Cologne is densely populated compared to Tromsø, with a stereotype leaning toward urban, sophisticated life. At the same time, the Norwegians love countryside life, nature, and being sporty, contemplative, and silent. 

Tromsø is more feminist, while Cologne is liberal.  In other words, it is important for women to have a job, while Cologne seems to be more conservative about gender roles. By the way, Cologne is much more relaxed about prostitution, unlike Tromsø, which has feminist views. 

Norwegians don’t really care about titles and hierarchies, while in Cologne you must address people properly and add their titles. 

Germans are rigid with the law, Norwegians quite like them too, but are less strictly enforced. 

Germans are more likely to show their discomfort when you do something they didn’t expect, and Norwegians will simply look and smile. 

You can make 29.5% more money in Tromsø, which has a GDP per capita of $72,100 as of 2017, while in Cologne, the GDP per capita is $50,800 as of 2017.

In Cologne, you will pay a 23.3% higher top tax rate, while Tromsø has a top tax rate of 38.5% as of 2017. In Cologne, the top tax rate is 47.5% as of 2016.

The overall cost of living in Cologne is 30% less than living in Tromsø.

When you move from the EU to Tromsø, you must fulfill certain conditions. You can work, study or live, but you must register with the police after three months. You are in one of the following categories to qualify for residence in Tromsø: worker/job seeker, student, person with own funds, employee of a foreign business registered in an EU/EEA country, or self-employed.

Pros:

• Tromsø has a strong economy
• It’s not overcrowded
• The country has beautiful scenery
• Low crime rates
• The Healthcare system is greatly developed Great education system

Cons:

• in comparison to other countries may be difficult in the beginning
• The weather is something that will take time for you to get used to
• It  takes time to learn Norwegian
• Tobacco and alcohol are very expensive and aren’t available like they are in Cologne
• Properties are very expensive
• Eating out is expensive

In Cologne, women are 3.5 times more likely to die during childbirth. In Tromsø, approximately 2.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In Cologne, 7.0 women do as of 2017.

In Cologne, children are 32.0% more likely to die during infancy. In Tromsø, approximately 2.5 children die before they reach the age of one as of 2020. In Cologne, on the other hand, 3.3 children do as of 2020.

As an EEA citizen, you have the right of living in Tromsø and receiving planned healthcare within the specialized healthcare service. You must pay for the treatment out of pocket, and talk about the reimbursement with your national healthcare insurer.

You can use your European Health Insurance card from any EU/EEA country if you’re staying in Tromsø.

If you're looking to find a job in Tromsø and considering moving household goods to Tromsø, it is required to apply for a "residence permit for work."

If you move as a jobseeker you are permitted to stay up to six months, this also applies to people who lost their jobs.

If you are employed by a company registered in an EU/EEA country, that has a contract with a Norwegian company to carry out an assignment in Tromsø, or if you are self-employed, you are entitled to register as an employee of a foreign business.

People working in Tromsø will get a tax refund. It provides a summary of your earnings, deductions, assets, and debt. You must ensure that the information on your tax return is accurate to prevent overpaying taxes. However, if you use the Pay As You Earn program, you won’t receive the tax return and will get a tax receipt instead.

Moving to Tromsø from EU countries, especially from Cologne, provides a better overall quality of life, from healthcare to the economy, as well as better employment opportunities. As soon as you settle in Tromsø and start making friends with other people, you will notice a significant improvement in your professional and social life. You will also be surprised that moving to Oslo, Tromsø offers different kinds of entertainment compared to living in Berlin.

Tromsø is country with lowest rates of undernourishment and unsafe water in the world. They give 12 months of leave to new parents, and only 0.07% of people are homeless.

Taxes are high, but that means that school and university are free, healthcare is at an enviable level. You’re properly supported if you lose your job.

Tromsø is the LGBT heaven, famous for being the 10h safest country for LGBT people, all individuals are protected by the anti-discrimination law, and same-sex marriage and adoption have been legal since 2009.

Tromsø doesn’t offer retirement visas.

Signing up for a Norwegian language course is an important first step. It can be difficult to find a job without knowing the local language. Despite the fact that most Norwegians speak excellent English.

When importing stuff into the country, a copy of the shipper's passport and an inventory of every item being brought into Tromsø, both in English and Norwegian, are required.

Personal belongings are allowed to be imported without paying customs duties and declaring them. However, the total retail value of these items must not exceed NOK 6,000. Cash in excess of NOK 25,000 must be declared before importation.

Don’t even try to move all your stuff by car, it’s already a stressful process. Instead, rent a moving van from Cologne to Tromsø, and make this whole process a lot easier and quicker.

If you are planning to move to Tromsø permanently, you can apply for a temporary driving license to use a foreign-registered vehicle. This permit can be issued for a period of up to 14 days. You will be asked to provide evidence of your relocation: a certificate of relocation, an employment contract or other relevant documentation. You must apply before importing the vehicle. In some cases, this permit allows you to drive with foreign license plates for up to two years.

Moving from Cologne to Tromsø is relatively easy because you don’t have to worry about applying for a visa if you come from Cologne. At Moovick, we take away the other stress of booking and packing. We would help you move from where you are to your destination as quickly and smoothly as possible.