Cost of Living Comparison Between Hilversum and Narvik Cost of Living Comparison Between Hilversum and Narvik

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,038 in Hilversum versus $2,226 in Narvik.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,445 in Hilversum versus $3,450 in Narvik.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,852 in Hilversum versus $4,673 in Narvik.

Living in Hilversum is roughly 36% more expensive than Narvik, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hilversum 127% above, Narvik 66% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.65 €24.64
$20.40 NOK 190
40.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.9 €78.2
$89.6 NOK 832
1.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.48 €14.18
$14.98 NOK 139
10.01%
Cappuccino
$4.46 €3.83
$5.54 NOK 51.4
-19.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90 €3.35
$2.57 NOK 23.90
51.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 €2.65
$2.45 NOK 22.74
25.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.86 €5.04
$11.22 NOK 104
-47.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.09 €4.38
$10.92 NOK 101
-53.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.35 €1.16
$2.45 NOK 22.73
-44.90%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 €1.89
$3.22 NOK 29.96
-31.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.78 €3.25
$2.60 NOK 24.15
45.38%
Eggs
$4.90 €4.22
$4.93 NOK 45.82
-0.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.96 €11.15
$11.53 NOK 107
12.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.37 €14.94
$15.06 NOK 140
15.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.26 €14.84
$21.67 NOK 201
-20.35%
Apples (1kg)
$1.89 €1.62
$3.42 NOK 31.80
-44.74%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 €2.19
$2.00 NOK 18.58
27.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 €1.60
$3.76 NOK 34.90
-50.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.77 €3.24
$4.24 NOK 39.42
-11.08%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 €1.82
$2.55 NOK 23.72
-17.25%
Onion (1kg)
$2.24 €1.93
$3.48 NOK 32.37
-35.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 €1.01
$2.75 NOK 25.50
-57.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 €0.78
$1.72 NOK 15.97
-47.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.37 €10.64
$14.92 NOK 139
-17.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.01 €6.03
$19.55 NOK 182
-64.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56 €1.34
$3.33 NOK 30.89
-53.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 €2.44
$3.56 NOK 33.05
-20.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.69 €4.03
$5.16 NOK 47.98
-9.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$95.7 €82.4
$87.4 NOK 811
9.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.67 €4.88
$12.89 NOK 120
-56.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.04 €1.75
$1.39 NOK 12.93
46.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.48 €25.36
$49.71 NOK 462
-40.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.30 €1.98
$2.09 NOK 19.45
10.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.9K €35.2K
$31.0K NOK 287.6K
32.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.5K €34.8K
$29.8K NOK 277.3K
35.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$265 €228
$249 NOK 2,317
6.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.38 €26.13
$47.81 NOK 444
-36.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.3 €50.2
$77.9 NOK 724
-25.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$70.4 €60.6
$54.4 NOK 505
29.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.69 €35.86
$25.28 NOK 235
64.91%
Cinema Ticket
$17.20 €14.79
$16.58 NOK 154
3.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$663 €570
$334 NOK 3,100
98.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,633 €6,566
$7,283 NOK 67.7K
4.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$127 €109
$90.5 NOK 841
39.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.7 €52.2
$32.66 NOK 303
85.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$132 €113
$131 NOK 1,220
0.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$184 €158
$134 NOK 1,244
37.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,732 €1,490
$924 NOK 8,586
87.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,532 €1,318
$708 NOK 6,579
116.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,027 €2,604
$1,562 NOK 14.5K
93.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,394 €2,060
$1,204 NOK 11.2K
98.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,097 €6,105
$5,352 NOK 49.7K
32.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,465 €4,701
$4,825 NOK 44.8K
13.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,837 €3,301
$3,648 NOK 33.9K
5.18%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Narvik: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,732 in Hilversum and $924 in Narvik. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hilversum pays 5% 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 $90.0 in Narvik. Groceries flip the comparison at $353 vs $436, with Hilversum cheaper for home cooking.

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 Narvik?
Hilversum and Narvik differ by about 36% in total monthly costs ($3,038 vs $2,226 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?
Hilversum pays 5% more on average, 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 Narvik?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,732 in Hilversum versus $924 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 Narvik?
A monthly transit pass in Narvik runs roughly 10% 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 $663 in Hilversum versus $334 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 $2,226 in Narvik versus $3,038 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 36% less than in Hilversum. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Hilversum vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities