Moving to Bergen from Italy - Practical advice for couples looking for work

Hi everyone!

My partner and I are seriously thinking of moving to Bergen and we would really like to hear the experiences of those who live there or have already moved there.

👥 Who we are: • I am Italian (software developer, but willing to do any job) • My partner is Romanian (she worked as a worker, but she is also available for any type of work) • We both have high school diplomas • I don't speak English very well, she does • We are both EU citizens

💼 Work: • How do you find work in Bergen? Which sites/portals do you use? • Is it possible to find a job without knowing Norwegian? • Is it okay to only know English or is Norwegian necessarily needed? • What type of jobs are easier for those arriving from abroad to find? (warehouses, factories, catering, cleaning, etc.) • Are there opportunities for my sector (IT/developer) even without Norwegian? • How much can we realistically expect to earn?

🏠 Home: • How do you find a house in Bergen? Are there sites or agencies to use? • Is it very difficult to find an apartment? • How much does a studio or two-room apartment cost on average? • Do you need to already have a job to rent or can you look for a house first? • Are there areas to avoid or more convenient areas outside the centre?

💰 Cost of living: • How much does it take for two to live per month? (rent, groceries, bills, transportation) • How much does shopping cost compared to Italy? • Is public transport expensive?

📋 Practical aspects: • What are the first bureaucratic steps when arriving? (personal number, health card, taxes, etc.) • How does healthcare work for EU citizens? • Can you survive with only English at the beginning or do you necessarily have to learn Norwegian straight away? • How long does it take to learn Norwegian to a decent level?

🌍 Social life: • What is Bergen like for foreigners? Is it easy to integrate? • How do you tolerate the long, dark winter (and the rain!)? • Is it easy to make friends?

❓ In general: • In your opinion, is this a feasible choice for us? • Do you recommend arriving with a job already found from Italy or can you look for it locally? • How much money should we have set aside before we leave?

Any advice, personal experience or even "cold shower of reality" is welcome! We want to understand if this move makes sense for us or if we are dreaming too much.

Thanks so much in advance to anyone who replies! 🇮🇹🇷🇴➡️🇳🇴