,050. The threshold is set to rise from 1 August 2025, so be sure to check out the latest details! Hey, just so you know, Barnehage is offering a sweet 30% discount for the second child and an amazing 100% discount for the third!

What does a family receive if a child stays at home (kontantstøtte)?

The government really wants all children aged 13–23 months to have the best possible start in life, so if they don't go to a subsidised nursery, they will pay NOK 7,500 per month to help out. Don't worry - the amount is reduced proportionally if your child attends nursery one to four days a week. Hey, just so you know, this benefit is great news for parents working part-time. The best part is that it's not taxable, which is a huge perk!

And how much does after-school care (SFO/AKS) cost?

From August 2024, children in grades 1–3 will be delighted to receive 12 hours of free SFO per week, with parents paying only for meals (around 300 NOK). The lovely people at Trondheim municipality and OEC have kindly estimated the full package (Monday to Friday until 5 p.m.) at 3,280 NOK/month.

How much do nappies cost per month and how can I save money?

A pack of 30 Libero Comfort nappies is just 61.90 NOK (2.06 NOK per nappy). Hey, just so you know, on average, people use about eight of these a day, which works out at 495 NOK a month. Hey, just so you know, the KIWI PLUS S and Coop Extra discount programmes offer a 50% discount, which is great news! This means that the budget drops to approximately 250 NOK.

How much does baby formula (morsmelkerstatning) cost?

The popular NAN Pro 1 (800 g) is sold for 193 NOK at Oda and up to 235 NOK at Foodora kiosks. A newborn is a little sponge! They eat around four cans per month (3.2 kg), which works out at 770–940 NOK. Hey, just wanted to let you know about some sweet deals you can score at Apotek1 right now. They've got this awesome '3 for 2' promotion going on, and if that's not enough, you can also grab a 10% discount on online subscriptions.

I was wondering how much children's sports clubs cost for football and swimming?

Football for little ones aged 6–7 in NFF clubs costs just 400–650 NOK for the whole season (April to October), and includes the brilliant referees and dedicated volunteer coaches. Swimming school in Trondheim is super affordable at just 690 NOK for four lessons, which works out at only 173 NOK per lesson. I'm so excited to tell you that the 8-lesson course in Vestfold is just 1,860 NOK! Most municipalities offer a 20% discount for siblings and set up a 'Aktivitetspass' fund for families on low incomes (< NOK 600,000).

How much will the state pay in barnetrygd in 2025?

And, as of 1 May 2025, the universal child benefit will be increased to 1,968 NOK/month for each child aged 0–18. Barnetrygd is tax-free and doesn't count towards most benefits, but if you move abroad for more than 3 months, it's reduced.

I'm wondering if there's any support available for students who are parents?

Lånekassen kindly pays 2,087 NOK/month for each child to students who are enrolled in full-time education; the third and fourth children receive 1,357 NOK each. And the great news is that the grant doesn't need to be repaid! All we ask is that the children live with their parent for at least 40% of the time. Don't worry, you only need to attend one interview with Lånekassen per academic year.

How can I dress my child inexpensively?

FINN Torget is a busy bee, posting more than 180,000 ads every day in the 'Foreldre og barn' section. You can find everything from a Ralph Lauren T-shirt for 50 NOK to trainers for 200 NOK. Hey, why not add some fun to your wardrobe by checking out the free clothing swaps with Nab Çağlar? And if you're feeling extra thrifty, you can even score a whole wardrobe for less than NOK 1,000 per season at their school loppemarket! And here's an added bonus: you'll be helping to reduce your carbon footprint, which is always a great feeling.

I totally get it, childhood in Norway can be more expensive than in many EU countries, but the great deals available really help to take the pressure off. You only pay 2,000 kroner for barnehage, after-school care is partially free, and the KIWI PLUS voucher makes expensive nappies a thing of the past. When you put together barnetrygd, kontantstøtte and local rabatt passes, you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much lower the real cost of raising a child is than you might have thought. I totally get it, the money you save is better spent on fun activities like swimming or skiing lessons — experiences that will stay with your child longer than any gadget. Welcome to Norway, where the state really helps raise happy children!