[_delirium]

I don't think Norway ends up more expensive than SF or Manhattan for most people. Yes, petty expenses like buying beer in a pub are high, but the really big expense for most people, rent, is far lower. You can get a nice, modern, centrally located apartment in Oslo, without roommates or rats, for $1300-1500/mo ($10-12k NOK). And you can get it down to more like $1000/mo ($8k NOK) if you're willing to commute a bit. Try getting something with that budget in SF or Manhattan!

Taxes are high, but for entrepreneurs that's largely offset by: 1) no self-employment payroll taxes, and 2) your taxes cover your full health insurance costs. Once you add in the U.S.'s 15% payroll tax and health-insurance premiums you don't really save much in many scenarios.

[michaelchisari]

The way I always put it is that it's better to be rich in America, but most definitely, inarguably better to be poor in Norway, by almost every metric.

[jokola]

Scandinavia is great if you are rich. Sweden for instance would be a great choice for anyone with a trust fund. You would have to pay almost no taxes and still get all the services. It is becoming rich that is hard. Though you could argue that a lot more people get the chance. The problem is that it has also become increasingly hard to be frugal. Especially when it comes to cost of housing, but also the cost of a good quality of life in general.

[charlesdm]

Most entrepreneurs are after capital gains, not salary. The 24% rate seems acceptable, however, the wealth tax that then follows will force most successful entrepreneurs out of the country once they've made their fortune.

That said, how much is an "average" salary?

[CRidge]

For 2016, the overall average salary in Norway was about 5500 USD per month.

Source: https://www.ssb.no/en/arbeid-og-lonn/statistikker/lonnansatt...