Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Lillehammer

For one person, living is cheaper in Lillehammer: $1,487 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $14,100 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Austin, TX outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Lillehammer
🇳🇴 Norway
$1,487
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Lillehammer

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $1,487 in Lillehammer.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Lillehammer $1,487

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $2,355 in Lillehammer.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Lillehammer $2,355

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $3,223 in Lillehammer.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Lillehammer $3,223

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 79% more expensive than in Lillehammer, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 97% above, Lillehammer 10% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Lillehammer
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$16.65 NOK 157
24.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$82.7 NOK 779
2.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$14.08 NOK 133
-12.50%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$4.94 NOK 46.49
13.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.59 NOK 33.81
3.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$2.44 NOK 22.94
2.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$10.56 NOK 99.4
-23.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$7.36 NOK 69.2
22.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Lillehammer
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$2.44 NOK 22.95
-54.10%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$3.38 NOK 31.84
10.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$3.65 NOK 34.38
-10.68%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$4.72 NOK 44.47
-11.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$13.18 NOK 124
-2.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$16.62 NOK 156
-14.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$31.35 NOK 295
-48.26%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$3.93 NOK 36.99
10.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$2.97 NOK 27.97
-50.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.72 NOK 35.01
21.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$5.65 NOK 53.2
-23.19%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.87 NOK 26.98
-10.10%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$3.03 NOK 28.52
-22.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.93 NOK 27.59
-39.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$2.29 NOK 21.58
-3.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$17.48 NOK 165
-43.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$18.52 NOK 174
-18.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$3.55 NOK 33.43
-17.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$4.46 NOK 42.00
-22.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Lillehammer
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$2.32 NOK 21.81
-35.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$9.47 NOK 89.1
-71.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.61 NOK 15.14
3.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$59.9 NOK 564
-41.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$2.40 NOK 22.64
-60.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$45.8K NOK 431.3K
-21.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$45.6K NOK 429.4K
-40.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Lillehammer
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$275 NOK 2,591
-16.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$35.71 NOK 336
66.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$81.1 NOK 763
-13.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Lillehammer
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$20.67 NOK 195
-30.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Lillehammer
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$294 NOK 2,765
412.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$4,382 NOK 41.3K
389.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Lillehammer
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$107 NOK 1,005
-50.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$49.98 NOK 470
-12.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$117 NOK 1,103
-27.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$158 NOK 1,483
-34.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Lillehammer
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$1,033 NOK 9,723
84.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
$3,281 NOK 30.9K
132.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
$1,291 NOK 12.2K
144.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Lillehammer
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
$2,056 NOK 19.4K
149.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
5.32
27.63%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Lillehammer: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Lillehammer
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Lillehammer
$507 25.2% $102
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Lillehammer
$392 9.4% $34
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Lillehammer
$326 7.8% $28
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Lillehammer
$194 51.7% $66
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Lillehammer
$41 * 51.8% $44
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Lillehammer
$27 * 54.4% $32

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $1,033 in Lillehammer. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 149% 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: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $83.0 in Lillehammer. Groceries flip the comparison at $405 vs $507, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇳🇴 Lillehammer
🕒 Local time
11:32 11:32 AM
18:32 6:32 PM
7 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
28,831
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

NOK, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.889 EUR).

Norwegian Krone exchange rates as of October 17, 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
  • Austin, TX Lillehammer 7,990 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Lillehammer

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
Austin, TX vs Lillehammer: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Lillehammer?
Lillehammer wins on cost – living expenses run 79% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lillehammer the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Lillehammer?
Average pay runs 149% higher in Austin, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Austin, TX compared to Lillehammer?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $1,033 in Lillehammer. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Austin, TX and in Lillehammer?
Childcare runs $1,506 in Austin, TX versus $294 in Lillehammer. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Austin, TX and in Lillehammer?
Dining out is cheaper in Lillehammer – a meal for two runs $83.0 versus $85.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Austin, TX or in Lillehammer?
At $1,487 in Lillehammer versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lillehammer but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Lillehammer the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Lillehammer?
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.
How safe is Austin, TX compared to Lillehammer?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Lillehammer are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lillehammer gentler on the wallet – expenses run 79% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Austin, TX vs other spots: cost of living compared

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