Business
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 40,000 NOK per m² (e.g., 75 m² = 3,000,000 NOK)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 30,000 NOK per m² (e.g., 75 m² = 2,250,000 NOK)
- Corporate Tax
- 22%
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 25% (Standard rate for non-residents)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for tax residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- Approx. 47.4% (including national insurance and bracket tax)
- VAT
- 25% (Standard), 15% (Food), 12% (Transport/Cinema)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, strict NOKUS rules apply
- Property Tax
- Yes, set by municipality (Haugesund kommune)
- Property Transaction Tax
- 2.5% Document Tax (Dokumentavgift) on the purchase price
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; standard residency rules apply (183+ days)
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 45,000 NOK per m² (e.g., 35 m² = 1,575,000 NOK)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 35,000 NOK per m² (e.g., 35 m² = 1,225,000 NOK)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 42,000 NOK per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 2,100,000 NOK)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 32,000 NOK per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 1,600,000 NOK)
Transportation
- Highway Access
- E39 (Coastal Highway) and E134 (East-West Connection)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Haugesund Busstasjon (Flotmyr); no train station in the city
- Public Transport Passes
- Kolumbus 30-day pass (approx. 800 NOK)
- Regional Travel
- Kystbussen (Express bus to Bergen/Stavanger) or Norled Fast Ferry
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Haugaland Taxi (App: Taxifix); Uber is not locally active
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Kolumbus City Bikes (approx. 10 NOK per trip or monthly sub)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Åkrasanden on Karmøy, voted Norway's most beautiful beach (25 mins away)
- Top Regional Airline
- Widerøe (operates from Haugesund Airport, Huntbakken)
- Top International Airline
- SAS, Norwegian, and Ryanair
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Haugesund Sjukehus (Karmsundgata 120)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Haugesund Yoga (Skjoldavegen 1); drop-in approx. 200 NOK
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- SATS Haugesund or Family Sports Club (approx. 500 NOK/month)
- Laundry Services
- Sentrum Rens & Skjorteservice (Haraldsgata 59)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Foodora and Wolt
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Komle (Potato dumplings) served at Lothes Mat & Vinhus
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Jovialen Kaffebar (Haraldsgata 144) offers plant-based bowls
- Best Dessert Spots
- Cupcakehuset or Naturbakst (Haraldsgata 130)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- REMA 1000 and Kiwi are the budget-friendly grocery chains
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Komplett.no (Tech), Zalando.no (Fashion), Amazon.se (Delivery to NO)
- Grocery Delivery
- Oda.no (limited availability) or SPAR online shopping
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Smedasundet (Inner Quay); venues like Høvleriet and Il Forno
- Local Brewery
- Berentsens Brygghus (Regional) and Mack-distributors
- Wine Bars
- Lothe’s Vinbar sitting right on the waterfront
- Street Food Stalls
- Street food market events at Rådhusplassen (seasonal)
- Popular International Cuisine
- India Gate (High-quality Indian food at Strandgata 163)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Haraldshaugen (The National Monument of Norway)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Karmsund Folk Museum and Haugesund Billedgalleri
- Historical Sites
- Avaldsnes (The Viking Farm) located on the nearby island of Karmøy
- Religious Sites
- Vår Frelsers Kirke (Our Saviour's Church)
- Annual Events
- Sildajazz (Jazz Festival) and The Norwegian International Film Festival (August)
- Cultural Districts
- Haraldsgata (the main pedestrian street)
- Theater Venues
- Haugesund Teater (Sørhauggata 177)
- Local Markets
- Bondens Marked (Farmers Market) occasionally at Rådhusplassen
- Music Scene
- Flytten Pub for live rock and blues music
- Street Art
- Various murals near the port area and inner city alleys
- Cooking Classes
- Occasional seafood workshops at Matstova
- Art Galleries
- Galleri Amare and Formategalleriet
- Historic Buildings
- Haugesund City Hall (Rådhuset), voted the most beautiful in Norway
- Local Heritage
- Viking heritage sites at Nordvegen History Centre
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Djupadalen recreational area for hiking and freshwater swimming
- National Parks Nearby
- Folgefonna National Park (approx. 2 hours drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The coastal path (Kyststien) starting from Haraldshaugen
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Steinsfjellet (elevated view over the city and archipelago)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Utsira Island (accessible by ferry from Haugesund)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated pits at Djupadalen (check seasonal fire ban, Apr-Sept)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Posten Norway (often located inside Coop or Kiwi supermarkets)
- Tech Repair Services
- Eplehuset (Apple specialist) or Infografikk
- Table Tennis Spots
- Haugesund Bordtennisklubb
- Language Classes
- AOF Haugaland or Haugesund voksenopplæringssenter
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Haugesund Folkebibliotek (Kirkegata 151)
- Community Centers
- Bleivik Community House
- Gaming Lounges
- Public libraries often have gaming zones for youth
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Illegal in Norway (Norsk Tipping provides regulated online gaming)
Essentials
- City
- Haugesund, Rogaland, Norway
- Population
- 37,800
- Internet Speed
- Average 120 Mbps (Fiber widely available via Altibox)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 NOK ≈ 0.094 USD, 1 USD ≈ 10.60 NOK
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, among the cleanest in the world
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- Telenor or Telia; a 10GB prepaid plan costs approx. 399 NOK
- Banking for Expats
- SpareBank 1 SR-Bank, Revolut, and Wise are commonly used
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Finn.no (main local portal), and Scandic Haugesund
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, almost 100% cashless; cards and Apple/Google Pay accepted everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Finn.no; expected cost 12,000 - 18,000 NOK/month
- Budget Accommodation
- Skaatun Gard or Haraldshaugen Camping (approx. 700 NOK/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Smedasundet (Waterfront), close to the inner quay and restaurants
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Sentrum or Flotmyr for proximity to transport and coworking
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Haugesund Regionens Næringsforening / Gründerloftet (approx. 2,500 NOK/month)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Coffeeberry Haugesund (Haraldsgata 136); excellent Wi-Fi and power outlets
- Networking Events
- Haugesund Tech Meetups arranged via LinkedIn or local Chamber of Commerce
- Social Events for Expats
- New in Haugesund (Facebook Group) and meetups at Mack kjelleren