Is Norway Really That Expensive? My Experience as a Mid-Budget Traveler
Many people say that traveling to Norway is incredibly expensive, but as a savvy spender, I was determined to stick to a reasonable budget. In 2025, I traveled to Bergen with my sister to celebrate graduating from my Master’s program. We stayed for five days before continuing on to Denmark. You can check out my itinerary and full experience here.
Going into the trip, my goal was to keep the total cost for both countries under $3,000. So… did I succeed?
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Flight from Minneapolis–St. Paul to Bergen | $741.60 |
| Scandic Ørnen (4 nights) | $299.05 (my portion; $598.10 total) |
| Meals (lunches, dinners, and snacks) | ~$240 |
| Taxi to/from airport | $58 ($116 total) |
| Half-Day Fjord Cruise | $79 |
| Full-Day Fjord Tour | $143 |
| Flight back to Minneapolis–St. Paul* | ~$750 |
| Total | $2,310.65 ($1,700.65 if flying onward to Denmark instead) |
*This return flight cost is hypothetical since I actually took a $50 flight to Denmark afterward instead of flying directly home.
Overall, I was really happy with how I stayed within budget during this trip. One thing that definitely helped was traveling with my sister because we could split hotel and transportation costs. Norway would have been noticeably more expensive as a solo traveler.
One of my biggest regrets was taking taxis to and from the airport. They were convenient after a long travel day, but they added up quickly. Looking back, we definitely could have saved money by using public transportation instead. Once we were actually in Bergen, though, we barely needed transportation at all because the city is extremely walkable.
The biggest splurge of the trip was the fjord tour, but it was also my favorite experience in Norway and absolutely worth the money. If you are debating whether to spend the extra money on a fjord excursion, I would personally say yes. Seeing the dramatic landscapes, waterfalls, and tiny villages was one of the most unforgettable travel experiences I’ve had.
I also really recommend staying at Scandic Ørnen. The hotel was clean, comfortable, centrally located, and included a large buffet breakfast each morning. Having breakfast included actually helped us save quite a bit on food costs since we could eat a big meal before heading out for the day.
For meals, I tried to keep most lunches and dinners under $30. That meant checking menus and prices before choosing restaurants and sometimes picking simpler options instead of full sit-down meals. Food in Norway is definitely expensive compared to many other destinations, but I didn’t feel like I had to completely avoid eating out to stay on budget.
So, is Norway expensive? Honestly, yes — but I also think it depends heavily on your travel style and choices. There are definitely ways to make Norway more affordable without missing out on the experience. Staying in hostels, using public transportation, cooking some meals, and prioritizing a few memorable activities over constant splurging can make a huge difference.
As a mid-budget traveler, I never felt like Norway was impossible to afford. It just required being a little more intentional with spending. And in my opinion, the stunning scenery and unforgettable experiences made it completely worth it.
