Is Norway really THAT expensive?
Costs of living in Norway vary - but the country is generally expensive to live in when compared to others. Read on to learn more.
Costs of living in Norway vary – but the country is generally expensive to live in compared to others. Read on to learn more.
European price levels
As we’ve reported, Norway fared high in many costs, according to preliminary findings of the European Purchasing Power Parity Survey from August 2020.
The final Eurostat report on price levels for food, beverages, and tobacco was published in December 2020.
Thirty-seven countries in Europe were surveyed. This included the 27 EU member countries, the UK, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and six candidates or potential candidates: Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Let’s see where how Norway ranks.
Most and least expensive countries
Norway was found to be the most expensive country for non-alcoholic beverages and tobacco. Switzerland was the most expensive country for food. Iceland was the most costly country for alcoholic beverages within the group of 37 participating countries.
North Macedonia was the least expensive country of food, non-alcoholic beverages, and tobacco. Bosnia and Herzegovina was the least expensive country for alcoholic drinks.
Here are breakdowns per category.
Household final consumption expenditure
First:
1. Switzerland
2. Iceland
3. Norway
4. Denmark
5. Ireland
Last:
33. Romania
34. Bosnia and Herzegovina
35. Bulgaria
36. North Macedonia
37. Turkey
Food (overall)
First:
1. Switzerland
2. Norway
3. Iceland
4. Denmark
5. Luxembourg
Last:
33. Bosnia and Herzegovina
34. Turkey
35. Poland
36. Romania
37. North Macedonia
Non-alcoholic beverages
First:
1. Norway
2. Ireland
3. Switzerland
4. Denmark
5. Iceland
Last:
33. Serbia
34. Poland
35. Romania
36. Turkey
37. North Macedonia
Alcoholic beverages
First:
1. Iceland
2. Norway
3. Turkey
4. Finland
5. Ireland
Last:
33. Hungary
34. Bulgaria
35. Romania
36. North Macedonia
37. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Tobacco
First:
1. Norway
2. United Kingdom
3. Ireland
4. Iceland
5. France
Last:
33. Montenegro
34. Serbia
35. Albania
36. Turkey
37. North Macedonia
Important definitions
The report defines mentioned food sub-groups as the following types of products:
- Bread and cereals: rice, other cereals, flour, and other cereal products, bread, other bakery products, pasta products;
- Meat: beef and veal, pork, lamb, mutton and goat, poultry, other meats and edible offal, delicatessen, and other meat preparations;
- Fish: fresh, chilled or frozen fish and seafood, preserved or processed fish and seafood;
- Milk, cheese, eggs: fresh milk, preserved milk, and other milk products, cheese, eggs, and egg-based products;
- Oils and fats: butter, margarine, other edible oils, and fats;
- Fruits, vegetables, potatoes: fresh or chilled fruit, frozen, preserved or processed fruit and fruit-based products, fresh or chilled potatoes, frozen, preserved or processed vegetables and vegetable-based products;
- Other food products: sugar, jams, marmalades and honey, confectionery, chocolate, and other cocoa preparations, edible ice, ice cream and sorbet, food products n.e.c.;
- Non-alcoholic beverages: coffee, tea and cocoa, mineral waters, soft drinks and concentrates, fruit and vegetable juices;
- Alcoholic beverages: spirits, wine, beer;
- Tobacco: tobacco.
Source: #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayFinance
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