Norway · Visit or make it home

Oslo

Oslo is a city in Norway. Compare its dated local facts and monthly climate before choosing a time to visit or planning a move. Housing references and national earnings describe different populations; verify the costs of your own home and job before deciding.

Oslo — Nationaltheatret evening

Get to know Oslo

A sense of the place

Oslo is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of 724,290 in 2025, while the city's greater urban area had a population of 1,110,887 in 2025, and the metropolitan area had an estimated population of 1,546,706 in 2021. During the Viking Age, the area was part of Viken. Oslo was founded as a city at the end of the Viking Age in 1040 under the name Ánslo, and established as a kaupstad or trading place in 1048 by Harald Hardrada. The city was elevated to a bishopric in 1070 and a capital under Haakon V of Norway around the year 1300. Personal unions with Denmark from 1397 to 1523 and again from 1536 to 1814 reduced its influence. After being destroyed by a fire in 1624, during the reign of King Christian IV, a new city was built closer to Akershus Fortress and named Christiania in honour of the king. It became a municipality on 1 January 1838.

Weather through the year

When to visit Oslo

Temperature

July has the warmest monthly average (16.1°C); January is coolest (-5.9°C). These averages include nights, so daytime highs can be considerably warmer.

Rain and outdoor plans

August averages about 122 mm of rain, compared with 56 mm in March. Rainfall alone does not identify a single best month; compare temperatures with the activities you plan.

Planning time outdoors

June combine monthly mean temperatures of 12–22°C with less than 100 mm of precipitation. These are useful dates to compare for a walking-focused visit; check daylight, opening times and the forecast for your actual trip.

January, February, March, April, October, November, December have monthly means below 5°C. For a stay then, compare accommodation heating and keep indoor options in your itinerary. These figures do not establish snow cover or ski conditions.

Monthly climate averages — 2001-2020
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average °C-5.9-5.4-1.84.19.613.816.114.810.54.5-0.5-4.9
Rain, mm786056619296112122961049478

Source: NASA POWER climatology · Reference period: 2001-2020. Long-term averages for the surrounding grid area. Conditions vary within a city; monthly averages are neither a forecast nor a guarantee of dry days.

Places around Oslo

Build your shortlist for a day out. Distances are straight-line from the city centre; check routes and opening times before setting off.

Average rent in Oslo

What is the average rent in Oslo?

1,405 €/month is the recorded central one-bedroom rent reference for Oslo, dated 2025. This is a dated comparison measure, rather than a home available today. Check current listings in your chosen neighbourhood, then add utilities, the deposit and commuting to make a budget for your own move.

Source: Statistics Norway (SSB) — Rental market survey (Leiemarkedsundersøkelsen), table 09895, avg monthly rent 2-room · Reference date: 2025 · CC BY 4.0

Average salary in Oslo

What is the average salary in Oslo?

6,439.8 USD/month is the gross employee-pay reference dated 2025. It describes Norway, not average salary in Oslo. Gross pay is before deductions; household earnings depend on the household model. Use a current offer and your own tax circumstances for take-home budgeting.

Source: ILO — Average gross monthly earnings of employees · Reference date: 2025 · CC BY 4.0 (ILO datasets published from 3 May 2023)

How should I compare Oslo with another city?

Compare the same dated measures for both cities, keeping local observations separate from national context. Start with rent, your expected income and the journeys you will make regularly. Then adjust the comparison weights to your priorities. Missing measurements do not prove an advantage; verify decisive costs and services with current local sources.

  1. Choose a comparison below and read its sources and dates.
  2. Set priorities for housing, work, transport and climate.
  3. Check current listings and your own income before making a decision.

Data sources, licences & reuse terms

Plan your stay

Budget and everyday decisions

A holiday budget

Compare accommodation for your actual dates in Oslo, then add the journey here, airport transfers, meals and the activities you want. A cheap room outside the centre can cost more overall if it adds daily transport.

Compare holiday preferences →

A relocation budget

The recorded central one-bedroom rent is 1,405 €/month (2025). Compare it with properties in your chosen neighbourhood.

Include the deposit, utilities, internet and commuting. Compare those costs with your own expected take-home income.

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Your relocation planning budget

Build a monthly budget for Oslo in euros. Totals are calculated from the amounts below, not live quotes. Rent starts from the recorded 2025 figure; edit it for your chosen home.

Monthly total: Enter all five monthly amounts

First month including move: Enter your moving costs too

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Compare the details

Oslo at a glance

Norway: the wider context

These are country-level figures, not measurements of Oslo. Use them to compare national conditions; neighbourhoods, salaries and individual services can differ substantially.

See 11 national indicators
What to check before deciding

Comparable figures are not available here for: Net annual earnings (single, no children). Check the items that affect your plans with local providers. They are not treated as zero or as an advantage in recommendations.

Compare Oslo with other cities

Read the source dates, choose your priorities and keep unavailable values separate from costs you know.

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