Meaning
Asking for travel cost.
Cultural Background
Norway is almost entirely cashless. When you ask for the price, be ready to pay with a card or the 'Vipps' app. Bus drivers in major cities like Oslo no longer accept cash at all. In Oslo, the price of a 'billett' depends on zones. Most of the city is Zone 1. If you ask 'Hvor mye koster billetten?', the answer will usually be for Zone 1 unless you specify otherwise. Students get significant discounts (often 40-50%) on tickets. Always follow up your price query by asking about the student price. There are rarely barriers at train stations. You are expected to have a 'billett' ready for inspection. Asking the price and buying it is a matter of personal responsibility.
Use the App
In Norway, tickets are almost always cheaper if bought via an app (like Ruter or Vy) rather than from the driver.
No Cash
Many buses and trams in cities are 'cash-free'. Don't rely on physical money even if you know the price.
Meaning
Asking for travel cost.
Use the App
In Norway, tickets are almost always cheaper if bought via an app (like Ruter or Vy) rather than from the driver.
No Cash
Many buses and trams in cities are 'cash-free'. Don't rely on physical money even if you know the price.
The 'Hva' Shortcut
If 'Hvor mye koster' feels too long, most Norwegians just say 'Hva koster billetten?'—it's shorter and very natural.
Politeness
You don't need to say 'please' (vennligst) as much in Norwegian. A simple 'Unnskyld' (Excuse me) before the phrase is enough.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing word to ask for the price.
Hvor ___ koster billetten?
We use 'mye' for uncountable amounts like money.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Select the correct way to ask for a ticket price.
The verb 'koster' must be in the second position, and 'billetten' must be in the definite form.
Complete the dialogue at the train station.
Kunde: Unnskyld, _________ til Bergen? Ansatt: Den koster 500 kroner.
This is the standard way to ask for the price of a specific ticket.
Match the Norwegian phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
Direct translation practice.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesHvor ___ koster billetten?
We use 'mye' for uncountable amounts like money.
Select the correct way to ask for a ticket price.
The verb 'koster' must be in the second position, and 'billetten' must be in the definite form.
Kunde: Unnskyld, _________ til Bergen? Ansatt: Den koster 500 kroner.
This is the standard way to ask for the price of a specific ticket.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Direct translation practice.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsYes, 'Hva koster billetten?' is extremely common and means exactly the same thing.
The '-en' at the end means 'the'. You are asking about 'the ticket' for your specific journey.
Always use 'mye' for price. 'Mange' is for counting things (1, 2, 3 tickets).
You would say 'Hvor mye koster to billetter?'. Note that 'billetter' is the plural form.
Yes, it is perfectly polite. You can add 'Unnskyld' at the beginning to be extra nice.
Usually a number followed by 'kroner', e.g., 'Femti kroner'.
It's better to ask 'Hva koster turen?' (What does the trip cost?) for a taxi.
Yes, 'billett' is used for transport, cinema, concerts, and museums.
Say 'Hvor mye koster den billigste billetten?'.
No, Norwegian verbs do not change based on the person (I, you, he, she). It is always 'koster' in the present tense.
Say 'Hvor mye kostet billetten?'.
You might hear 'Hva koster'n?' where the '-en' (the ticket) is attached to the verb.
Related Phrases
Hva koster det?
similarWhat does it cost?
En billett til...
builds onA ticket to...
Er det rabatt?
similarIs there a discount?
Månedskort
specialized formMonthly pass
Tur-retur
specialized formRound trip
