What’s the first word that comes to mind when you think of Norway? It seems that for many people it’s ‘expensive’.
We all heard that Norway is expensive to visit. The question I had before our first trip was HOW expensive is Norway? I mean, what’s expensive to someone coming from Southern Asia or Eastern Europe, might seem very reasonable to someone coming from Belgium or the UK…
Hence this post with real-life examples of how much everything costs in Norway. This should help you to get a better idea of how expensive Norway actually is, so that you can estimate how much money you need to visit Norway. Find out!
Disclaimer: Prices provided here and the exchange rates used are correct at the time of writing and are only meant to give you an idea of how much everything costs in Norway.
Good to know: Norway currency is Norwegian Krone (NOK). At the moment of the last update, 1 NOK equals 0,09 EUR or 0,095 USD. If you just want to get a rough idea of the prices in Norway, simply divide the amount by 10. So, for example, 100 NOK is 10 EUR or 10 USD.
READ ALSO: Norway Travel Guide – an overview of all our guides to various destinations in Norway
How expensive are the flights to and within Norway
Unless you come from the other side of the globe, flying to Norway might actually be rather cheap compared to the rest of the trip.
There are several budget carriers flying to Norway, including Norwegian that sometimes offers transatlantic tickets for 250-300 EUR each way. Flights from European destinations to Norway usually cost around 100-250 EUR round-trip. But there are so many factors that can influence the price.
If you fly to Oslo, you might find cheaper tickets than if you would fly to the smaller, regional airports. However, take everything into account, not just the flight price. You might save 50 EUR on a flight, but then spend two days to get where you need to get, and it will cost you hundreds more…
There are many search engines online where you can check flight availability and find the best deals for your trip to Norway. And don’t forget to search for alternative airports as it sometimes makes a big difference in price.
Prices for flights within Norway vary significantly depending on the airline and the airports you fly. If there’re budget carriers operating the route, you might find flights under 50 EUR round-trip, whereas on other routes it might cost you 200 – 300 EUR or even more.
Traveling to Norway from Europe – fly, drive, or cruise
If you are traveling to Norway from Western or Central Europe, you might be wondering if it’s not easier to simply drive to Norway by car instead of flying or taking a cruise. It really depends.
We live in Belgium and first time we planned a trip to Norway, our first idea was that going by car to Norway would be cheaper than flying. But – in our case – it wasn’t. So you really have to make calculations for yourself and see what works best.
On one trip, we flew to Norway with KLM from Amsterdam and paid 260 EUR per person for a return flight to smaller regional airports (luggage and other extras included). It’s not cheap, and on top of that, we still needed to rent a car.
It’s actually quite easy to drive to Norway from Belgium by car, and we met many people who did that. But when we calculated how many days extra that would add to our trip, added the fuel costs, the ferry, extra nights hotel, and the food we would need, it turned out that it was still cheaper to fly and rent a car in Norway. Even with a family of five people.
On all our recent trips to Norway, we flew as well.
In some cases, booking a cruise might be even cheaper than flying or driving. If you consider this, take a look at our guide with the main reasons to visit Norway by cruise.
How expensive is it to rent a car in Norway
Norway is the most expensive country for car rental from all our trips, except for Iceland.
For our first Norway road trip, we rented a comfortable car for 5 people, an estate, VW Passat. It cost us about 155 EUR per day (130 EUR car rental + 25 EUR zero liability insurance).
On more recent trips to Northern Norway and Lofoten, we used this website to search for the best deals (and by now we learned to book well ahead!). Usually, we manage to find a rather big family car in the high season for about 60-70 EUR per day, including full insurance.
TIP: The way to save some money is not to rent a car for the days when you don’t absolutely need it. Parking is very expensive in Norway, just as car ferries and toll roads. So only rent a car when you really need it, and use public transport for the rest of the trip.
How expensive is fuel in Norway
At the moment of the last udpdate, fuel prices in Norway are around 20-22 NOK (2-2.2 EUR) per liter, depending on the area and on the fuel.
It’s comparable to Switzerland, and about 10-15% more expensive than in most Western European countries.
How expensive are toll roads in Norway
Luckily, there weren’t that many toll roads on our recent trips to Norway.
After a two-week road trip exploring the fjords if Southwestern Norway, we received the bill from our car rental company and we had to pay just 32 EUR for toll roads in total. Not too bad for 1600 km. We paid a lot more for toll roads in Portugal or France.
On a recent road trip in Northern Norway we didn’t encounter toll roads at all. But there was one ferry crossing that we had to pay via the toll system of our rental car.
However, it really depends on where you drive. For example, the recently opened under-sea tunnel Ryfylke near Stavanger has a toll that varies depending on the type of vehicle you drive, with prices varying between 70 NOK and 170 NOK (10-17 EUR). You pay significantly less if you’re driving a zero-emission car.
Good to know: Most rental cars are equipped with a special system that keeps track of all the tolls you have to pay. When the car rental company gets the bill, they charge it on your credit card. If you are not sure how it works, make sure to inquire when renting a car.
How expensive is car parking in Norway
If you have to park your car in a city in Norway, it will cost you around 15-25 EUR per 24 hours. Furthermore, it’s not always easy to find a parking spot in towns and cities.
So if you are planning a road trip around Norway, keep this in mind when researching where to stay.
Once again, only rent a car for the days when you really need it.
How expensive is public transport and car ferry in Norway
We used public transport a couple of times in Norway. While not cheap, the prices were reasonable. Here are some examples:
Bus prices in Norway
Here are just a few examples of what it costs to take a bus in Norway:
Airport transfer by bus from Stavanger airport to Stavanger city center costs 160 NOK/ 16 EUR one way or 240 NOK/ 24 EUR round-trip. Tickets are about 15% cheaper if bought online in advance. Up to 4 kids per adult travel free of charge if you choose a family ticket. We researched the prices of the bus and the taxi and found out that taking a taxi would cost more than three times that amount.
Bus from Stavanger to Bergen costs 650 NOK/ 65 EUR per adult. But if you book a family ticket, you pay this same price for one adult and one child. For the five of us, we bought two family tickets and one extra child ticket which was half the price. You can find more information and book tickets for this route here.
Airport transfer in Trondheim with an express bus costs 149 NOK/ 15 EUR for adults. Kids travel free with adults (but require a ticket). There are also city buses that are somewhat cheaper (but also take longer).
How expensive is taxi in Norway
Taking a taxi is really expensive in Norway. We only took a taxi once during our trip, when we had to get to our car rental with our suitcases and three kids on a rainy morning in Bergen. For a distance of just 2 km, we paid 150 NOK/ 15 EUR.
On another occassion, we were quoted over 30 EUR for an even shorter ride and in the end, the taxi didn’t even show up, so we simply walked… So if you can avoid taking a taxi in Norway, you can save quite some money.
Ferry and car ferry prices
Here are some examples of what ferry costs in Norway:
Car ferry prices in Norway vary a lot depending on the routes. Most 20-40min ferry crossings cost around 150-200 NOK/ 15-20 EUR for a car including a driver, and around 50-100 NOK/ 5-10 EUR for adults, half price for kids.
Some ferries are a bit cheaper, others – more expensive. If I recall well, the cheapest car ferry we took was 160 NOK/ 16 EUR for a car and our family of five.
The longer car ferry route, e.g. Geirangerfjord from Geiranger to Hellesylt costs about 700 NOK (70 EUR) for a car including a driver, plus 335 NOK (34 EUR) for each additional adult.
How expensive is dining out in Norway: food, drinks, alcohol
Food prices in Norway vary a lot depending on the place (big town, remote hotel), the shop, café, or restaurant.
Below, you can find an overview of food and drink prices in Norway. Note that these are café and restaurant prices, based on how much everything cost during our recent trips in Norway. Even when we went to a supermarket, most supermarkets were in rather touristy areas, so prices might be a bit lower in less touristy places and supermarkets where locals shops.
Here are some examples to give you an idea of how much food and drinks cost in Norway:
Food prices in Norway
- Sandwiches cost around 80-100 NOK/ 8-11 EUR. Similar prices everywhere: on a ferry, at a petrol station, etc.
- Ice cream costs 30-60 NOK/ 3-6 EUR. Or you can get a pack of 6 for the same price at a supermarket. Soft ice is very popular and even more expensive.
- Hamburger menu at the McDonald’s or Burger King costs around 100-160 NOK/ 10-16 EUR.
- A hamburger, a pizza, or a sandwich meal at a café costs around 200-300 NOK/ 20-30 EUR.
- Pasta dish costs from 200 to 300 NOK/ 20-30 EUR.
- The main fish or meat course at a restaurant will quickly cost you 300-400 NOK/ 30-40 EUR and more.
- Dessert prices at a restaurant start at around 120 NOK/ 12 EUR, often up to 200 NOK/ 20 EUR.
Here are some real-life examples of how much we paid for food in Norway. A few years ago, in Florli, we had a salmon dish for just 190 NOK/ 19 EUR, while at Preikestolen Base Camp at the trailhead of the Pulpit Rock hike, the cheapest bowl of soup cost 98 NOK/ 10 EUR.
The cheapest meal we had (apart from McDonald’s) was the pizza buffet for lunch in Bergen; it cost 110 NOK/11 EUR for adults and 60 NOK/ 6 EUR for kids.
On the most recent trips, we usually paid 20-35 EUR per main dish, depending on the restaurant and what we had. Sometimes, you can get a huge pizza for 20 EUR, and other times, you pay more for a simple fish sandwich…
Drink prices in Norway
- Tap water is delicious in Norway and all restaurants serve water for free.
- Soft drinks cost around 40-60 NOK/ 4-6 EUR.
- Coffee or tea costs 30-40 NOK/ 3-4 EUR.
- Cappuccino or late costs around 50-70 NOK / 5-7 EUR.
- Beer prices at a café usually start around 80- 100 NOK/ 8-10 EUR.
- The cheapest bottle of wine at a restaurant costs from around 450 NOK/ 45 EUR. A glass of wine usually at least 100 NON (10 EUR).
Below is an example of a minibar price list from the Radisson Blu Royal Garden Hotel in Trondheim. These prices are from a few years ago, so they are all a bit higher now. But because the exchange rate is now more favorable, the prices I indicated in EUR are approximately correct.
Tipping in Norway
It’s not expected that you tip in Norway, but people tend to round up the bill. Hotel staff and taxi drivers don’t expect a tip. However, almost every restaurant bill we received in Norway had some space foreseen for tips.
I read on some internet forums that while not obligatory, it’s becoming more common to leave a tip of 5-15% if you are satisfied with the service.
With such high prices and salary levels, I would think it’s not necessary to tip in Norway. But if you feel like it and leave a small tip for an exceptional service, it will certainly be appreciated.
How expensive are museums and other activities in Norway
Here are several examples of how much we paid for various activities in Norway:
We visited several museums in Norway (Norwegian Canning Museum in Stavanger was one of our favorites). Most museums cost around 100-200 NOK/ 10-20 EUR for adults, half price for kids, and free for children under 6.
There are cheaper tickets for families, students, or seniors. On top of that, many museums offer combination tickets with other activities or museums in town, so it’s worth looking into that.
Prepare to pay 50 EUR for a fjord cruise, 20-40 EUR for a cable car or funicular, and over 100 EUR for boat trips, kayak tours etc. Most attractions have discounts for children.
Here you can find all the best tours in Norway and check the prices.
The most expensive tours are winter tours in Northern Norway – e.g. dog sledding in Tromso or snowmobile tours in Svalbard.
How expensive are hotels in Norway
The price of hotels in Norway highly depends on the place and on the period when you are visiting. Just to give you some idea, most hotels we stayed at cost us anywhere from 1100 to 3000 NOK/ 110 – 300 EUR per night for a family of 5. But recently, we also paid about 400-500 EUR per night for some really nice accommodations (for the family).
Sometimes, we had a big family room or two connecting rooms, sometimes a suite, sometimes an apartment, and on the recent trip to Lofoten – entire rorbuer cabins. In most cases, it was not the size of the room that determined the price the most, but the location of the hotel.
The most expensive hotels were in Flam, Sogndal, and Geiranger. Also Lofoten accommodations, Tromso hotels and Longyearbyen hotels in Svalbard are very pricey.
The cheapest accommodation can be found in bigger towns like Oslo, Stavanger, Trondheim, Alesund, Kristiansund, etc. For us, Bergen was an expensive exception to this rule, but if you just need a regular 2-person room, you’ll find more affordable options.
Is it cheaper to rent a cabin or stay at a private apartment instead of a hotel?
If you are staying at one location for a longer time when visiting Norway, then it might be worth considering renting a cabin or an apartment. However, if you are just staying somewhere for one or two nights, don’t get fooled by the seemingly lower price of private accommodations. Usually, there are lots of extra fees, like bed linen, towels, cleaning, etc.
In most cases, it is not worth the hassle for a short stay, as it costs just as much as a hotel. On top of that, hotel prices usually include breakfast, and it’s another big cost to consider if staying in self-catering accommodation in Norway.
PRO TIP: The best way to save on accommodation costs in Norway is to book well in advance, especially if traveling in the high season.You can find the best deals for Norway accommodation here.
Alternatively, take a look at the accommodation map below – insert your travel dates, location, and group size, and you’ll see everything that’s available in that area for your travel dates.
Do you need cash in Norway?
I received so many questions about paying by credit cards vs. cash in Norway, that I decided to update the article to include this information.
In principle, you don’t need any cash in Norway and should be able to pay by credit card pretty much everywhere. Ideally, you should have a card with a chip and a PIN code. Credit cars that require a signature and have no PIN aren’t widely accepted in Europe anymore.
TIP: If you are traveling from the US and have no card with a pin yet, here you can find the best credit cards for travel.
The first time we visited Norway, took some cash from an ATM upon arrival in Norway, but the only time it was really necessary was when we decided to buy some fruit and raspberries from a farmer next to the road. For the rest, we kept it till the last few days of the trip and used it for our last dinner, paying the difference by card.
On our subsequent trips, we didn’t even take cash at all and only used credit cards everywhere we traveled in Norway.
Norway Money FAQ
In addition to all the info above, here are some frequently asked questions that we get in regards to money matters, prices, and budgeting for a trip to Norway:
How expensive is a trip to Norway?
How much your trip to Norway costs will depend on the duration of your trip, the season when you travel, the transportation you use, accommodation choices, and tours. It’s, therefore, impossible for us to tell you exactly how much money you need for a trip to Norway. The biggest cost is your flight, car rental, accommodation, and tours – all the things that you can research online before booking your trip.
How much cash to take to Norway?
You don’t really need any cash in Norway because credit cards are accepted everywhere. You can withdraw an equivalent of 50-100 USD in Norwegian currency from an ATM upon arrival in the country, but it’s likely that you will have most of that money left at the end of your trip.
Do you tip in Norway?
Tipping in Norwayisn’t customary and you are not expected to tip. However, it’s becoming more common to round up the restaurant bill if you feel that the service was exceptionally good.
How much is a meal in Norway?
Depending on the restaurant and what you order, count 200-400 NOK (20-40 EUR) for a warm meal for lunch or dinner in Norway. In addition, add around 40-100 NOK (4-10 EUR) for a non-alcoholic drink.
So, this is our money guide for traveling to Norway. I hope it will help you have a better idea of what to expect and how much to budget for your trip to Norway.
Planning a trip to Norway and not sure where to start? Take a look at our detailed 2 week Norway road trip itinerary for some inspiration.
** Traveling to Norway soon? Don’t forget travel insurance!**
More travel tips and destination guides for Norway:
- Stavanger:
- Best Things to Do in Stavanger
- Where to Stay in Stavanger
- Pulpit Rock Hike
- Florli 4444 Hike
- Flam:
- Things to do in Flam + 1 Day Itinerary
- Lofoten:
- Lofoten Travel Tips
- Best Things to Do in Lofoten
- Where to Stay in Lofoten
- Lofoten in Summer
- Tromso:
- Best Things to Do in Tromso in Winter
- Tromso Itinerary
- Where to Stay in Tromso
- Northern Lights in Tromso
- Svalbard:
- Svalbard in Winter
- Here you can find all our Norway articles:Norway Travel Guide
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