Essentials
- City
- Ålesund, Møre og Romsdal, Norway
- Population
- 67,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 150 Mbps (Fiber widely available)
- Currency & Banking
- Norwegian Krone (NOK); 1 USD ≈ 10.60 NOK, 1 EUR ≈ 11.50 NOK
- Tap Water
- Safe and high quality (among the best in the world)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- Telenor, Telia (approx. 399 NOK for 10GB); available at Narvesen or 7-Eleven
- Banking for Expats
- DNB, Sparebanken Møre; Revolut and Wise widely used for daily transactions
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Finn.no (primary local rental site), Hybel.no
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, almost 100% cashless; cards/Apple Pay accepted everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (approx. 15,000-22,000 NOK/month central), Booking.com
- Budget Accommodation
- Ålesund Vandrerhjem (Hostel), approx. 450 NOK/night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Aspøya and Sentrum (Art Nouveau district)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Nørvøya (near the University) or Moa for proximity to amenities
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Pir Coworking (Keiser Wilhelms gate 22); approx. 3,500 NOK/month for flexible desk
- Best Cafe for Work
- Racoon Coffee & More (Kongens gate 6); laptop-friendly with excellent Wi-Fi
- Networking Events
- Næringsforeningen (Ålesund Chamber of Commerce) events; Startup Grind Moere
- Social Events for Expats
- Expats in Ålesund Facebook Group; language cafes at Ålesund Library
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- 07000 Taxi, Ålesund Taxi. Uber is not active here.
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Tier and Voi e-scooters; Bypatrioten for bike rentals (approx. 250 NOK/day)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Prinsen Strand (7 mins from center) or Emblemssanden (15 mins drive)
- Top Regional Airline
- Widerøe
- Top International Airline
- SAS, Norwegian, KLM (flights to Amsterdam Schiphol)
- Highway Access
- E39 (Coastal Highway) and E136 (connecting to inland Norway)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Ålesund Rutebilstasjon (Bus Station); No trains (nearest train is Åndalsnes)
- Public Transport Passes
- FRAM app; 30-day city pass approx. 520 NOK
- Regional Travel
- Hurtigruten/Havila coastal ships; FRAM buses and express boats to islands
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Ålesund Hospital (Ålesund sjukehus, Åse)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yogaens Hus (Kongens gate 25); Drop-in approx. 220 NOK
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Stamina Ålesund or Family Sports Club (approx. 500 NOK/month)
- Laundry Services
- Self-service is rare; use hotels or 'Vaskeriet Ålesund' (Langevågsvegen)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Foodora, Wolt
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Bacalao (salted and dried cod stew) at XL Diner
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Anorak (Kongens gate 27); Greenhouse Ålesund
- Best Dessert Spots
- Jordbærpikene (Moa Shopping Center); Valaker Bakeri
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- REMA 1000, Kiwi (cheapest grocery chains)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Komplett.no (Tech), Zalando.no (Fashion), Finn.no (Used goods)
- Grocery Delivery
- Oda.no (limited regional service), Meny.no
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Skansegata/Brosundet area (Molo Brew, Smutthullet)
- Local Brewery
- Molo Brew (Keiser Wilhelms gate 2b)
- Wine Bars
- Vino Bar (Apotekergata 2)
- Street Food Stalls
- Street food market at Korsatunnelen (occasional); Fisketorget for fresh seafood
- Popular International Cuisine
- Zuuma (Japanese-Norwegian fusion sushi)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Mount Aksla Viewpoint (Fjellstua); Brosundet Canal
- Museums & Art Venues
- Jugendstilsenteret (Art Nouveau Centre); KUBE Art Museum
- Historical Sites
- Sunnmøre Museum (Open-air folk museum)
- Religious Sites
- Ålesund Church (Ålesund kirke) - beautiful stone architecture
- Annual Events
- The Norwegian Food Festival (Den Norske Matfestivalen) in August
- Cultural Districts
- The Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) town center
- Theater Venues
- Parken Kulturhus
- Local Markets
- Farmers' Market (Bondens marked) held periodically at St. Olavs plass
- Music Scene
- Terminalen Byscene (Live music and nightlife venue)
- Street Art
- Murals by artist 'Arne Vilhelm' around the city center
- Cooking Classes
- Klippfiskakademiet (Cod cooking courses)
- Art Galleries
- KHÅK Kunsthall (Keiser Wilhelms gate 11)
- Historic Buildings
- Svaneapoteket (The Swan Pharmacy), now a museum
- Local Heritage
- Cultural identity tied to Viking history and the 1904 Great Fire
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Alnes Lighthouse on Godøya island; Sukkertoppen mountain hike
- National Parks Nearby
- Sunnmøre Alps (Hjørundfjord area nearby)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Walking paths around Borgundgavlen and the Aksla mountain trails
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Fjellstua Viewpoint (418 steps from the city park)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Runde Island (famous for Puffins), 1.5 hours away
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated spots at Volsdalen bathing area
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Posten Norge (found in grocery stores like Meny/Coop)
- Tech Repair Services
- Eplehuset Ålesund (Official Apple service)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Sparebanken Møre Arena (occasional club play)
- Language Classes
- Ålesund Voksenopplæringssenter (State-run Norwegian courses)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Ålesund bibliotek (Skansegata 3)
- Community Centers
- Inkluderingssenteret Ålesund
- Gaming Lounges
- Public libraries have gaming zones; no dedicated commercial gaming cafe
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Gambling illegal in Norway; Norsk Tipping kiosks for lotto only
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 65,000 NOK per m² (e.g., 35 m² = 2.2M NOK)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 45,000 NOK per m² (e.g., 35 m² = 1.5M NOK)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 60,000 NOK per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 3.0M NOK)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 40,000 NOK per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 2.0M NOK)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 55,000 NOK per m² (e.g., 75 m² = 4.1M NOK)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 38,000 NOK per m² (e.g., 75 m² = 2.8M NOK)
- Corporate Tax
- 22%
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 25% (for non-residents; can change based on tax treaties)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents (Resident after 183 days)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- Approx. 47.4% (including national and bracket tax)
- VAT
- 25% Standard rate; 15% Food
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, strict NOKUS rules apply
- Property Tax
- Yes, determined by municipality (approx. 0.2% - 0.7% of value)
- Property Transaction Tax
- 2.5% Document tax (Dokumentavgift) on the purchase price
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific digital nomad lower tax; however, Independent Contractor (ENK) setup is common