The high value of the kroner makes Norway very expensive for foreigners. (A beer in Oslo can cost $15.) But employing people, especially skilled workers, is surprisingly inexpensive. Here's what one Norwegian tech company, Oslo-based bMenu, pays each year to employ software developers in Norway and the United States.
| Oslo | New York City | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salary | $100,000 | $100,000 | ||
| Payroll taxes | National insurance contribution, 14.1% of total salary* | $14,100 | Social Security (6.2% of first $106,800) | $6,200 |
| Medicare, 1.45% of salary | $1,450 | |||
| Federal unemployment | $56 | |||
| State unemployment | $349 | |||
| City transit tax | $340 | |||
| Retirement plan | Supplemental retirement plan | $2,100 | 401(k), 6% match | $6,000 |
| Private insurance | Accident and travel insurance | $403 | Workers' compensation | $503 |
| Disability | $56 | |||
| Health insurance, 80% employer contribution | $7,536 (single) $23,360 (family) | |||
| Total salary | $116,603 | $122,490 (single) | $138,314 (family) | |
| Cost of benefits | 16.6% |
22.5% (single) 38.3% (family) | ||