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Oslo has a reputation as an expensive city, but you don't have to spend a fortune on somewhere to sleep. These budget hotels in Oslo offer some of the best combinations of location, comfort and value.

Finding genuinely cheap accommodation in Oslo isn't easy. But if you're prepared to give up a few traditional hotel extras, there are some good ways to keep the cost of a city break under control.

The key is understanding what budget hotel means in Oslo.

In many cases, you'll still get a private room, comfortable bed, ensuite bathroom and an excellent central location. What you may lose is a large room, daily housekeeping, a full-service reception, a restaurant or an included breakfast.

That's not necessarily a bad trade. If you're spending most of your time exploring Oslo, why pay for facilities you're barely going to use?

Hotel prices in Oslo vary enormously depending on the day of the week, season and what's happening in the city, so I haven't included specific prices here. A hotel that's the cheapest option one weekend may be surprisingly expensive the next.

With that in mind, here are some of the best places to start your search.

Citybox Oslo: Best All-Round Budget Choice

Citybox remains one of the first places I check when I need a reasonably priced room in central Oslo.

Its biggest advantage is location. is on Prinsens gate, approximately five minutes' walk from Oslo Central Station. That makes it especially convenient if you're arriving by train from Oslo Airport, or if you have an early departure the following morning.

The concept is deliberately simple. Check-in is largely self-service, rooms are functional rather than luxurious, and you're not paying for a traditional hotel restaurant or lots of staff.

Rooms come with private bathrooms, free Wi-Fi and a small desk. There is also a basic guest kitchen, while two partner restaurants are connected to the lobby.

I've stayed here myself and found the stripped-back concept worked very well. The smallest rooms really are small, but if you're travelling alone and mainly want somewhere central to sleep, that may not matter.

There are larger double, twin and family rooms too, so don't assume Citybox is only for solo travellers.

Best for: First-time visitors, train travellers and anyone wanting a very central location without paying full-service hotel prices.

Comfort Hotel Xpress Central Station: Best For Oslo S

If location is your absolute priority, is difficult to beat.

It's just across from Oslo Central Station and Jernbanetorget, putting the Opera House, Karl Johans gate and Bj酶rvika within easy walking distance.

The Xpress concept follows much the same philosophy as Citybox: remove some of the things many city-break travellers don't need and keep the essentials.

The smallest double rooms are compact, starting at 14 square metres, but they still include a private bathroom, TV and desk. Room cleaning is less frequent than at a traditional full-service hotel, another example of how costs are kept down.

Breakfast isn't automatically included. Instead, there's a deli and combined bar/reception area where you can buy drinks, snacks and simple food.

That arrangement won't appeal to everyone. But Oslo Central Station and the surrounding streets are packed with caf茅s, bakeries and places to grab breakfast, so I wouldn't consider the lack of a buffet a major disadvantage.

Best for: Short stays, late arrivals, early departures and anyone travelling with luggage.

Smarthotel Oslo: Best For Solo Travellers

has been around for years and remains an interesting option, especially for solo travellers.

Its central location on St. Olavs gate puts it within easy walking distance of Karl Johans gate, the Royal Palace and the National Museum. The hotel has digital check-in, a staffed 24-hour reception, a lobby shop and a breakfast buffet.

There's one important thing you should know before booking: the cheapest rooms are tiny.

The smallest single and double rooms are approximately eight square metres. They have private bathrooms, TVs and good-quality beds, but there isn't much spare floor space.

I've stayed here before and that was very much my experience. The room was essentially built around the bed. For one person on a short trip, it was manageable. For two people with substantial luggage, I'd look carefully at the room category before booking.

On the plus side, the public areas give you somewhere else to sit, work or relax.

Best for: Solo travellers who prioritise location and price over space.

Cochs Pensjonat: Best Traditional Budget Option

is rather different from Oslo's modern self-service budget hotels.

Despite the name, Cochs describes itself as essentially a hotel. It occupies a fantastic position on the corner of the Royal Palace park, with Karl Johans gate and the city centre just beyond it.

The main attraction here is choice. Standard rooms have a private bathroom, television, kitchenette and fridge, while the cheapest budget rooms have a private bedroom but shared toilets and showers.

That makes Cochs worth considering for longer stays. Having even limited food preparation facilities can save a surprising amount of money in Oslo, where eating every meal in restaurants quickly adds up.

Breakfast isn't served by the hotel, but Kaffebrenneriet and Espresso House are located at street level or immediately next door.

The style is more traditional and less polished than the newer budget chains, but that's part of its appeal.

Best for: Longer stays, travellers who appreciate a kitchenette, and those willing to share a bathroom to save more.

K7 Hotel Oslo: Best Hotel-Hostel Hybrid

Can't decide between a hotel and a hostel? K7 gives you both.

Located on Kongens gate in the historic Kvadraturen district, offers regular hotel rooms alongside hostel-style dormitory accommodation. Oslo Central Station, Karl Johans gate, Akershus Fortress and the waterfront are all within walking distance.

Hotel room categories range from economy doubles to superior and family rooms, while budget-conscious solo travellers can book individual beds in dormitories.

Hostel guests also have access to a guest kitchen and laundry facilities, useful features if you're staying in Oslo for more than a couple of nights.

This flexibility makes K7 particularly useful for groups travelling with different budgets. Some people can take private rooms while others choose dorm beds, without everyone having to stay in completely different parts of the city.

Best for:聽Backpackers, solo travellers, groups and anyone deciding between a hostel and a hotel.

Anker Hotel: Best For Gr眉nerl酶kka

is more conventional than most of the options on this list.

Located on Storgata, it's between the city centre and Gr眉nerl酶kka. That puts you within walking distance of both central Oslo and one of the city's most interesting neighbourhoods, while trams and buses run along the surrounding streets.

Unlike the ultra-stripped-back concepts, Anker has a 24-hour reception, luggage room, hotel bar and a proper breakfast restaurant. Free Wi-Fi is included.

There are several room categories, including smaller doubles as well as larger twin and deluxe rooms.

Rates can sometimes creep above what I'd consider truly budget territory, so it's one to compare carefully against the big chains. But when prices are competitive, Anker can offer more of a traditional hotel experience for similar money.

Best for: Travellers who want a full-service hotel and easy access to Gr眉nerl酶kka.

Comfort Hotel B酶rsparken: Another Central Option

It's also worth checking , especially if prices at Citybox and Comfort Xpress are high for your dates.

The hotel is in Kvadraturen, just a few minutes' walk from Oslo Central Station and close to the Opera House and waterfront. It was renovated in 2021 and has 248 rooms.

The smallest rooms are once again very compact鈥攕ome singles are just 8-12 square metres鈥攂ut there's a little more of a traditional hotel feel here. There's a breakfast buffet, lobby, bar and a particularly large 24-hour gym.

As with Anker, whether it truly counts as a budget hotel depends entirely on your dates.

Best for: Travellers wanting more facilities while still keeping an eye on the price.

Which Oslo Budget Hotel Should You Choose?

For most visitors, I would start by comparing Citybox Oslo and Comfort Hotel Xpress Central Station. Both offer excellent locations close to Oslo Central Station and strip away enough extras to keep prices relatively competitive.

Solo travellers should also check Smarthotel Oslo, although I strongly recommend looking at the size of the room before booking.

For something less corporate, Cochs Pensjonat remains one of Oslo's most interesting budget accommodation choices. The kitchenette-equipped rooms are particularly useful for longer stays.

K7 Hotel Oslo is the most flexible option for backpackers and groups, while Anker Hotel is a good choice if you want a more traditional hotel close to Gr眉nerl酶kka.

Most importantly, don't assume a hotel labelled 鈥渂udget鈥� will automatically be the cheapest.

Oslo uses dynamic hotel pricing, and major concerts, conferences and busy summer weekends can completely change the picture. Check several hotels for your exact dates鈥攁nd compare what's actually included鈥攂efore booking.

Saving a few hundred kroner on the room means a few hundred kroner more to spend enjoying Oslo. And in one of Europe's more expensive capitals, that's rarely a bad thing.