Monday, December 26, 2011

What’s the cost of living? Prices of general commodities

Norwegian Krones (NOK)
I have compiled the list below, based on my first-hand experience at an average super market or a local shop in the Grønland. The prices stand correct as on 25 Dec 2011. Norwegian currency is NOK; 1 NOK ~ 9 INR,  1EUR ~ 8 NOK.

 Note that the prices in Norway are not fixed and it’s upto the retailer to decide on what price she/he wishes to sell. So, a 1 L milk full cream may be available anywhere between 14  to 25 NOK depending on place, you buy it from.

In general kiosks such as 7-Eleven, Narvesan, Deli De Luca, Mix, which are present everywhere in downtown, at your convenience, will charge double the prices than the supermarkets. Rema 1000, Rimi, Kiwi and Coop are the cheap supermarkets; while ICA and Meny are most expensive ones. If you want to shop on Sundays, try locating a BunnPris store which will be siginificantly cheaper than Joker. In any case, both these stores are expensive than a supermarket.

P.S. Almost all Supermarkets, with a very few exceptions remain closed on Sundays, while kiosks generally open 07:00-00:00 (rarely, some of them could open 24 hours), 365 days a year. 

You may also download the list below in a more convenient pdf format from here.


Item Description Units Avg Price (NOK) Avg
Price(INR)
       Remarks
Milk (Full Cream) 1L 15 135
Milk (Double Toned) 1L 12.5 112.5
Bread* 400gm 20 180 There are dozens of variety of breads & each one varies a lot
Lomper (Potato wheat
chapati)
8 nos 14 126
Apple 1Kg 15 135
Banana 1Kg 12 108
Oranges 1Kg 15 135
Pomengranate (Annar) 1Kg 20 180
Pineapple (Medium) 1 Nos. 15 135
Mango (approx 300gm) 1 Nos. 20 180 Some wild variety
Grapes 1Kg 30 270
KiwiFruit 1 Nos. 4 36
Lemon 1Kg 14 126
Oil Sunflower 1L 25 225
Most Indian spices 50 gm 15 135 Includes Badhash/MDH masala packs
Rooh Afza sharbat 1bottle 45 405
Rice Basmati 1Kg 20 180
Grains 500gm 8 72 Like peas, grams, etc.
Salt 1Kg 8 72
Sugar 1Kg 20 180
Ghee 1Kg 75 675
Tomato Ketchup 200 gm 15 135
Almonds 1Kg 50 450
Most dry fuits 100gm 15 135 At any super markets, sold as Nøttemix
Peanuts with shell 1Kg 45 405
Button mushroom 1Kg 35 315
Carrot 1Kg 12 108
Lady Finger (Bhindi/Okra) 1Kg 60 540
Cabbage 1 Nos. 10 90
Cauliflower 1 Nos. 12 108
Ice Berg (Used for salad) 1 Nos. 10 90
Brocolli 1 Nos. 10 90
Dish washing liquid 300 ml 25 225
Beer (from Super Market) 500 ml 25 225
Beer (from Bar) 350 ml 60 540
Cheapest Wine
(from Vinmonopolet)
1 bottle (750 ml) 75 675 Only Govt shops are authorized to sell beverages containing over 4.5% alchohol.
Cheapest Whiskey
(from Vinmonopolet)
1 bottle (1 L) 150 1350
Tomatoes 1Kg 14 126
Onion 1Kg 8 72
Potatoes 1Kg 6 54
Eggs 12 24 216
Green Chilli 1Kg 50 450
Coriander (Dhaniya leaves) 1 bundle
(perhaps 100 gm)
10 90
Honey 250gm 30 270
Jam 250gm 12 108
Pepsi 2L 25 225
Most Juices 1L 23 207
Muesli 500gm 40 360
Corn Flakes 500gm 15 135
Margarine 500gm 15 135
Wheat flour 5Kg 50 450
Indian Namkeens 200gm 20 180
Pumpkin (Orange) 1Kg 15 135
Pumpkin (Yellow) 1Kg 60 540
Green Peas (Frozen) 500gm 14 126
Gourd (Lauki) 1 Nos
( ~3oo gm)
10 90
Radish (Mooli) N/A N/A N/A Not seen till date.
Beet Root N/A N/A N/A Not seen till date.
Green Coconut N/A` N/A N/A Not seen till date. Perhaps puree or canned fruit may be available
Spinach (Canned) 250gm 9 81
Poultry 1Kg 40 360
Drinking Water 1L 25 225
Maggi Noodles 1Pack/80gm 7 63 Till date only found one shop, that too selling expired ones :(
Indian Tea Bags 25 Nos 30 270
Indian Tea Leaves 500gm 30 270
Coffee 500gms 50 450 Perhaps, not sure
Milk Chocolate 100gm 20 180
Cooking Oil - Mustard 1L 80 720
Birthday Cake 0.5Kg 100 900 Average Cake - Perhaps Pineapple falvor
Birthday Cake -Exotic flavors 0.5Kg 250 2250 At good bakery
Shoes 1 Pair 400-onwards N/A
Good Winter Jacket 1 Nos 1000 9000 Unbranded
Woolen socks 1 pair 70 630
Wollen Thermalwear/Inners 1 Nos 150 1350
Wireless router 1Nos 300 2700 Cheapest, low end model
Mobile calls (Local) Per minute 1 9 Each call has to pay an initial connection charge of generally 1NOK/min + per min tarrif of ~0.5NOK.
Mobile calls (ISD) Per minute 1.5 13.5 Each call has to pay an initial connection charge of generally 1NOK/min + per min tarrif of ~1 NOK.
SMS (Local) 1 Nos 0.4 3.6
SMS (ISD) 1 Nos 0.7 6.3
Internet (~1Mbps broadband) 1Month 300 2700 Rates can vary drastically on the plan selected
Cup of Tea/Coffee 1 cup 25 225
One bowl curry + Rice + 1  Naan + Salad 1 person 90 810 Inexpensive Pakistani/Indian restaurant in Gronland
One bowl curry + Rice + 1  Naan + salad 1 person 400 3600 Posh Indian restaurant, at upmarket location
One time Norwegian Meal 1 person 150 1350
Mac Donalds -Big Mac Burger 1 Nos 75 675
Pizza - large (Family Size) 1 Nos 150 1350 Inexpensive restaurant
Pizza - large (Family Size) 1 Nos 300 2700 Large Pizza chains
Lassi/Chaas/Kheer/Phirni
GulabJamoon
1 Glass/2Nos 50 450 In Indian restaurant
School (Govt - Norwegain system of education) 1 year ~Free 0 Government will generally bear the cost of initial schooling
School (International curriculum) 1 year 100000 900000 The figures are not a typo!!
Accomodation (Studio) 1 month 5000-18000 N/A Figures are highly approximate and should be read with caution. It will vary largely on length of stay, locality and furnishing of the house.
Accomodation (1 Room) 1 month 6000-20000 N/A Figures are highly approximate and should be read with caution. It will vary largely on length of stay, locality and furnishing of the house.
Accomodation (1BHK called as 2 room apartment locally) 1 month 8000-25000 N/A Figures are highly approximate and should be read with caution. It will vary largely on length of stay, locality and furnishing of the house.
Accomodation (Short Term) 1 night 550 4950 A modest 2 star hotel
Entrance fee to an average museum 1 Nos 70 630
Movie Ticket 1 Nos 250 2250
Daily Newspaper 1 Nos 5 45
Medicines N/A 10-100 times more
expensive compared to India
N/A When, purchase OTC, without doctor's prescription. Also most Antibiotics and other medicines can't be purchased without prescription.
Prescription Spectacles 1Nos 400 3600 Modest looking, very average spects
Dentist/Opthalmologist/
Lawyer
N/A Priceless N/A You have been warned!!
Talcum Powder N/A N/A N/A It's not available,apart from some Pakistani Shops
Hair Oil (KTC) - Almond, Coconut,
 Jasmine, Amla, Chameli
250ml 15 135
Hair Oil (Dabur) - Almond, Coconut,
 Jasmine, Amla, Chameli
300 ml 50 450
Shampoo (Head & Shoulder,
Pantene, etc)
250 ml 30 270
Conditioner (Head & Shoulder,
Pantene, etc)
250 ml 30 270
Toothpaste 100gm 35 315
Dusting - Wiping - Cleaning (Studio apratment) One time 600 5400
Haircut One time 150 1350 At inexpensive shop
Haircut One time 300 2700 At an slightly above average parlour
Swimming Pool Usage (Government pool) One time 80 720
Cigarette 1 pack
(10 Nos)
77 693
Whiskey - Red Label 1L 329 2961 From Vinmonopolet
Roses/Tulip 1Nos 15 135
Public toilet One time usage 10 90 Public toilets, in general are rarely found. Relieve yourself at home or office or find the nearest bar
Public Transport Ticket
(Main Oslo city)
One time usage 28 252 Valid for 1 hour
Taxi (Weekdays) Min Fare 70 630 Minimum fare is perhaps 60-70NOK for 1-2 Km,with each additional Km at 10 or 20 NOK. Not sure about specifics. Yeah, they are expensive!!
Taxi (Weeends/Nights) Min Fare 120 1080 Weekends and Night fares are almost 1.5-2x normal fares
Petrol (Fuel) 1L 13.5 121.5
Diesel 1L 13 117
Light bulb - Glass (15-40 W) 2 Nos 10 90
Light bulb - Glass (40-70 W) 1 Nos 30 270 Bulbs greater than 70 W are banned by legisltation
and not available
CFL Bulbs (15 W) 1 Nos 25 225
LED Bulbs (15 W) 1 Nos 50 450
Post  - Letter (Domestic) 1 Nos 9 81 Below 20gm
Post  - Letter (International) 1 Nos 14 126 Below 20gm
Electricity Bill for rooms with electric heating (Winters) 1 Room
Studio
800 7200
Electricity Bill for rooms with electric heating (Summer) 1 Room
Studio
350 3150
Car mechanic/ Plumber/Painter, etc. Per hour 300-500 N/A

4 comments:

  1. Just the right stop for anyone who wants to plan his/her finances before taking a plunge for their dream destination...

    Thanks for these inputs...

    Please share share other 'need to know' and also 'nice to know' information...

    Would be a BIG HELP..

    ReplyDelete
  2. @Shishir

    Thx. Keep on reading the blog and you will get a fair idea. There is going to be loads more information in time to come.

    You will find a lot more useful information in here. I already have published 4 other articles in this blog and that can give you some more insights.

    ~Andy

    ReplyDelete
  3. It's really useful information, Thanx, but tell me, honestly, it's worth to make an effort and go there? I'm planning to live in Norway but at the beginnig it'll be a struggle :/

    Karolina

    ReplyDelete
  4. @Karolina

    What profession are you in and what's your purpose to relocate? Which country are you presently in?

    In general, Norway is very beautiful and safe country to live in, with very high standards of living. However, whether you want to live here or not, depends on your purpose to live in Norway.

    I would recommend that you should go through Table of Contents of this blog to read more related articles about Norway: http://norwayguide.blogspot.com/p/norway-guide.html and decide for yourself.

    ReplyDelete

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