🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,250 in Narvik versus $3,093 in Hilversum.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,403 in Narvik versus $4,525 in Hilversum.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,557 in Narvik versus $5,956 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: Narvik68% above, Hilversum132% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Narvik
Hilversum
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.23NOK 195
$28.80€25.16
-29.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.0NOK 887
$91.2€79.6
0.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.08NOK 145
$16.46€14.38
-8.38%
Cappuccino
$5.56NOK 53.5
$4.66€4.07
19.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57NOK 24.80
$3.72€3.25
-30.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55NOK 24.52
$2.96€2.59
-13.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.93NOK 105
$5.95€5.20
83.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.22NOK 108
$5.08€4.44
120.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Narvik
Hilversum
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.41NOK 23.24
$1.36€1.19
77.21%
White Bread(500g)
$3.26NOK 31.41
$2.29€2.00
42.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.46NOK 23.67
$3.63€3.17
-32.23%
Eggs
$4.85NOK 46.69
$4.92€4.30
-1.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.28NOK 109
$12.97€11.33
-13.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.01NOK 145
$17.50€15.29
-14.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.94NOK 211
$17.43€15.23
25.87%
Apples(1kg)
$3.33NOK 32.03
$1.92€1.68
73.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.99NOK 19.15
$2.55€2.23
-21.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.69NOK 35.53
$1.93€1.69
91.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.25NOK 40.92
$3.85€3.36
10.39%
Potato(1kg)
$2.45NOK 23.59
$2.09€1.82
17.22%
Onion(1kg)
$3.64NOK 35.06
$2.14€1.87
70.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.68NOK 25.78
$1.21€1.06
121.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.78NOK 17.18
$0.90€0.79
97.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.01NOK 145
$11.97€10.46
25.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.58NOK 179
$6.74€5.89
175.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.41NOK 32.88
$1.54€1.35
121.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44NOK 33.15
$2.74€2.40
25.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Narvik
Hilversum
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$5.17NOK 49.81
$4.61€4.03
12.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$85.0NOK 819
$99.0€86.5
-14.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.82NOK 124
$5.91€5.16
116.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.39NOK 13.42
$2.13€1.86
-34.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$50.9NOK 490
$28.56€24.95
78.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09NOK 20.17
$2.18€1.91
-4.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KNOK 286.9K
$40.5K€35.4K
-26.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2KNOK 290.4K
$39.0K€34.1K
-22.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Narvik
Hilversum
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$247NOK 2,376
$266€233
-7.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.69NOK 459
$29.39€25.68
62.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.5NOK 746
$58.0€50.7
33.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Narvik
Hilversum
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.1NOK 512
$70.1€61.2
-24.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.12NOK 242
$41.20€36.00
-39.03%
Cinema Ticket
$16.76NOK 161
$17.66€15.43
-5.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Narvik
Hilversum
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$338NOK 3,259
$679€593
-50.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,299NOK 70.3K
$7,585€6,627
-3.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Narvik
Hilversum
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.0NOK 848
$127€111
-30.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.12NOK 319
$60.9€53.3
-45.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$130NOK 1,254
$134€117
-2.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137NOK 1,318
$181€159
-24.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Narvik
Hilversum
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$930NOK 8,956
$1,762€1,539
-47.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$699NOK 6,729
$1,488€1,300
-53.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,581NOK 15.2K
$3,011€2,631
-47.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,186NOK 11.4K
$2,438€2,130
-51.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,013NOK 48.3K
$6,977€6,096
-28.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,616NOK 44.5K
$5,378€4,699
-14.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Narvik
Hilversum
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,451NOK 33.2K
$3,721€3,251
-7.25%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Hilversum: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $930 in Narvik and $1,762 in Hilversum. 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: $92.0 in Narvik vs $91.0 in Hilversum for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $433 vs $354 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 37% in total monthly costs ($2,250 vs $3,093 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 8% 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: $930 in Narvik versus $1,762 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 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 Narvik and Hilversum?
Childcare runs $338 in Narvik versus $679 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 $2,250 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 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 37% less than in Hilversum. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.