In short: Coworking and shared offices (kontorfellesskap in Norwegian) are two words for the same thing: you rent desks in an office you share with others, pay per desk a month and can usually leave with a month's notice. A business centre (kontorhotell) is a variant with private, closed offices, a reception and full service. In Oslo a hot desk costs NOK 2,200–5,000 a month, with internet, meeting room time and coffee included.
What is coworking?
Coworking means several companies and freelancers work in the same space and share common areas, meeting rooms and a kitchen. You rent desks, not square metres: a hot desk, a dedicated desk or a private office for the team, and pay per desk a month. The space is furnished, and internet, coffee and a reception are included in the price. Many spaces also hold events and networking lunches for their members.
What is a shared office?
A shared office, or kontorfellesskap, is the Norwegian word for coworking and in practice means the same. It is often used for smaller, local spaces, and sometimes for a company that rents out spare desks in its own premises. If so, ask who the landlord is and what happens to your desks if that company moves.
What is a business centre?
A business centre, or kontorhotell, rents out private, closed offices with a reception, mail handling, cleaning and other services included, the way Regus does. It is also called a serviced office. The difference from coworking is mostly one of emphasis: the business centre is about a door of your own and service, coworking about community and open space. Many operators offer both in the same building, so you can start with a few hot desks and move into a private office as the team grows.
Coworking, a business centre or an office of your own?
- Coworking and shared offices suit everyone from one person to growing teams. You pay per desk a month, everything is furnished and ready, and the notice period is usually one month.
- A business centre suits teams that want a door of their own and full service. You pay for a private office per month, typically with one to three months' notice.
- An office of your own suits teams of more than 15–20 people with a stable need. You lease the floor area per m² a year, fit it out yourselves and usually commit for three to five years.
Hot desk, dedicated desk or private office?
In a coworking space you choose between three kinds of desk:
- Hot desk: any free desk in the shared space, for those who come in a few days a week. Usually one month's notice.
- Dedicated desk: your own desk in the shared space, ready for you every day. It usually costs NOK 1,000–2,000 more a month than a hot desk, also with one month's notice.
- Private office: a closed office of your own for the team. Meeting rooms, kitchen and reception are shared with the rest of the building. A whole office costs from NOK 6,000 a month, and the price rises with the number of desks. Typically one to three months' notice.
Many spaces also sell day passes, so you can rent an office for a day or try the place before you decide.
What does coworking cost?
The price is per desk a month and depends most on the city and how central the space is:
| City | Hot desk | Dedicated desk | Private office (per desk) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oslo | NOK 2,200–5,000 | NOK 3,500–6,500 | NOK 4,000–10,000 |
| Bergen | NOK 2,200–4,000 | NOK 3,000–5,200 | NOK 3,600–6,800 |
| Trondheim | NOK 1,900–3,500 | NOK 2,600–4,500 | NOK 3,200–5,500 |
Guide prices from Homni, updated October 2026. Choose a city to see available desks and the prices area by area.
What is included in the price?
Most spaces include internet, meeting room time, coffee and tea, a printer, a reception and mail handling, and many also cleaning and events. Meeting rooms beyond the hours included, parking and storage often cost extra. Ask what is included before you compare prices.
Is coworking cheaper than an office of your own?
For small teams it often is. Count on about 15 m² per employee in an office of your own once meeting rooms and the kitchen are included (see how many square metres per employee you need). At a rent of NOK 3,500 and common costs of NOK 600 per m² a year, that comes to about NOK 5,100 per employee a month. That is before furniture, internet, cleaning and power, and with a commitment of three to five years.
A dedicated desk in a coworking space in Oslo costs NOK 3,500–6,500 a month with all of that included. An office of your own pays off once the team is large and its need stable, usually from 15–20 people. See what an office costs in Oslo.
What is a virtual office?
A virtual office gives a business an address and mail handling without a desk. Many business centres and coworking operators offer one, often with extras such as call answering and meeting rooms when you need them. It suits businesses that work from home or on the move but want a fixed address.
How to choose the right space
- Visit two or three places. Many offer a free trial day, and the culture and who works there matter as much as the price.
- Check what is included, and what meeting rooms, parking and extra desks cost.
- Ask about access: what hours you can use the space, and whether you can bring guests.
- Think about growth. A place where you can move from hot desks to a private office without moving is worth a lot.
- Look at the location: a short trip by public transport for your staff, or parking if you need it.
Homni knows the coworking spaces in Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim and finds the one that fits your team. It is free for tenants. Tell us what you need.
