Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Narvik and Arendal

For one person, living is cheaper in Narvik: $2,460 a month against $2,679 in Arendal, rent and utilities included – about $2,600 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Arendal outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Narvik
🇳🇴 Norway
$2,460
/mo nomad
Arendal
🇳🇴 Norway
$2,679
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Narvik and in Arendal

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Narvik and in Arendal actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,460 in Narvik versus $2,679 in Arendal.

  • Narvik $2,460
  • Arendal $2,679

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,763 in Narvik versus $3,805 in Arendal.

  • Narvik $3,763
  • Arendal $3,805

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,067 in Narvik versus $4,931 in Arendal.

  • Narvik $5,067
  • Arendal $4,931

Living in Narvik costs roughly 8% less than in Arendal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Narvik 82% above, Arendal 98% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Narvik
Arendal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.93 NOK 301
$19.51 NOK 184
63.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.7 NOK 882
$65.8 NOK 619
42.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.68 NOK 148
$15.52 NOK 146
1.03%
Cappuccino
$4.96 NOK 46.67
$5.33 NOK 50.2
-6.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 NOK 27.37
$3.49 NOK 32.84
-16.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 NOK 27.79
$3.25 NOK 30.62
-9.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.36 NOK 107
$11.55 NOK 109
-1.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.04 NOK 113
$12.08 NOK 114
-0.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Narvik
Arendal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.43 NOK 22.89
$2.31 NOK 21.78
5.19%
White Bread (500g)
$3.27 NOK 30.77
$3.47 NOK 32.63
-5.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.69 NOK 25.28
$3.78 NOK 35.56
-28.84%
Eggs
$5.21 NOK 49.07
$4.93 NOK 46.38
5.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.05 NOK 113
$14.81 NOK 139
-18.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.83 NOK 140
$14.35 NOK 135
3.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.51 NOK 212
$33.30 NOK 314
-32.40%
Apples (1kg)
$3.88 NOK 36.57
$3.49 NOK 32.83
11.17%
Banana (1kg)
$2.05 NOK 19.30
$2.63 NOK 24.75
-22.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.77 NOK 44.95
$3.48 NOK 32.74
37.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.39 NOK 41.35
$4.74 NOK 44.63
-7.38%
Potato (1kg)
$2.52 NOK 23.71
$2.55 NOK 23.97
-1.18%
Onion (1kg)
$4.88 NOK 45.96
$3.10 NOK 29.18
57.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.90 NOK 27.27
$2.82 NOK 26.55
2.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 NOK 20.50
$2.24 NOK 21.13
-2.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$16.29 NOK 153
$17.67 NOK 166
-7.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.93 NOK 159
$14.46 NOK 136
17.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.39 NOK 31.92
$3.74 NOK 35.19
-9.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 NOK 33.98
$4.38 NOK 41.27
-17.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Narvik
Arendal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.63 NOK 43.61
$3.69 NOK 34.72
25.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89.0 NOK 838
$90.2 NOK 849
-1.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$15.46 NOK 146
$6.11 NOK 57.5
153.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 NOK 20.15
$1.70 NOK 16.03
25.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$51.8 NOK 488
$105 NOK 986
-50.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.28 NOK 21.44
$2.26 NOK 21.31
0.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.6K NOK 372.8K
$48.3K NOK 454.3K
-17.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.9K NOK 346.9K
$41.0K NOK 385.9K
-10.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Narvik
Arendal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$261 NOK 2,453
$252 NOK 2,372
3.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.95 NOK 470
$34.68 NOK 326
44.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$81.9 NOK 771
$79.7 NOK 751
2.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Narvik
Arendal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.3 NOK 521
$36.61 NOK 345
51.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.34 NOK 248
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.44 NOK 164
$15.38 NOK 145
13.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Narvik
Arendal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 NOK 2,903
$314 NOK 2,952
-1.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,612 NOK 71.7K
$13.8K NOK 129.9K
-44.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Narvik
Arendal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$123 NOK 1,157
$125 NOK 1,176
-1.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.34 NOK 323
$43.59 NOK 410
-21.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 NOK 1,299
$124 NOK 1,165
11.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161 NOK 1,520
$204 NOK 1,922
-20.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Narvik
Arendal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$912 NOK 8,583
$1,109 NOK 10.4K
-17.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$719 NOK 6,771
$1,039 NOK 9,783
-30.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,643 NOK 15.5K
$1,556 NOK 14.6K
5.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,224 NOK 11.5K
$1,453 NOK 13.7K
-15.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,156 NOK 48.5K
$4,112 NOK 38.7K
25.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,755 NOK 44.8K
$3,134 NOK 29.5K
51.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Narvik
Arendal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,517 NOK 33.1K
$4,151 NOK 39.1K
-15.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.01
4.68
7.05%

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

Last update for Narvik: October 11, 2026

Last update for Arendal: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Narvik
$719
Arendal
$1K 44.5% $320
Eating Out
Narvik
$466
Arendal
$375 19.5% $91
Groceries & Markets
Narvik
$452
Arendal
$488 7.9% $36
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Narvik
$392
Arendal
$366 6.6% $26
Clothing & Footwear
Narvik
$205
Arendal
$223 8.7% $18
Getting Around
Narvik
$134
Arendal
$120 10.6% $14
Sport & Entertainment
Narvik
$90
Arendal
$67 25.3% $23

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $912 in Narvik and $1,109 in Arendal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Arendal pays 18% 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: $94.0 in Narvik vs $66.0 in Arendal. Groceries flip the comparison at $452 vs $488, with Narvik cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇳🇴 Narvik
🇳🇴 Arendal
🕒 Local time
01:25 1:25 AM
01:25 1:25 AM
Same time as Narvik
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
14,183
46,406
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to NOK – Norwegian Krone Converter

Norwegian Krone exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 9.41 NOK (1 NOK = 0.106 USD). 1 EUR = 10.58 NOK (100 NOK = 9.45 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Narvik Arendal 1,190 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Narvik
  • Arendal

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Narvik vs Arendal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Narvik and in Arendal?
Narvik and Arendal differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($2,460 vs $2,679 including rent). Narvik is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 18% lower in Arendal. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Narvik and in Arendal?
Rent for a central apartment: $912 in Narvik versus $1,109 in Arendal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Narvik and Arendal?
Childcare runs $308 in Narvik versus $314 in Arendal. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Arendal. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $2,460 in Narvik versus $2,679 in Arendal, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Narvik but tight or insufficient in Arendal. The gap between the two cities makes Narvik the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Narvik and Arendal?
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 Narvik or Arendal safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Narvik and Arendal 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: Narvik or Arendal?
Expats usually find Narvik gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Arendal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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