Compare taxes and see how much you save moving from Norway to UK
Norway and the UK have significant bilateral professional and financial links — the North Sea oil industry created decades of British-Norwegian technical and commercial cooperation, and London hosts a substantial Norwegian financial and business community. The Norway-UK Double Taxation Agreement coordinates tax obligations between the two countries. Norway's income tax system is structurally distinctive: all income (employment, business, investment) is first subject to a flat 22% 'ordinary income' tax. Employment income is additionally subject to trinnskatt (bracket tax or step tax) on top of the 22% base: 0% up to NOK 208,050; 1.7% up to NOK 292,850; 4.0% up to NOK 670,000; 13.6% up to NOK 937,900; 16.6% up to NOK 1,350,000; 17.6% above NOK 1,350,000. Combined top rate: 22% + 17.6% = 39.6% on income + 7.8% national insurance employee contribution = effective ~47.4% on employment income at the top. Norway also levies an annual net wealth tax (formuesskatt): 1.1% (0.3% local + 0.7% national) on net assets above NOK 1.7M (approximately £130,000 / €155,000). This wealth tax is significant for property owners, investors, and business owners — unlike France's IFI (only on real estate), Norway taxes all net assets. The UK has no wealth tax. Norway's oil fund (Government Pension Fund Global) finances generous public services — Norwegians have among the world's highest living standards. However, Norway is not an EU member (EEA/EFTA member) and has its own currency (NOK).
Flat Base Tax + Trinnskatt Bracket Tax + Wealth Tax
22% flat income tax on all income; trinnskatt (bracket tax) 0–17.6% on employment income; national insurance contribution 7.8% employee; wealth tax 1.1% on net wealth above NOK 1.7M; worldwide income taxed for residents
Income Tax + National Insurance, Personal Allowance £12,570
Income tax 20–45%; National Insurance Class 1 up to 8%; personal allowance £12,570; no wealth tax; no local income tax; worldwide income taxed for UK residents
At NOK 700,000 / £52,000 income:
At NOK 700,000 (~£52K), Norway tax: 22% base tax ~NOK 154,000 + trinnskatt ~NOK 18,000 + NI 7.8% ~NOK 54,600 = approximately NOK 226,600 (~32%). UK at £52K: income tax approximately £7,886 + NI approximately £2,128 = £10,014 (~19.3%). Norway significantly higher total deduction at this income. Wealth tax adds 1.1% on net assets annually — major difference for asset owners. DTA prevents double taxation.
| Income | NO Tax | GB Tax | Savings | 10-Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOK 500,000 / £37,000 | ~NOK 110,000 base + ~NOK 13,000 trinnskatt + NOK 39,000 NI = NOK 162,000 (32.4%) | ~£4,886 UK tax + £1,600 NI = £6,486 (17.5%) | UK significantly lower effective rate at this income | Norway strong public services offset higher tax |
| NOK 800,000 / £60,000 | ~NOK 176,000 base + NOK 28,000 trinnskatt + NOK 62,400 NI = NOK 266,400 (33.3%) | ~£9,432 UK tax + £2,308 NI = £11,740 (19.6%) | Norway higher; UK personal allowance creates large gap | + Norway wealth tax 1.1% on net assets annually |
| NOK 1,350,000 / £101,000 | ~NOK 297,000 base + NOK 68,000 trinnskatt + NI = NOK 470,000+ (34.8%+) | ~£28,452 UK tax + £3,100 NI = £31,552 (31.2%) | Gap narrows at higher income; Norway remains higher | Top bracket kicks in above NOK 1.35M |
| NOK 2,000,000 / £150,000 | ~NOK 470,000 base + bracket + NI = ~NOK 750,000 (37.5%+) | ~£56,432 UK (45% additional rate threshold effects) | Norway and UK converge at top income levels | Wealth tax makes Norway more expensive for high-asset individuals |
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Manage International Payments →Trinnskatt (literally 'step tax' or bracket tax) is Norway's progressive surtax applied on top of the flat 22% base income tax. It applies only to employment and self-employment income (not passive investment income). Rates for 2024: 0% on income up to NOK 208,050; 1.7% from NOK 208,050 to NOK 292,850; 4.0% from NOK 292,850 to NOK 670,000; 13.6% from NOK 670,000 to NOK 937,900; 16.6% from NOK 937,900 to NOK 1,350,000; 17.6% above NOK 1,350,000. Combined with the 22% base tax, the top marginal rate on employment income is 39.6% (not counting the 7.8% employee national insurance contribution). The trinnskatt system was introduced in 2016 to maintain progressivity after Norway moved from a bracket-based to a flat base tax. Investment income (dividends, capital gains) is not subject to trinnskatt — it's taxed at 22% base tax only (though the shareholder model means dividends from Norwegian companies are effectively taxed at approximately 37.84% total).
Norway levies an annual net wealth tax (formuesskatt) on assets above a threshold. For 2024: 0.3% municipal wealth tax + 0.7% national wealth tax = 1.0% on net assets between NOK 1.7M and NOK 20M; 0.4% extra (total 1.4% national) on net assets above NOK 20M. Net assets = market value of all property, shares, bank deposits, vehicles, boats, less outstanding debt. NOK 1.7M ≈ £130,000 — meaning most homeowners in Norway owe wealth tax. For a British person moving to Norway with a London property worth £600,000: their wealth tax could be 1.1% × £600,000 = £6,600/year (in addition to income tax). Norway uses 'valuation discounts' for primary residences (25% of market value) and unlisted company shares (often 80%), which reduce the taxable base. The wealth tax is a major consideration for high-net-worth individuals and is one reason some wealthy Norwegians have moved abroad (most famously to Switzerland) in recent years.
Yes — Norway and the UK have a Double Taxation Convention. Key provisions: employment income is taxed where work is performed; business profits in country of operation; dividends 0–15% withholding at source (depending on ownership); interest 0% (reduced from standard); royalties 0%. UK citizens working in Norway pay Norwegian income tax on Norwegian employment income. The UK taxes its residents on worldwide income, but provides Foreign Tax Credit for Norwegian tax paid. Norway taxes its residents on worldwide income with similar credit mechanisms. Post-Brexit, Norway's EEA membership was unaffected — Norway remains in the EEA and many EU single market provisions (including mutual recognition of professional qualifications) still apply between Norway and EU members, though not automatically between Norway and the UK post-Brexit.
Post-Brexit, UK citizens are no longer EEA nationals and cannot simply move to Norway under freedom of movement. For stays beyond 90 days: UK citizens need a residence permit. For employment: a Skilled Worker permit (oppholdstillatelse for faglig kvalifiserte) — requires a Norwegian job offer meeting the salary threshold (approximately NOK 426,000 per year in 2024) and relevant qualifications. For self-employment: own business permit. For family reunification: residence permit for family members of Norwegian residents. The application is made to Utlendingsdirektoratet (UDI). Processing times vary. After 5 years of continuous legal residence in Norway, permanent residency is available. Norwegian citizenship can be applied for after 7 years of residence.
Oslo and London are consistently ranked among Europe's most expensive cities. By most metrics (Numbeo, ECA International), Oslo is slightly more expensive than London overall, though costs vary significantly by category. Key comparisons: Rent in Oslo city centre for a 1-bedroom: NOK 15,000–20,000/month (approximately £1,100–£1,500). London equivalent: £1,800–£2,800. Oslo rent is lower than central London in absolute GBP terms. Food and groceries: Norway is significantly more expensive — alcohol especially (government-controlled Vinmonopolet). Restaurants: Oslo premium restaurants are among Europe's most expensive. Healthcare: free at point of use in Norway (helseforetak) vs NHS (under pressure) or expensive private in UK. Transport: Oslo public transport monthly pass NOK 850 (~£63) vs London Travelcard £174+/month. Net conclusion: London accommodation typically costs more in GBP; Oslo food, alcohol, and services cost more. High Norwegian wages typically offset higher Norwegian prices for residents.