Cost of Living in Denmark

If you ever have to imagine yourself staying in Denmark and making a living in this country and you picture yourself living a happy and well-rounded life, you are not wrong. Denmark is a place that offers you a wonderful work-life balance. You can indulge in leisure and adventure activities at this place just as seamlessly as you can build your career with a variety of opportunities it offers individuals. In this way, you enjoy a laidback fun time just as easily as you can revel in the thriving workspace ambiance.

Remember, you can give importance to the things that matter without making yourself feel like you are missing out on family time or career opportunities. If you are thinking about moving to this well-functioning and family-friendly place, you need to first understand the cost that comes with living in this place.

Keeping up with the Danish lifestyle

Considered to be one of the happiest and most satisfied people around the globe, individuals in Denmark revel in the culture, family life, and leisure time. To put it honestly, however, the cost of living at this place is on the higher side of things. This is considered to be true even by European standards.

Utilities, eating at restaurants as well as petrol are costly. However, this is made up for by the salaries that are offered to employees working in the country. The high salaries work to even out the high cost of service and goods. You need to consider various factors when determining the cost of living here.

When paying for schooling fees

Learning and education costs are fairly low, largely due to the fact that tuition is absolutely free. For those planning to live in Denmark and are unsure about the language barrier, you should not throw public school out of the equation. There are study and helpful support programs for non-Danish students.

There are public schools that provide the International Baccalaureate in English. They also teach the curricula of Germany or France in the language of each country. If you are seeking private education, schooling costs can become costly. International school fees are particularly high. If you are planning to stay in Denmark for a short period of time, public international schools are your best fit.

Looking at accommodation costs

Accommodation undoubtedly takes up a lot of your monthly budget in the country. If you are looking to cut costs, you have to look at the location of where you are staying. This is because it greatly affects the price of the location. For instance, Copenhagen. The place is high in popularity and it is also small in size. This inevitably means that accommodation here is infrequent and costly in nature. Usually, utility costs are excluded from the rental cost. You do have to budget additional expenses that are incurred.

On your quest for the best place to live in Denmark, know that the cost of the initial deposit is going to be worth as much as three months of rent. There are a few landlords who also ask for an additional three months of rent. You will have to pay this in an upfront manner and that too in advance.

Paying attention to the cost of food

When going grocery shopping, know that you are going to be spending a great deal on this. In fact, the first time you head out and check the prices mentioned on the labels, you may be in for a shock. To solve this issue, it is important that you reduce costs and start budgeting. You can also attempt to reduce your grocery costs by going in for locally produced, seasoned goods. Also, try to steer clear from imports if you can help it as this greatly helps to minimize costs.

Take a look at the cost of transport

If you are a frequent bus or train commuter, transport in Denmark is going to be easy on your budget. However, if you prefer to take taxis to and from regularly, it can prove to be an expensive affair. Since petrol is also priced on the higher side of things as is the cost of purchasing a car, cost-effective ways to commute can be in the form of walking and even cycling.

Looking at taxes

Individuals living in Denmark pay some of the highest taxes in the world. In fact, individuals here pay up to half of their income in the form of taxes. Other than this, Danes also pay around 25% value added tax (VAT) on a majority of their items. Besides this, there is a tax of up to 150% on new cars. However, most people living here are of the opinion that they are content with paying these taxes as they are able to witness for themselves what they obtain in return for this.

Laying emphasis on healthcare in Denmark

The Danish healthcare system offers free healthcare to all its residents. The funds for offering healthcare is obtained through taxes. Optionally, you can also look at the private health care sector. It is however small when compared to the larger public system that a majority of the population utilizes. Users pay for some of the processes and procedures. This includes non-essential cosmetic surgery, fertility treatments, a small degree of prescription medications, and a great deal of dental care. Doctor visits and hospitalization that also includes treatment, tests, medicines, and follow-up care is completely covered. Apothecaries are privately owned in this country.

So there you go. All you need to know about the overall cost of living in Denmark. If you are looking at Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen, it is undoubtedly one of the priciest cities in the world. Having said that, other cities in this country are also expensive. All in all, the superior quality of life and standard of living makes up for the high cost of living. So if you are looking to live in Denmark, be sure to consider the cost of living and accordingly make your choice.