Where to Live in Norway? City Guide

All cities

Click on a city to discover its complete guide

Capital International

Oslo

South-East Norway

Population 700,000

Budget ~$3,900 / £2,900

Nature Cultural

Bergen

West Coast

Population 285,000

Budget ~$3,100 / £2,300

Student city Tech

Trondheim

Central Norway

Population 210,000

Budget ~$2,900 / £2,200

Oil Fjords

Stavanger

South-West

Population 145,000

Budget ~$3,400 / £2,500

Arctic Northern lights

Tromsø

Northern Norway

Population 77,000

Budget ~$3,200 / £2,400

Family-friendly Beaches

Kristiansand

Southern Norway

Population 115,000

Budget ~$2,800 / £2,100

Accessible Near Oslo

Drammen

Near Oslo

Population 101,000

Budget ~$3,000 / £2,300

Architecture Maritime

Ålesund

West Coast

Population 67,000

Budget ~$2,700 / £2,000

Historic Affordable

Fredrikstad

South-East

Population 83,000

Budget ~$2,600 / £1,900

Dynamic Near Stavanger

Sandnes

South-West

Population 80,000

Budget ~$3,000 / £2,300

Nordland Capital of Culture 2024

Bodø

Northern Norway

Population 53,000

Budget ~$2,900 / £2,200

Seaside Viking

Sandefjord

Vestfold

Population 65,000

Budget ~$2,700 / £2,000

Viking Maritime

Haugesund

West Coast

Population 37,000

Budget ~$2,600 / £1,900

Historic Coastal

Tønsberg

Vestfold

Population 57,000

Budget ~$2,800 / £2,100

Artistic Near Oslo

Moss

Østfold

Population 50,000

Budget ~$2,700 / £2,000

Cultural Affordable

Skien

Telemark

Population 55,000

Budget ~$2,500 / £1,800

Charming Coastal

Arendal

Sørlandet

Population 45,000

Budget ~$2,600 / £1,900

Olympic Mountains

Lillehammer

Innlandet

Population 28,000

Budget ~$2,600 / £1,900

Roses Panoramic

Molde

Møre og Romsdal

Population 32,000

Budget ~$2,600 / £1,900

Comparison table

The key criteria for choosing your city

City	Budget	Jobs	Climate	Family	Nature
Oslo	$$$$	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Continental	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Bergen	$$$	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Rainy, mild	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Trondheim	$$$	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Continental	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Stavanger	$$$$	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Oceanic	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tromsø	$$$	⭐⭐⭐	Arctic	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kristiansand	$$	⭐⭐⭐	Mild	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐

💡 My advice for choosing

Don't focus only on the budget. Having lived in Oslo for 7 years, I can tell you that quality of life matters enormously. Ask yourself these questions:

Do you need a large international network? → Oslo or Bergen
Do you work in oil and gas? → Stavanger
Is everyday contact with nature a priority? → Bergen or Tromsø
Are you looking for a lively student city? → Trondheim
Do you have children and want somewhere calm? → Kristiansand

— Ingrid

Where to settle in Norway?

The complete guide to moving abroad

All cities

Oslo

Bergen

Trondheim

Stavanger

Tromsø

Kristiansand

Drammen

Ålesund

Fredrikstad

Sandnes

Bodø

Sandefjord

Haugesund

Tønsberg

Moss

Skien

Arendal

Lillehammer

Molde

Comparison table

Prepare your move with peace of mind