😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,093 in Hilversum versus $2,250 in Narvik.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,525 in Hilversum versus $3,403 in Narvik.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,956 in Hilversum versus $4,557 in Narvik.
🌍Living in Hilversum is roughly 37% more expensive than in Narvik, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hilversum132% above, Narvik68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.80€25.16
$20.23NOK 195
42.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.2€79.6
$92.0NOK 887
-0.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.46€14.38
$15.08NOK 145
9.15%
Cappuccino
$4.66€4.07
$5.56NOK 53.5
-16.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72€3.25
$2.57NOK 24.80
44.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96€2.59
$2.55NOK 24.52
16.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.95€5.20
$10.93NOK 105
-45.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.08€4.44
$11.22NOK 108
-54.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36€1.19
$2.41NOK 23.24
-43.57%
White Bread(500g)
$2.29€2.00
$3.26NOK 31.41
-29.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.63€3.17
$2.46NOK 23.67
47.56%
Eggs
$4.92€4.30
$4.85NOK 46.69
1.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.97€11.33
$11.28NOK 109
14.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$17.50€15.29
$15.01NOK 145
16.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.43€15.23
$21.94NOK 211
-20.56%
Apples(1kg)
$1.92€1.68
$3.33NOK 32.03
-42.34%
Banana(1kg)
$2.55€2.23
$1.99NOK 19.15
28.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93€1.69
$3.69NOK 35.53
-47.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.85€3.36
$4.25NOK 40.92
-9.41%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09€1.82
$2.45NOK 23.59
-14.69%
Onion(1kg)
$2.14€1.87
$3.64NOK 35.06
-41.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21€1.06
$2.68NOK 25.78
-54.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.79
$1.78NOK 17.18
-49.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.97€10.46
$15.01NOK 145
-20.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.74€5.89
$18.58NOK 179
-63.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.35
$3.41NOK 32.88
-54.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74€2.40
$3.44NOK 33.15
-20.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.61€4.03
$5.17NOK 49.81
-10.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$99.0€86.5
$85.0NOK 819
16.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.91€5.16
$12.82NOK 124
-53.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$1.39NOK 13.42
53.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.56€24.95
$50.9NOK 490
-43.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.18€1.91
$2.09NOK 20.17
4.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.5K€35.4K
$29.8KNOK 286.9K
35.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.0K€34.1K
$30.2KNOK 290.4K
29.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$266€233
$247NOK 2,376
7.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.39€25.68
$47.69NOK 459
-38.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.0€50.7
$77.5NOK 746
-25.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$70.1€61.2
$53.1NOK 512
32.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.20€36.00
$25.12NOK 242
64.01%
Cinema Ticket
$17.66€15.43
$16.76NOK 161
5.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$679€593
$338NOK 3,259
100.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,585€6,627
$7,299NOK 70.3K
3.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$127€111
$88.0NOK 848
44.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.9€53.3
$33.12NOK 319
84.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$134€117
$130NOK 1,254
2.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$181€159
$137NOK 1,318
32.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,762€1,539
$930NOK 8,956
89.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,488€1,300
$699NOK 6,729
112.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,011€2,631
$1,581NOK 15.2K
90.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,438€2,130
$1,186NOK 11.4K
105.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,977€6,096
$5,013NOK 48.3K
39.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,378€4,699
$4,616NOK 44.5K
16.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,721€3,251
$3,451NOK 33.2K
7.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.5
4.27
5.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hilversum: July 13, 2026
Last update for Narvik: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,762 in Hilversum and $930 in Narvik. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hilversum pays 8% 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: $91.0 in Hilversum vs $92.0 in Narvik for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $354 vs $433 per month, with Hilversum 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
Hilversum vs Narvik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Hilversum and in Narvik?
Hilversum and Narvik differ by about 37% in total monthly costs ($3,093 vs $2,250 including rent). Narvik is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Hilversum or Narvik?
Average pay runs 8% higher in Hilversum, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Hilversum and in Narvik?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,762 in Hilversum versus $930 in Narvik. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Hilversum and in Narvik?
A monthly transit pass in Narvik runs roughly 16% less than in Hilversum. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Hilversum and Narvik?
Childcare runs $679 in Hilversum versus $338 in Narvik. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $2,250 in Narvik versus $3,093 in Hilversum, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Narvik but tight or insufficient in Hilversum. The gap between the two cities makes Narvik the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Hilversum and Narvik?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Hilversum or Narvik safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Hilversum and Narvik are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Hilversum or Narvik?
Expats usually find Narvik gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Hilversum. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.