🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,553 in Narvik versus $3,023 in Hilversum.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,895 in Narvik versus $4,397 in Hilversum.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,236 in Narvik versus $5,770 in Hilversum.
🌍Living in Narvik costs roughly 16% less than in Hilversum, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Narvik86% above, Hilversum120% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Narvik
Hilversum
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.56NOK 294
$29.19€25.19
8.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$96.3NOK 897
$81.7€70.5
17.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.13NOK 150
$17.30€14.93
-6.76%
Cappuccino
$4.92NOK 45.87
$4.56€3.94
7.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90NOK 27.03
$4.10€3.54
-29.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00NOK 28.00
$3.16€2.73
-5.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.87NOK 111
$5.69€4.91
108.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.11NOK 113
$5.74€4.95
110.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Narvik
Hilversum
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.60NOK 24.24
$1.27€1.09
104.72%
White Bread(500g)
$3.42NOK 31.83
$2.38€2.05
43.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.74NOK 25.48
$3.79€3.27
-27.70%
Eggs
$5.45NOK 50.8
$5.25€4.53
3.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.34NOK 115
$13.16€11.35
-6.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.75NOK 137
$17.42€15.03
-15.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.21NOK 216
$17.53€15.13
32.40%
Apples(1kg)
$3.94NOK 36.70
$2.03€1.75
94.09%
Banana(1kg)
$2.17NOK 20.19
$2.56€2.21
-15.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.01NOK 46.66
$1.87€1.62
167.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.51NOK 42.04
$3.35€2.89
34.63%
Potato(1kg)
$2.56NOK 23.81
$2.10€1.81
21.90%
Onion(1kg)
$4.78NOK 44.51
$2.21€1.91
116.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.11NOK 28.96
$1.19€1.03
161.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.13NOK 19.88
$1.15€0.99
85.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$16.80NOK 157
$12.72€10.97
32.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.13NOK 150
$6.99€6.03
130.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.54NOK 32.96
$1.53€1.32
131.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73NOK 34.79
$2.71€2.34
37.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Narvik
Hilversum
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.83NOK 44.97
$3.79€3.27
27.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$92.0NOK 857
$70.4€60.7
30.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$16.12NOK 150
$5.92€5.11
172.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19NOK 20.37
$3.48€3.00
-37.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$54.4NOK 507
$22.79€19.67
138.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.21NOK 20.59
$2.38€2.06
-7.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.2KNOK 374.6K
$42.2K€36.4K
-4.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.9KNOK 362.6K
$44.8K€38.7K
-13.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Narvik
Hilversum
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$269NOK 2,506
$275€237
-2.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.8NOK 482
$30.03€25.92
72.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.8NOK 799
$65.6€56.6
30.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Narvik
Hilversum
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.2NOK 533
$71.0€61.3
-19.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.49NOK 247
$35.35€30.50
-25.06%
Cinema Ticket
$17.69NOK 165
$17.66€15.24
0.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Narvik
Hilversum
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$320NOK 2,984
$705€608
-54.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,601NOK 70.8K
$16.3K€14.1K
-53.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Narvik
Hilversum
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$131NOK 1,220
$116€99.9
13.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.26NOK 329
$50.7€43.72
-30.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$140NOK 1,304
$96.3€83.1
45.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$166NOK 1,543
$147€127
12.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Narvik
Hilversum
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$954NOK 8,891
$1,790€1,545
-46.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$745NOK 6,944
$1,519€1,311
-50.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,654NOK 15.4K
$2,995€2,585
-44.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246NOK 11.6K
$2,391€2,063
-47.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,249NOK 48.9K
$7,166€6,184
-26.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,909NOK 45.7K
$5,354€4,620
-8.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Narvik
Hilversum
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,631NOK 33.8K
$4,196€3,621
-13.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.01
4.3
16.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Narvik: August 29, 2026
Last update for Hilversum: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $954 in Narvik and $1,790 in Hilversum. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hilversum pays 16% 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: $96.0 in Narvik vs $82.0 in Hilversum for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $461 vs $358 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
Narvik vs Hilversum: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Narvik and in Hilversum?
Narvik and Hilversum differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($2,553 vs $3,023 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 16% lower in Hilversum. 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 Hilversum?
Rent for a central apartment: $954 in Narvik versus $1,790 in Hilversum. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Narvik and in Hilversum?
A monthly transit pass in Narvik runs roughly 31% 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 Narvik and Hilversum?
Childcare runs $320 in Narvik versus $705 in Hilversum. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is feasible on a $2,500 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Narvik is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Narvik and Hilversum?
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 Hilversum safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Narvik and Hilversum 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 Hilversum?
Expats usually find Narvik gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Hilversum. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.