Oslo

Oslo is a strong quality-of-life move for software engineers, but not a pure career-optimization move. Redditors consistently say you can live comfortably on a local tech salary, especially with a few years of experience, and the market is good by European standards. However, they also warn that Norway’s progressive taxes, high prices, and weaker purchasing power mean the financial upside is far below places like the US and sometimes less compelling than lower-cost European alternatives.

The biggest positive theme is life outside work. Engineers and residents praise normal working hours, flexibility, safety, public services, clean air, and uniquely easy access to forests, fjords, skiing, hiking, and calm neighborhoods. People who buy into the Norwegian rhythm—outdoors, family life, quiet weekends, modest consumption—often describe Oslo as lovely and very livable.

The main complaints are equally consistent: Oslo is expensive, dark in winter, socially reserved, and smaller-feeling than its capital-city label suggests. Several locals say nightlife and culture lag bigger European cities, restaurants are pricey, and making friends as an adult takes effort. There are also practical irritations like noisy old apartments, bike theft, weekend mess in the center, hills, construction, and housing pressure.

Overall, current residents sound positive but conditional: Oslo is excellent if you want a stable, safe, outdoor-oriented life with humane work culture. It is less attractive if your definition of “worth it” is maximizing savings, social buzz, sunshine, or rapid tech-career upside.