hi!

i’m thinking about applying for a phd in bergen.

i have a question concerning the salary – this bit is copypasted from the [advertisement](https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/212974/phd-research-fellowship-5-positions-at-the-department-of-foreign-languages):

Salary at pay grade 54 (Code 1017/Pay range 20, alternative 10) in the state salary scale, currently NOK 490 800 gross p.a. 

would this sum be enough to live comfortably in bergen, considering i’m a bit frugal to begin with?

7 comments

  1. I’d say it’s enough to live comfortably, bearing in mind that comfortably means different things for different people. You’ll be able to pay rent and stuff and still go shopping for groceries without thinking about whether or not you have the money for the more expensive brand of chocolate cookies this week and if your washing machine breaks down or you need an expensive coat for the winter, it won’t be a problem.

  2. For a single person – should be enough to live “comfortably”.

    It’s pretty average pay in Norway – so you will live pretty “average” in Norway – which compared to a lot of places is pretty ok.

  3. I just started my PhD in Trondheim two months ago and I am living with my wife (no working, thus 0$ income) on that same salary you mentioned. For two people, it’s “ok”. In Canada, we were used to live frugally as graduate students so it still seems like A LOT of money for us. I think we can manage to live with that salary for the hole duration of my PhD but we would be definitely more comfortable with another income. For you alone, you will feel like you are rich if you are not used to that amount of money as a student outside of Scandinavia.

    Don’t hesitate if you have more questions! 🙂

    ​

    TL;DR alone, you will be more than relax financially. Do not worry at all!

  5. PhD student in Bergen here. PhD in my home country is also underpaid, and the salary here is quite good compared with most of other countries I think. It may be hard to buy a house or a new car with this salary, but for usual expenses (renting, food, going out at night, sports and traveling) it is enough.

  6. Currently the PhD pay in Norway is pretty much the best you can get in Europe generally 🙂 started my PhD in Bergen two months ago, it is indeed good enough to feel at least not like a poor student anymore 🙂

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