Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Stavanger

For one person, living is cheaper in Austin, TX: $2,704 a month against $3,140 in Stavanger, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,704
/mo nomad
Stavanger
🇳🇴 Norway
$3,140
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Stavanger actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,704 in Austin, TX versus $3,140 in Stavanger.

  • Austin, TX $2,704
  • Stavanger $3,140

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $4,513 in Stavanger.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Stavanger $4,513

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,562 in Austin, TX versus $5,886 in Stavanger.

  • Austin, TX $5,562
  • Stavanger $5,886

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 14% less than in Stavanger, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Stavanger 134% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.22 $20.22
$24.58 NOK 235
-17.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.0 $85.0
$97.3 NOK 929
-12.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.35 $12.35
$15.95 NOK 152
-22.57%
Cappuccino
$5.47 $5.47
$6.25 NOK 59.7
-12.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82 $3.82
$5.41 NOK 51.7
-29.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$4.25 NOK 40.57
-41.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.06 $8.06
$13.66 NOK 130
-41.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.99 $8.99
$11.78 NOK 112
-23.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Stavanger
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$2.37 NOK 22.61
-52.32%
White Bread (500g)
$3.78 $3.78
$3.47 NOK 33.14
8.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$3.83 NOK 36.59
-15.14%
Eggs
$4.14 $4.14
$4.70 NOK 44.87
-11.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.08 $13.08
$14.36 NOK 137
-8.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.31 $14.31
$16.81 NOK 161
-14.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.96 $15.96
$34.43 NOK 329
-53.65%
Apples (1kg)
$4.38 $4.38
$3.42 NOK 32.68
28.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 $1.45
$2.72 NOK 26.00
-46.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.54 $4.54
$3.54 NOK 33.78
28.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.19 $4.19
$4.91 NOK 46.90
-14.66%
Potato (1kg)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.55 NOK 24.35
3.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.36 $2.36
$3.12 NOK 29.79
-24.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.81 NOK 26.81
-37.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$2.34 NOK 22.33
-7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.81 $9.81
$17.13 NOK 164
-42.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.72 $14.72
$18.45 NOK 176
-20.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$3.72 NOK 35.54
-25.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 $3.48
$4.45 NOK 42.52
-21.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$4.76 NOK 45.49
-68.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.51 $40.51
$87.0 NOK 831
-53.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 $2.67
$6.09 NOK 58.2
-56.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 $1.58
$1.75 NOK 16.69
-9.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.29 $35.29
$103 NOK 981
-65.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$2.36 NOK 22.50
-58.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K $35.8K
$47.3K NOK 451.6K
-24.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K $27.2K
$40.4K NOK 386.0K
-32.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$245 NOK 2,337
-10.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.0 $58.0
$35.29 NOK 337
64.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.4 $68.4
$81.6 NOK 779
-16.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.9 $57.9
$50.3 NOK 480
15.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.82 $14.82
$36.81 NOK 352
-59.74%
Cinema Ticket
$14.13 $14.13
$22.03 NOK 210
-35.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,509 $1,509
$322 NOK 3,080
367.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$14.1K NOK 134.4K
52.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.7 $51.7
$127 NOK 1,212
-59.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.05 $44.05
$60.1 NOK 574
-26.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 $85.1
$153 NOK 1,459
-44.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 $105
$204 NOK 1,948
-48.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,932 $1,932
$1,658 NOK 15.8K
16.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 $1,272
$1,380 NOK 13.2K
-7.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,670 $3,670
$2,766 NOK 26.4K
32.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,525 $2,525
$2,016 NOK 19.3K
25.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,617 $7,617
$6,196 NOK 59.2K
22.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,199 $3,199
$5,307 NOK 50.7K
-39.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,105 $5,105
$4,951 NOK 47.3K
3.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
5.27
28.84%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Last update for Stavanger: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Stavanger
$1.4K 8.4% $107
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$403
Stavanger
$513 27.3% $110
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$348
Stavanger
$450 29.3% $102
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$346
Stavanger
$362 4.6% $16
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$129
Stavanger
$245 90% $116
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Stavanger
$94 9.5% $8.2
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$57
Stavanger
$121 112% $64

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,932 in Austin, TX and $1,658 in Stavanger. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $97.0 in Stavanger for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $403 vs $513 per month, with Austin, TX cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇳🇴 Stavanger
🕒 Local time
02:30 2:30 AM
09:30 9:30 AM
7 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
149,330
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

NOK, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Norwegian Krone exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 9.55 NOK (1 NOK = 0.105 USD). 1 EUR = 10.71 NOK (100 NOK = 9.34 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Stavanger 7,880 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Stavanger

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 Stavanger: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Stavanger?
Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 16% lower than in Stavanger. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Stavanger?
Average pay runs 3% 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 Stavanger?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,932 in Austin, TX versus $1,658 in Stavanger. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Austin, TX compared to Stavanger?
All in, you'll spend $2,704 per month in Austin, TX versus $3,140 in Stavanger – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Stavanger?
A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 115% less than in Stavanger. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Austin, TX or in Stavanger?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Austin, TX or Stavanger?
Both work as nomad bases, but Austin, TX delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,704 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Austin, TX hard to pass up.
How safe is Austin, TX compared to Stavanger?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Stavanger 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Stavanger. 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

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?