Norway is a quiet and calm country. Today it is a state very different from many other countries in Europe. This happened due to the fact that some time ago gas and oil deposits were discovered on its territory, and the government was able to properly organize the process of resource exploitation. Norway continues to be a prosperous state and at the present time, some difficulties combined with the sometimes harsh climate do not stop those who want to emigrate here. Life in Norway is leisurely and quite comfortable.
What can surprise a country?
The Kingdom of the Fjords is a place that surprises with the high level of culture of the people living here. Almost all citizens of the state are as honest, responsive, and trusting as possible. It is unique and original, attracting not only tourists, but also those citizens who plan to move here for permanent residence.
The peculiarities of the country lie in its nature, which is unique. Large green mountains, huge blue lakes, beautiful local landscapes do not leave anyone indifferent. Tourism is a large part of how Norway lives. Travelers come here from all over the world. Comfortable living conditions, warm and hospitable hosts, a variety of possible types of recreation - all this makes Norway a country whose visit leaves only pleasant impressions.
Norwegian climate
This is an area with a temperate oceanic and subarctic climate. Winters here are quite mild, the average January temperature is 2 °C below zero. In the northern regions, the cold can be very severe, the temperature can drop to -40 °C. Summer in this country is rainy. The average air temperature is 15 °C in the south and 10 °C in the north.
The amount of precipitation varies from region to region. Thus, in the west of the country there are more of them than in the east: 3000 and 800 mm per year, respectively. Residents of Norway are accustomed to such a climate, but an immigrant, especially if he lived in central Russia, has to adapt to such weather for a very long time.
Mentality
Norwegians are very open and free people. Some features of their way of life attract the close attention of guests of the country:
- a private house is never locked during the day;
- women fiercely defend gender equality;
- they have long been accustomed to homosexual relationships;
- the Norwegian mentality does not allow them to be careless about the environment;
- The country enjoys skiing with great love.
Anyone can live the way ordinary people live in Norway. You just need to understand the customs of the country, adapt to the climatic conditions and show respect for others.
Standard of living in Norway
The land of the midnight sun has about 5 million citizens, however, the standard of living is one of the most decent in the world. This is ensured by high export turnover of gas and oil produced in the country. The pride of Norway is a society well-built on social-democratic principles. The absence of rich and poor is the key to a calm economic situation in this country.
There is no social stratification; the standard of living of the population in Norway is above average. Even a simple cleaner earning a standard salary for the country can save up to buy her own home in a few years. Any bank will calmly provide the missing amount in the form of a loan.
Cost of products
Food and drink in Norway are not cheap. In order to save money, those citizens who can afford long trips travel to Sweden 3-4 times a month to purchase various goods. High food prices can be explained by the fact that the country pays well for work. Pensioners receive cash payments, the amount of which allows them to live comfortably. A complete food basket for one adult costs CZK 2,500 per month.
Some guests of the country ask questions about how much bread costs. It, like other products, is not cheap. So, a half-kilogram bun will cost 23 crowns, which is the same as 2.5 euros. In Russia, such a cost would be considered greatly inflated.
Prices for clothes and shoes
Prices in Norway for these goods are also high, so locals go to neighboring countries to shop. However, it is worth noting that everything produced in the kingdom of the fjords is of excellent quality. Thus, an original sweater made of natural wool can cost from 1000 to 5000 CZK. Outlets located in Europe offer similar products at more affordable prices.
Housing and transport
The cost of renting real estate is high, but it correlates well with the average salary. Renting a room in Oslo is not easy: it can cost about 750-800 euros. Renting an entire apartment in the capital is beyond the means of most visitors, so migrants have to settle in the suburbs.
You can buy your own home in Norway only after several years of work. The amount that is not enough for the purchase can be requested from the bank. Reliable borrowers are not refused, so it is quite possible to become the owner of your own home. The cost of housing is calculated in square meters and is about 3,000 euros in the suburbs.
Transport in this country is expensive. One trip on the metro or bus costs 2.2 euros. More profitable are passes for a day, a week or 8 trips, which cost 5.35, 18.15 or 13.9 euros respectively.
Pros and cons of living in Norway
Northern Norway rarely pleases with the gentle sun and does not offer a serene beach holiday to its tourists.
However, this fact did not prevent international experts from recognizing the fjord country as the most comfortable for living compared to even the most developed European countries. The right choice of social policy and successful investment of mineral resources have made Norway the envy of neighboring countries, and to Russians and Ukrainians, former compatriots who settled in Norway seem lucky.
There are both pros and cons of living in Norway - this article will help you decide whether the gamble is worth the candle.
Advantages of living in Norway
Migrants who previously lived in Russia or Ukraine, but have already settled in the northern state, often draw an analogy with their country of birth. They highlight the following advantages of Norway:
- Favorable ecology and beautiful nature - mountains, waterfalls, clean air.
- High-quality drinking water that does not require multi-level filtration.
- Prosperous socialism. Life in Norway is based on the absence of class inequality - there are no rich and poor here, a significant part of the population are people with average earnings.
- Almost complete absence of crime and rejection of corrupt practices.
- The life of the population is not complicated, but significantly simplified by government institutions. The work of the bureaucratic system allows people to go through all procedures quickly, without unnecessary queues and nerves.
- The average salary in Norway is considered the highest in comparison with European countries. It allows you to travel around the world calmly and regularly.
- A fashion for a healthy lifestyle has been introduced and is being actively promoted - smoking is prohibited, but no one seeks to violate the prohibitions.
- The indigenous people of the country are very friendly and will easily provide the necessary help and support.
Disadvantages of Norwegian life
Norway, like any other country, has its own unpleasant characteristics. Disadvantages of living in Norway:
- A progressive taxation system that led to high taxes.
- The peculiar Norwegian climate, which leads some to apathy and constant insomnia.
- There is a small selection of products in local shops, and what is available is very expensive. It is almost impossible to purchase strong alcoholic drinks - their prices are outrageous. Buying clothes and using public transport are also expensive.
- A calm and measured life, on the other hand, turns out to be very boring, especially for young active people. On Sunday, everything is closed, including shops and shopping centers.
- There are very few cultural events. There are only a few clubs where you can have fun, and those who like to sit in a bar with a glass of something strong will have to fork out quite a bit.
Obviously, the recognized Norwegian socialism will not be a paradise for everyone - some will love this way of life, others will not like it. In order to finally understand the nuances of local life, it is necessary to carefully study all the main factors that lead to the pros and cons of living in Norway.
Standard of living
The small territory of the Kingdom is home to only 5,000,000 people. Norway was able to make the dreams of the USSR about the formation of a social democratic society that would take into account the interests of each group of the population into reality. Life expectancy in the country is high – up to 83 years.
The average salary for all professions is more than decent; everyone feels like an essential member of society.
There is no social stratification between the poor and the rich, and it is quite logical that corruption does not develop in such a society.
Even working as a cleaner or janitor in Norway, you can afford to buy real estate - banks easily provide loans. Paying money to the bank from your salary will not be a burden at all.
Interesting! The correct use of natural resources, which the Norwegian land is rich in, helped to organize a prosperous life for the country. They are actively developing oil and gas fields, and along with Russia they are selling them to European countries.
The cost of production is low due to developed technologies. At the same time, it is important to competently use the funds received from the sale, which the Norwegian government is fluent in doing.
Work and wages
The conditions for workers in Norway are excellent: the official working day starts at 8 am and lasts 7.5 hours. But most often, employers neglect this rule, and in practice, working Norwegians are at work from 10 am to 4 pm. Overtime is not practiced, but if such a need arises, additional hours are paid at an increased rate.
The average annual salary before taxes is 57,000 euros or 530,000 crowns, which is equivalent to almost 5,000 euros per month. People earning 23,000 euros per year are considered poor. Increased income is received by workers employed in the field of computer technology, the oil industry, businessmen and specialists with higher education.
Compared to other countries, workers' wages are the highest. The work of a manager or manager, on the contrary, is paid much lower than in other countries.
Tax system
According to the country's tax code, the more a person earns, the higher taxes he pays. This is how social balance is maintained - the more successful are forced to pay high taxes, which go towards benefits and pensions for less fortunate fellow citizens.
Tax deductions amount to at least a third of the salary, sometimes even more. But when paying them, it is worth remembering that these funds provide high-quality social and medical services, the quality of which is significantly superior to that in Russia.
If the average employee's income is below average and is 27,000 euros per year (about 250,000 CZK), then the tax will be 36%. With an income of 10,000 euros per month, you will have to pay 55% of your hard earned income to pay taxes. The highest tax is 80%. In addition, all so-called “luxury items” are taxed: yachts, villas, luxury cars, expensive antiques.
Price level
Food is very expensive. A standard set of products without frills will cost 2-3 times more in Norway than in Russia.
Norway is for a healthy lifestyle, so it is very difficult to buy strong alcohol or even wine. The sale of alcohol is allowed in some stores at a very high price, so Norwegians buy alcohol at airports - in Duty Free shops.
Some residents of the Kingdom are accustomed to traveling to neighboring Sweden on weekends to buy groceries for the week. At the same time, wages, benefits and pensions are 8-10 times higher than in Russia, even for low-skilled professions, so the high cost of products is completely justified. Stationery, clothing and various household items are sold at Russian prices.
The cost of a liter of gasoline is almost three times higher than in Russia, so buying a car is unprofitable, as is traveling by public transport. Norwegians are used to getting around on bicycles.
Norwegian citizens are accustomed to saving on food and gasoline.
However, if you pay attention to the cost of utilities or rental housing, you will notice that these indicators are not too different from the cost of the same services in Russia in 2021.
There is no need to save on electricity or water - lights can be turned on in all rooms of the house without fear of huge bills. For Germany, for example, this is unacceptable - prices for utilities there are prohibitive.
Social benefits and unemployment
Popular support is highly developed and is maintained at the proper level in 2021. Norwegians who need their own housing receive loans on preferential terms for the purchase of real estate; students are offered a government loan for housing and food, subject to submitting an application to the country's credit fund.
Unemployment benefits are paid only to Norwegian citizens and persons who have received permanent or temporary residence in the Kingdom. In addition, to receive payments, the following conditions must be met:
- The previous place of work was registered with the person for at least 8 weeks, the foreigner lived in the country legally and worked under a contract.
- Employment occurred within 3 months after the move.
- During work, accrued taxes were paid on time and in full.
- Registration with the employment service has taken place, and interaction with it occurs - the unemployed attends the proposed interviews, takes advanced training courses.
If the requirements are met, a benefit is awarded, which ranges from 800 to 1200 euros monthly. The average benefit is a percentage of the salary at the old place of work and is paid throughout the year. While searching for a job, the state pays the unemployed for utilities and some other expenses.
Medical service
Any resident of the Kingdom who has lived on its territory for at least a year can receive preferential medical care. In addition, he is required to pay health taxes throughout his stay in Norway.
Free medical care is provided only within the amount provided by the insurance company - all expenses above it are paid independently.
The only exceptions are minor children and pregnant women.
Dental services are provided only for a fee, as well as psychological assistance. The northern climate often negatively affects the psychological state of those living in Norway, so depression and apathy are not uncommon here.
Medical insurance only covers the treatment of complex mental illnesses; you will have to pay for the help of a psychologist out of your own pocket. But it’s worth paying for it - the treatment and attitude of doctors towards patients in Norway is excellent.
Life in Norway is built on mutual trust between the state and the population. Prosperity, comfort and justice reign here. The consistently beautiful landscapes, ecology, culture and friendliness of the local people attract migrants from all over the world. Some people will find such a life boring - everyone has their own opinion about Norway.
Source: https://turimm.com/immigratsiya/plyusy-i-minusy-zhizni-v-norvegii.html
Work and salaries in the country
Read also: Norwegian citizenship Average salary in Norway
The average annual salary of a local resident is more than 55 thousand euros. A person who earns less than 23 thousand euros per year is considered poor in this country. Employees in the computer, oil, and business industries receive increased income. The living wage in Norway consists of several indicators. As a result, you can receive an amount not exceeding 2000 euros. This is the money needed to live for two adults for a month.
Norway tax system
Residents have to pay according to their income. The more successful a person is, the higher taxes in Norway he pays to the state. If we talk about amounts, then on average we have to share one third of the salary. With an income of 27 thousand euros, 36% will have to be paid in taxes. If a Norwegian earns 120 thousand euros a year, then he will give 55% of these funds to the state. The highest tax in the country is 80%. Luxury items are also subject to taxation: villas, expensive yachts, luxury cars, jewelry, antiques, jewelry.
Salaries of workers in various areas of the national economy
The size of an employee's salary largely depends on the field in which he works. Those employed in the IT industry make good money. In this area the average income of a worker is 55,000 CZK per year. Television and radio workers receive significantly less, but still a lot - 45,000 crowns per year.
Mining industry workers and financiers have the highest incomes: CZK 65,000 and CZK 58,000 respectively. Construction workers earn about 40,000 CZK per month. As elsewhere, those employed in the hotel and restaurant business can count on very little income. An ordinary cook or waiter earns about 29,000 CZK.
What is the minimum salary in Norway? There is no single standard. Each industry has its own regulations.
Social Security
Various types of public support are widely developed in Norway. All those in need of housing receive it on preferential terms; to provide their families with food, citizens can apply for a state loan. To do this, you need to fill out an application addressed to the country's credit fund.
Payment of benefits
Obtaining various subsidies in Norway is not difficult. Making payments is simple; in some cases, it is enough to send a letter by mail. The envelope should include an application for provision of support measures, photocopies of the documents on the basis of which this must be done. It is also important that benefits are issued only to those who are registered in the country and have their own personal number.
For children
Payments intended for those who have a child are reduced to the following types.
- Maternity funds.
- One-time payment.
- Monthly child support allowance.
- Compensation for a nanny's wages if the child does not attend kindergarten.
Also, every woman can count on receiving alimony if the baby’s father does not pay it. In this case, a monthly additional payment of 1430 CZK is assigned.
For unemployment
Its level in the country is low, but the indigenous population and persons with the right of permanent residence receive benefits if such a nuisance as loss of work happens to them. To assign a payment, there are certain conditions under which a Norwegian citizen will receive unemployment benefits. Its size ranges from 800 to 1200 euros per month. During the period of searching for a place of work, the state is also ready to take on utility bills and some of the citizen’s other expenses.
Pension amount
Upon reaching the age of 67, a resident of Norway becomes a pensioner and has the right to receive payments. The minimum average pension is $27 thousand per year. This is not very much, however, it is quite possible to live on this money. Tax deductions make life easier for seniors. Retirement age may come earlier. Certain categories of citizens retire at the age of 62. Children rarely help their parents, because a pension in Norway often provides its citizens with a quite decent standard of living.
How long is maternity leave in Norway?
Some of the best conditions for a young family were found there: maternity leave in Norway lasts according to the mother’s choice:
- 46 weeks (10.5 months) with 100% pay.
- Or 56 weeks (13 months) with 80% pay.
Maternity leave in Norway starts at the latest 3 weeks before giving birth, and you literally won’t be allowed to work until three weeks after giving birth. A woman can take her maternity leave as early as 28 weeks , but usually these 9 weeks are left for the postpartum period, and instead they take sick leave, which in Norway is 100% paid. According to statistics, about 70% of pregnant women in Norway are on sick leave starting from the third trimester.
The main condition for a mother to go on maternity leave is to work for at least 6 months before maternity leave (including sick leave). That is, if you get a job in the middle of the term, you will not get good payments. But, at least during pregnancy and maternity leave, the employer does not have the right to fire an employee.
Dad can take 12 weeks off too! Then these weeks are deducted from the mother’s leave, and she herself must go to work or study. Moreover, parents have the right to distribute these weeks as they please: for example, mom can stay with the child for three months, then dad for two months, then mom again for the remaining 7 or 10 months, and then dad again for a month. I hope the principle is clear.
Dad also gets 2 weeks of additional, fully paid leave to be at home with his family for a couple of weeks after the baby is born.
Single mothers and divorced mothers receive full maternity leave, i.e. with paternal weeks - a total of 58 or 68 weeks (13 or 15 months).
Education system
It involves three stages of schooling:
- primary – from kindergarten to 7th grade of secondary school;
- secondary – from 8th to 10th grade;
- high school - three more years of study, which will give the teenager the opportunity to enter a college, school or university.
Children of foreigners can also receive education in the country of the fjords. There are international schools where you have to pay for your stay. Studying in Norway is accessible to almost everyone. Every person who has successfully completed a course of study at a basic high school has the right to higher education.
Medicine
All residents of the country are required to have insurance, regardless of citizenship. Services are provided according to an unusual scheme for Russia. In Norway, a system is being implemented that presupposes that each patient has a so-called family doctor, who carries out the initial appointment and, if necessary, refers to specialized specialists. You can choose your “personal” doctor yourself.
An appointment with such a specialist must be paid for. Cost – from 150 to 200 CZK. Children and pregnant women visit the doctor free of charge. Medicine in Norway “works” in the interests of its citizens. If expenses for this part exceed 1,800 crowns per year, then the state will compensate for the overpayment. The only exceptions are the services of a dentist and a physiotherapist.
Earnings in the country by profession in 2021
The level of wages in Norway varies depending on the professional activity. Eg:
- The income of air transport pilots is CZK 84,000 (€8,945).
- The income of managers and executives is CZK 73,900 (€7,870).
- Income for lawyers is CZK 63,600 (€6,770).
- The income of financiers is 60,300 crowns (6,420 €).
- Architects' income is CZK 55,900 (€5,950).
- Programmers' income is CZK 56,300 (€5,995).
- Teachers' income is CZK 48,200 (€5,130).
- The income of police officers is CZK 47,500 (€5,060).
- Teachers' income is CZK 42,800 (€4,555).
- Nurses' income is CZK 42,100 (€4,4835).
Russians in Norway
At the moment there are more than 16,000 Russians in the country. You can obtain the right of residence in different ways:
- by marrying a citizen;
- finding a job at an enterprise;
- having entered the university.
Life in Norway through the eyes of Russians looks more than decent. However, this does not mean that everything will be presented to the displaced “on a silver platter.” To achieve a good standard of living, you must work and follow the rules of this country.
Difficulties in adaptation
Successful and rapid integration into society is possible only in one case: knowledge of the Norwegian language is required. This increases your chances of getting a good job. Reviews from Russians contain information about courses that are organized in almost every city. There you can get acquainted with the culture of the country and its traditions.
The way Norwegians treat Russians shows their wariness towards immigrants. More than half of the indigenous residents are in favor of limiting the influx of immigrants. However, upon meeting, it becomes clear that the inhabitants of the country are open and hospitable people who have a negative attitude only towards those who do not want to integrate into their society and accept the rules of life.
Where do they work?
Most immigrants associate moving to Norway with working in a large oil producing company, where wages are very high and there are a large number of jobs. In reality, everything turns out differently. Only highly qualified specialists can find employment in such corporations. The rest have to look for other employment.
Work in Norway is very accessible for Russians in the social sphere. Help desk employees receive about 30 thousand crowns per month. To use the device, you must know the language and have a specialized education. Low-skilled personnel work in fish processing plants or agricultural farms. This activity is seasonal. The salary cannot be lower than 21 thousand crowns per month, which is equivalent to 160 thousand rubles.
Russian diaspora in Norway
In almost all major cities you can meet migrants from Russia. There is no organized Russian diaspora in the country, but in some localities public associations of people who speak Russian operate. Such clubs hold informal cultural events, organize thematic meetings, and accompany courses in learning the Norwegian language. Thinking about how Russians live in Norway, one should not be afraid of loneliness in these parts. There are people with identical views on life here too.
Refugees
Norway is a country with a strict migration policy. The influx of refugees is not welcome. However, an application for asylum is the best option for organizing a move here for permanent residence. There are camps for such persons in the country. You can stay there for two or three years, after which you must either obtain a residence permit or leave the state. If a person wishes to return to their homeland, refugees in Norway can count on some kind of allowance, the so-called lifting allowance.
How much does it cost to live in Oslo? How expensive is food, transport and housing in the Norwegian capital?
The rental housing market in Oslo is relatively small: many city residents prefer to buy apartments on credit rather than rent them. They look for apartments for rent on one of two sites - finn.no or hybel.no. An apartment with two bedrooms in a good area will cost on average 12–16 thousand Norwegian kroner (75–95 thousand rubles). A room in an apartment for several students will cost 4–8 thousand crowns (from 25 to 55 thousand rubles). Rental rates in the suburbs of Oslo, as well as in other Norwegian cities, are significantly lower.
The cost of a square meter of housing in Oslo in an area of average distance is 40–50 thousand crowns. Of course, the price will depend on the location, time of construction of the house and a host of other criteria, but in general, an apartment of 70–80 square meters with two bedrooms costs from 2.5 to 4 million crowns (from 17 to 28 million rubles). The real estate sales system in Norway itself is an auction with complex rules, in which a good apartment always goes to the richest and luckiest.
Directions
4,800 rubles per month
To travel to Oslo, you need to use a plastic card with prepaid trips (one trip costs 32 kroons, or 220 rubles for an adult passenger; children and the elderly travel for half the price) or a smartphone application. A bus driver's ticket will cost a third more. A daily pass costs 90 kroner (a little more than 600 rubles), and a monthly pass costs 690 Norwegian kroner (4,800 rubles).
Oslo has a metro, buses, trams, as well as ferries and boats plying the Oslofjord, so with a regular ticket you can go to one of the islands, swim, look at the sheep grazing around it and have a picnic in the meadow. T-banen is the name of the metro in Oslo, and it is simply huge for such a small city: 95 stations. The final metro stations lead outside the city and end at mountain lakes (Sognsvann), wild forests or a hunting lodge with a viewing platform (Frognerseteren), from where in winter you can sled down to a couple of stations. Repeat as many times as desired.
A car is very necessary for those who live in remote areas or in the suburbs of Oslo. Parking costs them 30–60 crowns per hour (200–400 rubles), or 150–300 crowns per day (1,500–2,000 rubles). The price depends on the proximity to the center, the number of spaces, and whether it is private or public parking.
Medicine
up to 15 thousand rubles per year
Residents in Norway do not have to pay for health insurance: in the country of victorious socialism, everyone is automatically insured, even non-permanent residents like foreign students. However, for each visit to a doctor or psychologist you need to pay a small amount - about 200 CZK (exceptions are made for children and pregnant women). During the year, you pay for medical services provided to you until you exceed the amount determined by the state. For 2021, this amount is 2,205 crowns (15 thousand rubles). Once you reach this amount, you stop paying, everything else will be free. Thus, if you don’t get sick and don’t go to the doctors, then the cost of health insurance will be zero. But even if you have to undergo serious treatment, it will still be very cheap.
Products
30–40 thousand rubles per month
Residents of Oslo prefer to dine at home, especially since the food in Norwegian supermarkets is tasty and inexpensive. If in Germany you can run into both watery milk and tasteless meat, then in Norway everyone is literally obsessed with locally produced goods. That's why the food here is delicious and like it comes from a farmer next door. Main networks: Rema 1000, Rimi, Kiwi and Bunnpris. A liter of milk costs on average 15 crowns (100 rubles), bread 15–30 crowns (100–200 rubles), cheese or ham in packs of 200 grams - 20–30 crowns (140–210 rubles). For a pack of cigarettes you will have to pay 100 crowns (700 rubles), and for a liter of beer - about 30 crowns.
An unpleasant surprise will be the absence of any other alcoholic drinks, except beer, in supermarkets. Norway has a state monopoly on alcohol, so drinks with a strength above 4.7% are sold in special stores that operate like libraries - from ten in the morning to six in the evening, and their prices are two to three times higher than the European average. That is, table wine of acceptable quality costs not 5 euros, but 10–15.
Entertainment
from 5 thousand rubles per month
Going to a restaurant is an infrequent event even for wealthy Norwegians. Even a Big Mac with potatoes and cola at McDonald's costs 99 kroons (700 rubles, or more than 10 euros), and a regular pizza or a portion of chicken curry in an average restaurant will cost twice as much.
In Oslo you can spend a lot of money on entertainment, or you can spend almost nothing. Within the city there are many lakes and beaches, parks and barbecue areas, forest paths and equipped walking routes. If you’re tired of frying sausages by a mountain lake, you can spend 100–700 kroner (from 700 to 5 thousand rubles) on a ticket to the famous Oslo Opera House or 120 kroner (800 rubles) on a trip to a museum or art gallery. You can admire works of art for free (and have a picnic at the same time) in Frogner Park, where many sculptures by Gustav Vigeland are on display.
Services
from 8 thousand rubles per month
The minimum official payment for cleaning services is 170–180 CZK per hour, or more than a thousand rubles. Nanny services - from 150 CZK (also about a thousand rubles). A regular manicure with coating costs 300–400 CZK (2–3 thousand rubles), pedicure – 500–700 CZK (4–5 thousand rubles). A haircut without styling will cost the same amount as a manicure.
Children
from 16 thousand rubles per month
If you can give birth to a child in Norway practically for free, then you will need to pay for the services of a nanny or kindergarten out of your own pocket. The fee for a kindergarten is on average 2,300 CZK per month (about 16 thousand rubles), a nanny or “day mother” will cost 6–8 thousand CZK, depending on the number of children in the group and the hours you need. Children bring a snack with them in a box (pieces of fruits and vegetables, yogurt, sandwiches), and it is rare that a kindergarten feeds children a hot lunch. The conditions are almost Spartan: children spend a lot of time outside in waterproof overalls.
Well, free school education is so good that there are practically no private schools in Oslo. Higher education in Norway is also free, but most Norwegians take out an educational loan from the state for living while studying at university, and then return this money from their salary: sitting on their parents’ necks is not accepted here.
cover: Cinematographer – stock.adobe.com
Comparison of living standards in Norway and Russia
We present the pros and cons of the land of the midnight sun in the form of a table.
Advantages of Norway | Disadvantages of Norway |
Socialism, absence of social inequality | The boringness of life, which seems total to young Russians |
Excellent ecological environment | The climate is not suitable for everyone, which, unlike the Russian one, has an unfavorable effect on many |
Low crime rate | Obvious difficulties with purchasing alcohol, which is easy to do in Russia |
Ease of functioning of social services | Requirement for a residence permit to receive a pension and other benefits |
High average salary | Very high taxes, inconvenient tax system for citizens: some people think that there is no point in earning a lot in Norway |
Promotion of healthy lifestyles | High prices for food, transport, clothing. Absolutely all stores are closed on Sunday |
Friendliness of the local people | Lack of cultural events, of which there are many in Russia |
The opportunity to realize all your dreams | Distance from the center of Europe, which makes flights very expensive |
Comparing life in Norway and Russia, with all the advantages of the first, shows that it is not ideal, and difficulties may arise here too. The main thing is that people trust each other, the government, and themselves. They believe in social justice and understand that negativity does not prevail in life and it is always worth believing in the best.
Read also: Migration to Norway Studying in Norway
Minimum wage in the country
To date, the state has not legally established the minimum wage. This indicator is controlled by certain agreements between employers, authorities, and trade unions. For certain economic areas in the country, certain hourly minimum wage rates have been established. This provides protection not only to native Norwegians, but also to foreign professionals who come to Norway to earn money.
Unlike the minimum wage for an ordinary profession, certified specialists must receive no less than:
- 416,600 CZK per month (44,000 €) – for specialists with a master’s degree.
- 386,700 CZK per month (41,000 €) – for specialists with a bachelor's degree.