😐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: Hilversum127% above, Narvik66% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.65€24.64
$20.40NOK 190
40.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.9€78.2
$89.6NOK 832
1.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.48€14.18
$14.98NOK 139
10.01%
Cappuccino
$4.46€3.83
$5.54NOK 51.4
-19.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90€3.35
$2.57NOK 23.90
51.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08€2.65
$2.45NOK 22.74
25.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.86€5.04
$11.22NOK 104
-47.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.09€4.38
$10.92NOK 101
-53.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35€1.16
$2.45NOK 22.73
-44.90%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20€1.89
$3.22NOK 29.96
-31.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.78€3.25
$2.60NOK 24.15
45.38%
Eggs
$4.90€4.22
$4.93NOK 45.82
-0.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.96€11.15
$11.53NOK 107
12.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$17.37€14.94
$15.06NOK 140
15.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.26€14.84
$21.67NOK 201
-20.35%
Apples(1kg)
$1.89€1.62
$3.42NOK 31.80
-44.74%
Banana(1kg)
$2.55€2.19
$2.00NOK 18.58
27.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$3.76NOK 34.90
-50.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.77€3.24
$4.24NOK 39.42
-11.08%
Potato(1kg)
$2.11€1.82
$2.55NOK 23.72
-17.25%
Onion(1kg)
$2.24€1.93
$3.48NOK 32.37
-35.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17€1.01
$2.75NOK 25.50
-57.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.78
$1.72NOK 15.97
-47.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.37€10.64
$14.92NOK 139
-17.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.01€6.03
$19.55NOK 182
-64.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56€1.34
$3.33NOK 30.89
-53.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.44
$3.56NOK 33.05
-20.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.69€4.03
$5.16NOK 47.98
-9.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$95.7€82.4
$87.4NOK 811
9.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.67€4.88
$12.89NOK 120
-56.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.75
$1.39NOK 12.93
46.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.48€25.36
$49.71NOK 462
-40.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.30€1.98
$2.09NOK 19.45
10.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.9K€35.2K
$31.0KNOK 287.6K
32.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.5K€34.8K
$29.8KNOK 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
$249NOK 2,317
6.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.38€26.13
$47.81NOK 444
-36.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.3€50.2
$77.9NOK 724
-25.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$70.4€60.6
$54.4NOK 505
29.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.69€35.86
$25.28NOK 235
64.91%
Cinema Ticket
$17.20€14.79
$16.58NOK 154
3.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$663€570
$334NOK 3,100
98.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,633€6,566
$7,283NOK 67.7K
4.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$127€109
$90.5NOK 841
39.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.7€52.2
$32.66NOK 303
85.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$132€113
$131NOK 1,220
0.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$184€158
$134NOK 1,244
37.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,732€1,490
$924NOK 8,586
87.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,532€1,318
$708NOK 6,579
116.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,027€2,604
$1,562NOK 14.5K
93.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,394€2,060
$1,204NOK 11.2K
98.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,097€6,105
$5,352NOK 49.7K
32.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,465€4,701
$4,825NOK 44.8K
13.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,837€3,301
$3,648NOK 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.