Money, Budget, and Shopping in Norway

Money

Currency

Currency: Norwegian krone (100 øre).

Banknotes: 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 kr.

Coins: 1, 5, 10 and 20 kr.

Exchange:

Since 2012, there have been no coins denominated in øre. Cash payments are therefore rounded to the nearest krone.

Exchange

Major currencies can be exchanged without issue at exchange bureaus or banks that offer this service. These are generally open Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (5:00 PM/5:30 PM on Thursdays). You can also easily withdraw money from the many ATMs, which are usually easy to find.

Which currency to bring

The currency of your home country—euros, Swiss francs, Canadian dollars, etc.—can all be exchanged without difficulty. You can also easily order Norwegian kroner from your bank before departure, though this doesn’t necessarily mean the exchange rate will be better than on-site.

Payment methods

Card payments are accepted almost everywhere. However, watch out for bank fees if you make too many small purchases or withdrawals.

Upon return

You can exchange any remaining kroner upon return. As always, it’s best to avoid ending your trip with excess local currency that you’ll need to exchange later.

Budget

Norway, like the rest of Scandinavia—and perhaps even more so than its neighbors—has a reputation for being an expensive, even very expensive, country to travel in. This is true. However, depending on the type of trip and the season, you can still manage to save some money.

First, it’s advisable to have your own vehicle, or even arrive with one, especially if you’re traveling in a group. This allows you to take advantage (in summer) of camping opportunities, whether at official sites or wild camping, which often require some degree of transport autonomy. Additionally, having your own vehicle lets you bring plenty of food, which will reduce your "meals" budget. In short, by camping, traveling with your own vehicle, and preparing your own meals, you can hope to get by on a daily budget of 40 to 50 €, or even slightly less if wild camping. Otherwise, without these measures, you should budget around 100 € per day (for two people) at best, covering only accommodation, meals, and transport.

That said, you’ll still face what could be called a "state-imposed racket" in the country, where you pay exorbitant prices for almost everything: road tolls, tunnels, ferries, parking at sites (even in the middle of nowhere!), overpriced museums, and so on. Not to mention fuel (ironic for a major oil producer), outings, food, and generally anything for sale that isn’t locally produced. Unless you drastically curb your spending (and even then!), you’ll inevitably face "sometimes significant extras" to plan for. Even with the best organization and cost-cutting, you should budget around 70 to 100 € per person per day if you want to at least enjoy your trip.

What can be expensive

Tolls and ferries for crossing fjords can add up quickly if you’re driving.

Almost everything, especially if it’s not produced in the country.

What might not be expensive

Camping, especially wild camping.

Picnics and cooking your own meals, particularly if you’ve brought supplies (if traveling by car).

Price range

Budget accommodation: from 15 to 30 € per night for camping (for two) or around 30 to 40 € for a basic cabin or sometimes a youth hostel.

Mid-range hotel (double room): almost nothing under 100 € per night.

Snacks, cafeterias, and fast food: around 10 to 15 €.

Restaurant meal: at least 25 to 30 € for a standard meal, though slightly less at Chinese or Asian restaurants.

Budget car rental: roughly 50 € per day or just under 300 € per week for a small car.

100 km by bus:

100 km by train:

Domestic flight: around 12 to 15 € per 100 km for the best deals (including those from Norwegian).

Urban taxi:

Urban bus:

Bargaining and tipping

Bargaining is not customary in Norway.