Oslo, Norway Report of what it's like to live there - 05/08/26
Personal Experiences from Oslo, Norway
Background:
1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?
Not our first rodeo, lived all over Europe, Asia, Latin America.
2. What is your home city/country? How long is the trip to post from there, with what connections? How easy/difficult is it to travel to this city/country?
From North America, there are daily nonstops to New York, or otherwise easy connections through major European hubs. We also have Turkish, Emirates, Qatar Airways so easy to get to from the rest of the world as well.
3. What years did you live here?
2024-2026.
4. How long have you lived here?
Two years.
5. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
Diplomatic mission
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
Housing is varied from city apartments to houses in the suburbs. Oslo is growing and finding accommodation can be quite challenging, regardless if you are doing it yourself, or if your company/embassy is doing it. Houses tend to be large with longer commutes. Note that Oslo is hilly and we have six months of winter. This means that a suburban house may (or will) involve driving up a steep, icy driveway. Many streets and sidewalks aren't plowed, even in the city center.
As labor is so expensive here, most housing has some sort of issue or problem that can take forever to be resolved. Note that refrigerators tend to be very small (even smaller than standard European sizes) and it's not uncommon to purchase an additional fridge. One convenient thing is that all of Oslo has great public transport, so you'll never be far from a bus that will take you downtown, or to the nearest T-Bane (metro) or rail station.
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
Let's start with the fact that Norway is not in the EU and has massive tariff barriers against EU food products. This makes the vast majority of the food very expensive (it is also relatively tasteless). There are literally maximum two local producers for everything (e.g. butter, frozen fish, etc), so you learn to choose the least-horrible and that is your staple.
We can get goods from the rest of Europe on occasion, but you'll pay for it. Or drive 90 minutes to Sweden and stock up (see the refrigerator comment above). Household supplies are fine. Grocery delivery is available, but prepare to donate an organ to afford it. Large grocery stores are all closed on Sundays, so forget having a peaceful Saturday. On a good note, every neighborhood in Oslo has a small store with staples, so you'll always be able to get the basics. Learn to love the import stores, especially in Gronland, but really anywhere in the city. If it says something like "Turkish imports" go there. Much more quality, selection, and better prices.
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
You can get most things here if you look/try. Americans complain about the lack of Mexican food options, but that's about the worst of it.
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
There are several local delivery services, expensive, but they do the trick. You save a ton by just picking up the food yourself. Oslo does have decent pizza, thai, and indian/pakistani food. But again, prepare for the prices. Or just stop by the nearest convenience store for a bacon-wrapped hot dog like Norwegians do. They are pretty good, and make up a disproportionate number of meals for us.
5. Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
No insect issues, we are too far north. Outside Oslo there are mosquitoes, though.
Daily Life:
1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?
If you have embassy access it is so much better. There are post facilities but they are expensive. They will charge huge import duties and mysterious "handling fees" even if you are a diplomat and exempt from customs fees.
2. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
Get good at cleaning, cooking, and doing chores yourself. Cleaning services do exist and they are in high demand and pricy. The issue is that Norway has very low unemployment and high salaries, so there is little incentive for anyone to take a menial job. If you have kids, it will be a struggle to find babysitters, if you can find them at all.
3. Do you feel that it is safe to walk, run or hike outside? Are there areas where bike riding is possible? What is the availability and safety of outdoor space for exercising? Are these easily accessible?
It's the safest country on earth, and one of the most fitness/outdoor-oriented places. Everyone is running, biking, skiing, swimming, etc. And children from a very young age take the T-Bane and bus by themselves. If you are into any kind of fitness or outdoorsy activity, you will find it here.
4. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
Norway is (nearly) cashless. Credit cards are pretty much accepted everywhere. Locally, Norwegians use a bank transfer program called "Vipps" which is how you pay for parking, used goods on the local online marketplace (Finn.no), and for baked goods at the local school fundraiser. It is a huge pain to get Vipps set up as a newly-arrived foreigner, but it's becoming pretty essential for life here.
5. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
Nearly every Norwegian (or resident of Oslo) over the age of 7 speaks fluent English. While Oslo has a large immigrant population, they all learn Norwegian quite quickly as well, so the only non-Norwegian speakers are new expats and (very) recently arrived refugees. That said, Norwegian is not difficult to learn and there are plenty of resources to do so, both online and in person.
I've found Norwegians very accommodating and willing to tolerate me trying to conduct day-to-day stuff in Norwegian, especially when I've told them I want to practice. That said, it's nice when I need to do something complex where I lack the vocabulary to be able to switch to English. Note if you speak German or Dutch, Norwegian is even easier to learn (and Swedish and Danish of course as well). The hardest thing is that Norwegian has no standard spoken form, so outside Oslo you may hear accents that sound like completely different languages. With my bad Norwegian, I can understand Swedish in Stockholm much better than Norwegian in Trondheim.
Transportation:
1. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
Public transport is comprehensive and excellent. It's not cheap (well, nothing here is), but monthly/yearly passes are available. Literally all of Oslo is accessible. Taxis are common, but very pricy. Uber and Bolt are also available.
2. What kind of vehicle(s) including electric ones do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, infrastructure, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car or vehicles do you advise not to bring?
As of writing in 2026, 50% of cars in Oslo are electric. And with 85% of new car sales being electric, petrol (gas) cars are becoming more rare. And many petrol stations are switching to e-chargers only. So do consider what kind of car you will have here and for how long. Note that you will need winter tires by law, and it is much cheaper to buy them outside Norway. You can get most common car types serviced here, again, expensive.
Phone & Internet:
1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
Internet is fine, easy to set up (though more helpful if your company/embassy does it).
2. Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
You can get a prepaid SIM card from Telenor or Telia without a D-Number (your ID number that can take a while to get on arrival). The plans are fine for staying in Norway, the EU, and the UK. But remember to set up additional data packets or phone minutes for anywhere else.
Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:
1. What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?
There are job opportunities, but the Norwegian labor market is challenging. Assuming you can work either through a bilateral agreement or as an EU national, many jobs will state "fluent Norwegian required" designed specifically to weed you (the expat) out. That said, there is enough need in the country that there are jobs, but it helps tremendously if you have professional contacts or in-demand skills. Wages are high, but so are social contributions and taxes.
2. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
Smart dress is appreciated, but like everywhere nowadays, more casual. The exception is the 17 of May holiday when a suit/tie and fancy dress is obligatory for everyone in the country.
Health & Safety:
1. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
Safest country on the planet. Biggest issue is the weather; don't take winter lightly in terms of driving, or getting lost in snow/ice.
2. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
Strong medical care.
3. What do people who suffer from environmental or food allergies need to know?
Everything is well-marked, and every shop has a "free from" section with gluten/dairy/nut/etc free stuff. Some pollen in the spring, but not much else.
4. Are there any particular mental health issues that tend to crop up at post, such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (winter blues)?
Norwegians call the worst of the winter "The Dark Time" and it is true. You need to get outside whenever there is sun on either side of the winter solstice, and take Vitamin D supplements. And get a happy lamp. And plan a week in Spain/Greece/Dubai sometime each winter.
5. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?
The cold isn't as bad as you'd think, but it does last well into March. The summers are getting warmer faster in Norway than almost any other country, and there can be some pretty stifling days in July (and no AC here). You'll be tired of hearing the Norwegian saying "There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes" but it is true.
Schools & Children:
1. What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?
OIS is the best-known, located in Baerum just outside Oslo. There are other options (e.g. Nordlys) and more international schools to take a look at. I don't know anyone that "loves" OIS; it's not-great to fine. If you have a child that requires special needs, or is gifted, seriously consider whether moving to Norway is a good idea. Norwegian schools (less so OIS) tend to teach to the middle, and social cohesion is valued more than pushing students.
Overall, teachers are caring and the kids are happy, but even the OIS curriculum is pretty stuck in the 1990s. They are making improvements and genuinely seem to care about community feedback, but don't expect a world-class experience. Best advice is to shop around for schools to see which is the best fit. And note that Norwegian schools assume kids are ok to go home by themselves at 3 (or 1:30 on Fridays for local schools), and if you are working at an embassy or company that doesn't keep Norwegian hours, childcare will be a challenge. Note that you will need to purchase/rent skis for cross-country skiing as it is part of the national curriculum.
2. Are preschools available? Day care? Are these expensive? What has been your experience with them, if any? Do the schools provide before- and/or after-school care?
The Barnehage system for preschool is excellent. A bit challenging to get set up, but once in it is the best of Norwegian education. However, yeah, no after care.
3. Are local sports classes and/or activities available for kids?
There is quite a bit on offer, and we know kids that do all sorts of activities. The barrier to expats is how decentralized the information is, and it is all in Norwegian, but the kids do well. Expat kids are welcome and the instructors/coaches will happily repeat instruction for non-Norwegian kids in English.
Expat Life:
1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
The expat community is huge for the size of Oslo. Lots of folks involved in oil/gas, but this has expanded into many other fields as well. Plus a very large number of expats that have married Norwegians and moved here. This tends to make the community pretty dispersed. Outside work and the schools, it is very hard to meet people.
2. What are some typical ways to socialize, either with local people or with other expatriates? Are there groups or clubs that you can recommend?
There are books written about Norwegian social culture. As a rule, most Norwegians will want to be very respectful of your personal space, and won't engage you in conversation unless there is a purpose (e.g. "your shoe is untied", or "there are great blueberries to pick around the next bend."). Most Norwegians meet their circle of friends at age 8, and only expand it when they join their long-term partner's friends. So having a shared hobby/interest is really critical.
3. Is it easy to make friends with locals here? Are there any prejudices or any ethnic groups who might feel uncomfortable here?
It is not easy, assume that as a short-term expat you will make zero local friends of your own. Your kids probably will though.
4. Is this a good city for LGBT expatriates? Why or why not?
Yes, one of the best in the world.
5. Are there problems with ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious prejudices? Gender equality?
Oslo is quite diverse, and overall there isn't nearly the same issues that exist elsewhere in Europe, but of course plenty of underlying prejudice exists. In terms of gender equality, it's world-leading by the numbers.
6. What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
There is no question that Norway is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe. Lofoten, the Aurora over Tromso, hiking in the fjords, or even just hanging out in a mountain cabin are experienced not to be missed. Oslo itself is surrounded by nature and it is always available, but then you can fly for an hour to see jaw-dropping mountains. Getting stuck into the quirks of Norwegian culture can be fun, like unlimited ice cream for kids on the national day celebration, or reading a crime-fiction book over the Easter holidays.
Words of Wisdom:
1. What do you wish you had known about this particular city/country before moving there?
Just how truly isolated from the rest of Europe it feels. It's very provincial, and the attitude of being apart from Europe (and super wealthy) gets old. The winter, the dark, the prices were all anticipated. However, when you are dealing with the same plastic-tasting cheese again, you really yearn for a world where cheddar exists.
2. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?
Honestly no. For a dual-income, childless couple who is into the outdoors, it's paradise. And it's a wonderful place to visit, people are friendly, it is super safe. So compared to a hardship post elsewhere, sure it's a nice break, but pretty much anywhere else in Europe is just better in so many ways. I feel like life in Norway seems to require 20-30% more effort than elsewhere because of the school issues, the lack of progress and change from the culture, and the super-local rules that take forever to understand and are essential to life. And you pay 20-30% more for everything for the privilege.
3. If you move here, you can leave behind your:
petrol-powered car, desire to drink alcohol.
4. But don't forget your:
snow spikes, blackout shades, and trust fund to pay for it all.
