Comment by somenameforme
10 hours ago
Prices tend to correlate strongly with wages and wages are very high in Norway for all work, so they also have some of the highest prices on basically everything. Another lol example is a Big Mac combo meal in Oslo - you're looking at around $20.
A large Bic Mac meal with plain fries and soda is 123 NOK or $12.91, and a large double Quarter pounder menu is 168 NOK or $17.63.
It's actually relatively cheap right now, I expect a price hike soon given how much grocery prices have increased.
Is that in Oslo or elsewhere? Have prices gone down for some reason?
EDIT: Ahh! I was basing my statement on data from quite a number of years back, and just assuming prices tend to go in one direction in inflationary economies. The nuance here is that the NOK has weakened somewhat dramatically against the dollar, so relative prices aren't quite as insane now as they were in the past.
Ah yes, back when the dollar was 7 NOK and not ~10 NOK, the Big Mac meal would indeed have been the equivalent of $20.
Scandinavian countries have very specific alcohol policies, though, very restrictionist, and the tax is part of this.
This is not just question of "more expensive country, more expensive stuff". Switzerland or Luxembourg are quite expensive, but you will buy affordable and good Italian/Spanish/French wine there, because these countries don't impose anywhere near as much taxation on wine.
If you’re in Romandie in Switzerland I would recommend local wines, that’s one thing the whole French speaking region is well known for (source: I’m from there)