How much do you need to earn to live in Oslo? We calculate the gross monthly salary required to cover rent, food, transport, and utilities — accounting for Norway's tax system.
You need at least kr28,701/month gross to live in Oslo on a budget.
For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for kr39,426/month gross (kr30,950 net after ~22% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | kr13,000 Cheapest neighborhood (Tøyen) | kr18,500 Median neighborhood | kr20,000 Premium neighborhood (Frogner) |
| Groceries | kr4,500 | kr5,400 | kr6,750 |
| Transport | kr850 | kr850 | kr850 |
| Utilities | kr2,000 | kr2,000 | kr2,000 |
| Dining & Entertainment | kr3,500 | kr4,200 | kr5,250 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | kr23,850 | kr30,950 | kr34,850 |
kr28,701/month gross
kr39,426/month gross
kr45,318/month gross
1-bedroom second-hand rents across 5 neighborhoods in Oslo
Tøyen
8 min by metro
kr13,000 - kr16,000
Grünerløkka
10 min by tram
kr15,000 - kr19,000
Majorstuen
8 min by metro
kr16,000 - kr21,000
Frogner
12 min by tram
kr17,000 - kr23,000
Sentrum
0 min by walk
kr16,000 - kr22,000
Majorstuen
8 min by metro
kr16,000 - kr21,000
See all 5 neighborhoods, detailed expense breakdowns, and savings projections.
Explore OsloEnter your actual salary to see your take-home pay, affordable neighborhoods, and savings potential.
Open calculatorWe total monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then reverse-calculate the gross salary needed to cover those expenses after Norway's income tax and social contributions. Rent data comes from second-hand market listings (what expats actually pay). All figures are based on 2026 data from official government statistics. See our data sources for full attribution.
On a budget lifestyle, you need at least kr28,701/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Oslo. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for kr39,426/month gross. These figures include rent, food, transport, utilities, and dining out, with taxes calculated for Norway.
The average 1-bedroom rent across 5 neighborhoods in Oslo is approximately kr17,800/month. Rents range from kr13,000 in Tøyen to kr23,000 in Frogner.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Oslo cost approximately kr4,500. This covers basic home cooking. Dining out and premium food will add to this budget.
Tax rates in Norway are progressive. At the budget salary level of kr28,701/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 17%. At the comfortable level of kr39,426/month, it rises to approximately 22%. This includes income tax and social contributions.