Moving to Norway: How much money do I need to live in Tromsø?
Life in the Arctic capital of Norway offers plenty of unique experiences and opportunities. But how much does it cost to call yourself a resident of Tromsø?
Located in the heart of the Arctic wilderness is Tromsø, sometimes referred to as the 'Paris of the north' by Norwegians.
Previously, the city was the last port of call before heading off on Arctic expeditions. These days, Tromsø, despite its small size, is a modern and vibrant city.
As the largest urban area in northern Norway, it, along with Bodø, acts as a hub for those who want to live in northern parts of the country.
If you fancy living in a city with the midnight sun in the summer and the Northern Lights in the winter, we've crunched the numbers to let you know how much it'll cost.
Rent: 10,500 – 13,000 kroner (apartment)
Renting in Tromsø can be difficult. Firstly, there are limited homes available on the market for rent. Secondly, due to the local university, there are several bottlenecks each year, which make competition for housing tough.
Due to the smaller market, it can be hard to provide reliable figures on the market. Looking at Norway's largest rental ad listing site, Finn.no shows that small apartments typically go for between 10,500 to 14,000 kroner per month. These vary in price depending on centrality, transport connections and the quality of the finish.
Smaller beds and dorms are slightly cheaper at 9,000 to 10,000 kroner a month. A room in a flatshare is cheaper at 7,000 - 8,000 kroner. For between 19,000 kroner and 30,000 kroner a month, you can expect the pick of the city's largest and most desirable rental properties.
Utilities: 1,000 kroner
One of the many advantages of life in northern Norway is the lower energy prices. Energy prices are lower in the north due to a power surplus.
When using a comparison site for a house with annual consumption ranging from 16,000 kWh (average for a detached house) to 25,000 kWh (, quotes for monthly bills come in between 250 kroner and 350 kroner when using a comparison site. Monthly bills are likely to be much higher during the winter.
Depending on your landlord, you may be required to pay water, sewage and Wi-Fi bills.
Food: 4,270 kroner
Consumption Research Norway (SIFO) estimates that the average cost of food for someone aged between 31 and 50 is up to 4,270 kroner per month.
Eurostat, which monitors price levels across the EU, EEA and EU candidate countries, has ranked Norway with the second highest price level index for food and non-alcoholic beverages.
Only Switzerland had a higher price level index than the countries monitored by the stats agency. A price level index measures the price levels of a given nation relative to other countries. This means that compared to the rest of the other countries measured, food and non-alcoholic beverages in Norway are the second most expensive overall.
READ MORE: Five essential tips for saving money on food shopping in Norway
Transport: 580 for a monthly adult ticket
Tromsø is a pretty small place, so you won't be using public transport to get around all the time. Still, a monthly transport ticket costs 580 kroner for adults. Meanwhile, a single ticket costs 41 kroner kroner. There are discounts for children, adults under 30, and pensioners.
Monthly transport tickets in the city are considerably cheaper than in other places in Norway.
A car won't be required to get around the city but may be worth it for getting around to the surrounding areas.
Here, the cost will depend on the type of car, fuel economy, whether you already own it, whether you bought it outright or are paying in instalments and the insurance costs.
Childcare: 3,043
Roughly 90 percent of children living in Norway attend a kindergarten. The maximum price for a kindergarten spot in Norway is 3,050 kroner per month. This figure doesn't include other fees that parents pay.
When these fees are included, the average price parents in Tromsø pay is 3,043 kroner per month, according to figures from the national data agency Statistics Norway.
Leisure time
It's unlikely that you'll want to be sat all week indoors after moving to a new city, so you'll obviously want to know how much you can expect to shell out for one of the country's infamously expansive beers while out:
Beer: 99-125 kroner
A glass of wine: 105-115 kroner
Cocktail: 120-160 kroner
Coffee: 44 kroner
Cinema: 140- 180 kroner
Meal for two at a mid-range restaurant: 700-900 kroner
A cinnamon bun or hot dog: 45-65 kroner
Gym membership: 450-750 kroner
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Located in the heart of the Arctic wilderness is Tromsø, sometimes referred to as the 'Paris of the north' by Norwegians.
Previously, the city was the last port of call before heading off on Arctic expeditions. These days, Tromsø, despite its small size, is a modern and vibrant city.
As the largest urban area in northern Norway, it, along with Bodø, acts as a hub for those who want to live in northern parts of the country.
If you fancy living in a city with the midnight sun in the summer and the Northern Lights in the winter, we've crunched the numbers to let you know how much it'll cost.
Rent: 10,500 – 13,000 kroner (apartment)
Renting in Tromsø can be difficult. Firstly, there are limited homes available on the market for rent. Secondly, due to the local university, there are several bottlenecks each year, which make competition for housing tough.
Due to the smaller market, it can be hard to provide reliable figures on the market. Looking at Norway's largest rental ad listing site, Finn.no shows that small apartments typically go for between 10,500 to 14,000 kroner per month. These vary in price depending on centrality, transport connections and the quality of the finish.
Smaller beds and dorms are slightly cheaper at 9,000 to 10,000 kroner a month. A room in a flatshare is cheaper at 7,000 - 8,000 kroner. For between 19,000 kroner and 30,000 kroner a month, you can expect the pick of the city's largest and most desirable rental properties.
Utilities: 1,000 kroner
One of the many advantages of life in northern Norway is the lower energy prices. Energy prices are lower in the north due to a power surplus.
When using a comparison site for a house with annual consumption ranging from 16,000 kWh (average for a detached house) to 25,000 kWh (, quotes for monthly bills come in between 250 kroner and 350 kroner when using a comparison site. Monthly bills are likely to be much higher during the winter.
Depending on your landlord, you may be required to pay water, sewage and Wi-Fi bills.
Food: 4,270 kroner
Consumption Research Norway (SIFO) estimates that the average cost of food for someone aged between 31 and 50 is up to 4,270 kroner per month.
Eurostat, which monitors price levels across the EU, EEA and EU candidate countries, has ranked Norway with the second highest price level index for food and non-alcoholic beverages.
Only Switzerland had a higher price level index than the countries monitored by the stats agency. A price level index measures the price levels of a given nation relative to other countries. This means that compared to the rest of the other countries measured, food and non-alcoholic beverages in Norway are the second most expensive overall.
READ MORE: Five essential tips for saving money on food shopping in Norway
Transport: 580 for a monthly adult ticket
Tromsø is a pretty small place, so you won't be using public transport to get around all the time. Still, a monthly transport ticket costs 580 kroner for adults. Meanwhile, a single ticket costs 41 kroner kroner. There are discounts for children, adults under 30, and pensioners.
Monthly transport tickets in the city are considerably cheaper than in other places in Norway.
A car won't be required to get around the city but may be worth it for getting around to the surrounding areas.
Here, the cost will depend on the type of car, fuel economy, whether you already own it, whether you bought it outright or are paying in instalments and the insurance costs.
Childcare: 3,043
Roughly 90 percent of children living in Norway attend a kindergarten. The maximum price for a kindergarten spot in Norway is 3,050 kroner per month. This figure doesn't include other fees that parents pay.
When these fees are included, the average price parents in Tromsø pay is 3,043 kroner per month, according to figures from the national data agency Statistics Norway.
Leisure time
It's unlikely that you'll want to be sat all week indoors after moving to a new city, so you'll obviously want to know how much you can expect to shell out for one of the country's infamously expansive beers while out:
Beer: 99-125 kroner
A glass of wine: 105-115 kroner
Cocktail: 120-160 kroner
Coffee: 44 kroner
Cinema: 140- 180 kroner
Meal for two at a mid-range restaurant: 700-900 kroner
A cinnamon bun or hot dog: 45-65 kroner
Gym membership: 450-750 kroner
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