Norway’s capital, Oslo, is the traditional landing point for foreigners moving to the country for a new job.

The city is home to many international firms and startups, and the country’s high wages and good work-life balance make it attractive to workers.

Oslo also has the country’s largest immigrant population. In 2024, 34.69 percent of Oslo’s residents were born abroad or in Norway to two immigrant parents.

When it comes to wages, figuring out what’s considered a good salary can be difficult. Foreigners in Norway are typically paid less than locals, with the biggest gaps existing between foreign women and Norwegian men.

How much money do people in Oslo make?

A good wage will depend on a number of factors, such as the sector you work in and how much money you need to support your family and cover your living costs.

However, some clues can be found in the country’s wage statistics. According to the national data agency Statistics Norway, the average annual salary in Norway was 668,400 kroner.

As mentioned earlier, immigrants make less than Norwegians. In 2023, immigrants earned an average of 50,270 kroner per month—or 603,240 a year. Large differences exist between individual immigrant groups, too.

READ MORE: How much money do Norway’s different foreigners make?

Furthermore, the average wage nationally isn’t the same as in Oslo. Workers in Oslo made 63,910 kroner per month on average last year.

The average in Oslo is skewed by the capital being home to many of the country’s highest overall wage earners, such as CEOs of large firms. Even then, the median was 56,380 kroner every month in 2023.

Another factor that will dictate whether you are considered to be making a good wage is your industry. Managing directors made an average of 92,580 kroner per month, compared to the 39,440 monthly take-home pay of cleaners.

You will need to take living costs into account

One factor that will eat massively into your income is the cost of housing in the capital.

The cost of property in Oslo ranges between 71,525 kroner per square metre and 97,949 kroner per square metre, depending on whether it’s a detached property or a flat.

In Norway, the average detached home is 160 square metres. A home of this size would cost 11.4 million kroner in Oslo when using the average price per square metre, while a 70-square-metre flat would cost 6.85 million kroner.

To get a mortgage in Norway, you can only have debts totalling five times your yearly income, and you will need a minimum of 15 percent deposit.

A monthly mortgage payment on a 70-square-metre flat valued at around 6.85 million would be 33,794 kroner, with a minimum deposit of just over one million kroner.

The good news for those wincing at this number is that there are plenty of properties in the capital that can be bought for, say, five million kroner. This would amount to monthly mortgage payments of 24,667 kroner—with a minimum deposit of 750,000 kroner.

READ ALSO: What foreign residents in Norway need to know to get a mortgage

Rent is also expensive. Figures from the rental agency Utleiemegleren show that the average monthly cost of a three-room apartment was 22,289 kroner in July 2024. A detached house had an average monthly rental price of 29,643 kroner, while a one-room studio would be available for around 13,851 kroner.

There are other costs to consider in Oslo, such as the price of a monthly transport ticket, which will be 747 kroner for adults from September 2024, and the average monthly cost of kindergarten, which is 2,881 kroner.

So, what’s a good wage?

For many, making good money simply means earning an above-average income that covers their living expenses and leaves them with enough to invest or spend.

Being paid on par, or better than the locals, will also be a point of satisfaction for many foreign workers.

Furthermore, earning more than the industry average can generally be considered a sign you are on good money – although if you work in a low wage industry this won’t be the case.

The threshold for a good income will be lower if you don’t have any dependents or if you have a partner who also works.

How much space you are after will also affect things. If you’re happy with a room in a flatshare while you establish yourself, then the median or average wage will be more than enough for you to cover your expenses and have some money left over to enjoy.

If you want a place to yourself, you could probably afford a one-bedroom apartment or studio on around the average wage—but you would maybe need to be more careful with other expenses.

Should you have a family and will be the sole breadwinner for a while, then you may need a salary in excess of one million kroner a year to feel somewhat comfortable.