Is Norway really THAT expensive?

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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