Cost of Living Comparison Between Harstad and Tivat Cost of Living Comparison Between Harstad and Tivat

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,583 in Harstad versus $1,689 in Tivat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,867 in Harstad versus $2,558 in Tivat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,150 in Harstad versus $3,427 in Tivat.

Living in Harstad is roughly 53% more expensive than in Tivat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Harstad 88% above, Tivat 23% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Harstad
Tivat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.19 NOK 132
$11.49 €9.89
23.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$109 NOK 1,012
$45.64 €39.27
138.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.08 NOK 150
$10.67 €9.18
50.70%
Cappuccino
$6.41 NOK 59.6
$2.28 €1.96
181.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65 NOK 33.99
$2.72 €2.34
34.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15 NOK 29.33
$1.43 €1.23
120.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.79 NOK 119
$3.25 €2.80
293.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$14.02 NOK 130
$3.52 €3.03
298.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Harstad
Tivat
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.47 NOK 22.95
$1.43 €1.23
72.73%
White Bread (500g)
$3.48 NOK 32.34
$1.13 €0.97
207.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.12 NOK 28.99
$2.11 €1.82
47.87%
Eggs
$4.37 NOK 40.68
$3.56 €3.07
22.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.26 NOK 105
$9.01 €7.76
24.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.07 NOK 140
$8.49 €7.31
77.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$41.00 NOK 382
$12.51 €10.77
227.74%
Apples (1kg)
$4.16 NOK 38.68
$1.68 €1.44
147.62%
Banana (1kg)
$2.82 NOK 26.23
$1.75 €1.51
61.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.78 NOK 35.21
$1.97 €1.70
91.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.90 NOK 45.56
$2.89 €2.49
69.55%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 NOK 19.47
$1.01 €0.87
106.93%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 NOK 19.50
$1.16 €1.00
81.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.99 NOK 27.79
$1.72 €1.48
73.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 NOK 22.40
$0.99 €0.85
143.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$16.77 NOK 156
$4.46 €3.84
276.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.28 NOK 152
$5.98 €5.14
172.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.12 NOK 38.32
$1.17 €1.00
252.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.88 NOK 45.39
$1.89 €1.62
158.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Harstad
Tivat
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$6.15 NOK 57.2
$1.72 €1.48
257.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$83.4 NOK 776
$40.01 €34.43
108.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$16.18 NOK 151
$1.17 €1.01
1282.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.85 NOK 17.25
$1.18 €1.01
56.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$56.9 NOK 529
$11.58 €9.96
391.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.36 NOK 21.94
$1.81 €1.56
30.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K NOK 345.3K
$30.6K €26.3K
21.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8K NOK 296.2K
$27.8K €23.9K
14.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Harstad
Tivat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 NOK 1,576
$133 €115
27.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.40 NOK 320
$15.37 €13.23
123.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$78.8 NOK 733
$34.95 €30.07
125.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Harstad
Tivat
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.1 NOK 466
$49.87 €42.91
0.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.76 NOK 351
$16.07 €13.82
134.97%
Cinema Ticket
$17.79 NOK 166
$6.37 €5.48
179.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Harstad
Tivat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$322 NOK 2,997
$416 €358
-22.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,369 NOK 50.0K
$7,613 €6,551
-29.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Harstad
Tivat
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.3 NOK 627
$91.3 €78.6
-26.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.23 NOK 328
$41.37 €35.60
-14.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 NOK 1,141
$101 €87.1
21.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$169 NOK 1,577
$116 €100
45.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Harstad
Tivat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,394 NOK 13.0K
$924 €795
50.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,067 NOK 9,932
$848 €730
25.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,324 NOK 21.6K
$2,007 €1,727
15.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,553 NOK 14.5K
$1,442 €1,241
7.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,421 NOK 59.8K
$6,208 €5,342
3.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,206 NOK 39.1K
$2,765 €2,379
52.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Harstad
Tivat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,485 NOK 32.4K
$1,245 €1,071
179.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
5.38
-7.06%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Harstad: August 30, 2026

Last update for Tivat: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,394 in Harstad and $924 in Tivat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Harstad pays 180% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $109 in Harstad vs $46.00 in Tivat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $513 vs $242 per month, with Tivat cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Harstad vs Tivat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tivat cheaper than Harstad?
Tivat is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 53% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Harstad or Tivat?
Average pay runs 180% higher in Harstad, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Harstad and Tivat?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,394 in Harstad versus $924 in Tivat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Harstad and in Tivat?
Supermarket bills run roughly 112% higher in Harstad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Harstad or in Tivat?
Dining out is cheaper in Tivat – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $109 in Harstad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Harstad or in Tivat?
At $1,689 in Tivat versus $2,583 in Harstad, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tivat but tight or insufficient in Harstad. The gap between the two cities makes Tivat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Harstad or Tivat more family-friendly?
For families, Tivat is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Harstad, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Harstad or Tivat?
Safety-wise, Harstad and Tivat are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Tivat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Harstad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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