Norway (NO)
Norway is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy in Northern Europe — one of the three Scandinavian nations, occupying the western and northern portions of the Scandinavian Peninsula.
Currency & Money
Practical money tips for living in Norway.
Denominations
Coins: 1 kr, 5 kr, 10 kr, 20 kr. Notes: 50 kr, 100 kr, 200 kr, 500 kr, 1000 kr.
Payment Culture
Norway is one of the world's most cashless societies. Vipps — used by over 4.7 million Norwegians — is the dominant mobile payment app for splitting bills, peer-to-peer transfers, and paying at many local vendors. Contactless card payment (Visa/Mastercard) is accepted essentially everywhere. Many venues are completely cash-free. Norway is NOT in the Eurozone — the Norwegian Krone (kr, NOK) is the only currency. Euros are not widely accepted outside some tourist contexts.
ATM Tips
ATMs (minibank) are available at banks, shopping centres, and petrol stations. DNB, SpareBank 1, and Nordea ATMs are most common. Foreign cards incur fees of NOK 30–50 per withdrawal. Cash use is very rare in daily Norwegian life.
Exchange Tips
Use Wise or Revolut for international transfers to avoid bank fees. Currency exchange at Oslo Gardermoen Airport has poor rates — avoid if possible. Forex bureaux in city centres offer better rates. Most Norwegians never use cash at all.
Pro tip: Best apps for expats
- • Wise — Send money internationally at near-interbank rates
- • Revolut — Multi-currency account, free ATM withdrawals (limits apply)
- • N26 — German IBAN, free account, good for EU residents