🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,226 in Narvik versus $3,038 in Hilversum.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,450 in Narvik versus $4,445 in Hilversum.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,673 in Narvik versus $5,852 in Hilversum.
🙂Living in Narvik costs roughly 27% less than in Hilversum, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Narvik66% above, Hilversum127% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Narvik
Hilversum
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.40NOK 190
$28.65€24.64
-28.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.6NOK 832
$90.9€78.2
-1.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.98NOK 139
$16.48€14.18
-9.10%
Cappuccino
$5.54NOK 51.4
$4.46€3.83
24.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57NOK 23.90
$3.90€3.35
-34.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45NOK 22.74
$3.08€2.65
-20.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.22NOK 104
$5.86€5.04
91.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.92NOK 101
$5.09€4.38
114.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Narvik
Hilversum
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.45NOK 22.73
$1.35€1.16
81.48%
White Bread(500g)
$3.22NOK 29.96
$2.20€1.89
46.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.60NOK 24.15
$3.78€3.25
-31.22%
Eggs
$4.93NOK 45.82
$4.90€4.22
0.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.53NOK 107
$12.96€11.15
-11.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.06NOK 140
$17.37€14.94
-13.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.67NOK 201
$17.26€14.84
25.55%
Apples(1kg)
$3.42NOK 31.80
$1.89€1.62
80.95%
Banana(1kg)
$2.00NOK 18.58
$2.55€2.19
-21.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.76NOK 34.90
$1.86€1.60
102.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.24NOK 39.42
$3.77€3.24
12.47%
Potato(1kg)
$2.55NOK 23.72
$2.11€1.82
20.85%
Onion(1kg)
$3.48NOK 32.37
$2.24€1.93
55.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.75NOK 25.50
$1.17€1.01
135.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.72NOK 15.97
$0.91€0.78
89.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.92NOK 139
$12.37€10.64
20.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.55NOK 182
$7.01€6.03
178.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.33NOK 30.89
$1.56€1.34
113.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56NOK 33.05
$2.83€2.44
25.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Narvik
Hilversum
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$5.16NOK 47.98
$4.69€4.03
10.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.4NOK 811
$95.7€82.4
-8.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.89NOK 120
$5.67€4.88
127.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.39NOK 12.93
$2.04€1.75
-31.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$49.71NOK 462
$29.48€25.36
68.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09NOK 19.45
$2.30€1.98
-9.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.0KNOK 287.6K
$40.9K€35.2K
-24.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.8KNOK 277.3K
$40.5K€34.8K
-26.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Narvik
Hilversum
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$249NOK 2,317
$265€228
-5.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.81NOK 444
$30.38€26.13
57.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.9NOK 724
$58.3€50.2
33.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Narvik
Hilversum
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.4NOK 505
$70.4€60.6
-22.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.28NOK 235
$41.69€35.86
-39.36%
Cinema Ticket
$16.58NOK 154
$17.20€14.79
-3.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Narvik
Hilversum
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$334NOK 3,100
$663€570
-49.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,283NOK 67.7K
$7,633€6,566
-4.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Narvik
Hilversum
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.5NOK 841
$127€109
-28.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.66NOK 303
$60.7€52.2
-46.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$131NOK 1,220
$132€113
-0.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134NOK 1,244
$184€158
-27.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Narvik
Hilversum
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$924NOK 8,586
$1,732€1,490
-46.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$708NOK 6,579
$1,532€1,318
-53.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,562NOK 14.5K
$3,027€2,604
-48.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,204NOK 11.2K
$2,394€2,060
-49.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,352NOK 49.7K
$7,097€6,105
-24.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,825NOK 44.8K
$5,465€4,701
-11.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Narvik
Hilversum
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,648NOK 33.9K
$3,837€3,301
-4.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.27
4.5
-5.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Narvik: May 30, 2026
Last update for Hilversum: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $924 in Narvik and $1,732 in Hilversum. 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: $90.0 in Narvik vs $91.0 in Hilversum. Groceries flip the comparison at $436 vs $353, 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
Narvik vs Hilversum: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Narvik and Hilversum?
Narvik and Hilversum differ by about 36% in total monthly costs ($2,226 vs $3,038 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, Hilversum earns 5% less. 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 Hilversum?
Rent for a central apartment: $924 in Narvik versus $1,732 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 Hilversum?
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 Narvik and Hilversum?
Childcare runs $334 in Narvik versus $663 in Hilversum. 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 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 36% less than in Hilversum. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.