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: $3,093 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: Hilversum 132% above, Narvik 68% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.80 €25.16
$20.23 NOK 195
42.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.2 €79.6
$92.0 NOK 887
-0.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.46 €14.38
$15.08 NOK 145
9.15%
Cappuccino
$4.66 €4.07
$5.56 NOK 53.5
-16.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 €3.25
$2.57 NOK 24.80
44.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 €2.59
$2.55 NOK 24.52
16.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.95 €5.20
$10.93 NOK 105
-45.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.08 €4.44
$11.22 NOK 108
-54.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 €1.19
$2.41 NOK 23.24
-43.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 €2.00
$3.26 NOK 31.41
-29.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.63 €3.17
$2.46 NOK 23.67
47.56%
Eggs
$4.92 €4.30
$4.85 NOK 46.69
1.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.97 €11.33
$11.28 NOK 109
14.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.50 €15.29
$15.01 NOK 145
16.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.43 €15.23
$21.94 NOK 211
-20.56%
Apples (1kg)
$1.92 €1.68
$3.33 NOK 32.03
-42.34%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 €2.23
$1.99 NOK 19.15
28.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 €1.69
$3.69 NOK 35.53
-47.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.85 €3.36
$4.25 NOK 40.92
-9.41%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 €1.82
$2.45 NOK 23.59
-14.69%
Onion (1kg)
$2.14 €1.87
$3.64 NOK 35.06
-41.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.21 €1.06
$2.68 NOK 25.78
-54.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 €0.79
$1.78 NOK 17.18
-49.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.97 €10.46
$15.01 NOK 145
-20.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.74 €5.89
$18.58 NOK 179
-63.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 €1.35
$3.41 NOK 32.88
-54.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 €2.40
$3.44 NOK 33.15
-20.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.61 €4.03
$5.17 NOK 49.81
-10.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$99.0 €86.5
$85.0 NOK 819
16.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.91 €5.16
$12.82 NOK 124
-53.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 €1.86
$1.39 NOK 13.42
53.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.56 €24.95
$50.9 NOK 490
-43.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.18 €1.91
$2.09 NOK 20.17
4.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.5K €35.4K
$29.8K NOK 286.9K
35.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.0K €34.1K
$30.2K NOK 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
$247 NOK 2,376
7.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.39 €25.68
$47.69 NOK 459
-38.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.0 €50.7
$77.5 NOK 746
-25.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$70.1 €61.2
$53.1 NOK 512
32.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.20 €36.00
$25.12 NOK 242
64.01%
Cinema Ticket
$17.66 €15.43
$16.76 NOK 161
5.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$679 €593
$338 NOK 3,259
100.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,585 €6,627
$7,299 NOK 70.3K
3.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$127 €111
$88.0 NOK 848
44.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.9 €53.3
$33.12 NOK 319
84.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$134 €117
$130 NOK 1,254
2.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$181 €159
$137 NOK 1,318
32.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,762 €1,539
$930 NOK 8,956
89.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,488 €1,300
$699 NOK 6,729
112.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,011 €2,631
$1,581 NOK 15.2K
90.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,438 €2,130
$1,186 NOK 11.4K
105.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,977 €6,096
$5,013 NOK 48.3K
39.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,378 €4,699
$4,616 NOK 44.5K
16.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hilversum
Narvik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,721 €3,251
$3,451 NOK 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.

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