Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Grimstad and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Grimstad: $2,129 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $6,400 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Austin, TX outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Grimstad
🇳🇴 Norway
$2,129
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,129 in Grimstad versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

  • Grimstad $2,129
  • Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,634 in Grimstad versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

  • Grimstad $3,634
  • Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,140 in Grimstad versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

  • Grimstad $5,140
  • Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Grimstad costs roughly 20% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Grimstad 58% above, Austin, TX 97% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Grimstad
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.22 NOK 200
$20.77 $20.77
2.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.1 NOK 726
$84.6 $84.6
-8.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.35 NOK 145
$12.32 $12.32
24.59%
Cappuccino
$4.81 NOK 45.27
$5.63 $5.63
-14.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08 NOK 38.42
$3.72 $3.72
9.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37 NOK 31.72
$2.50 $2.50
34.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.48 NOK 108
$8.05 $8.05
42.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.48 NOK 98.7
$9.01 $9.01
16.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Grimstad
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.54 NOK 23.91
$1.12 $1.12
126.79%
White Bread (500g)
$3.63 NOK 34.17
$3.75 $3.75
-3.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.11 NOK 29.32
$3.26 $3.26
-4.60%
Eggs
$3.54 NOK 33.34
$4.17 $4.17
-15.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.95 NOK 122
$12.90 $12.90
0.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.02 NOK 132
$14.16 $14.16
-0.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$24.27 NOK 228
$16.22 $16.22
49.63%
Apples (1kg)
$2.03 NOK 19.15
$4.33 $4.33
-53.12%
Banana (1kg)
$2.36 NOK 22.26
$1.46 $1.46
61.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.44 NOK 32.37
$4.51 $4.51
-23.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.28 NOK 40.26
$4.34 $4.34
-1.38%
Potato (1kg)
$2.77 NOK 26.06
$2.58 $2.58
7.36%
Onion (1kg)
$2.81 NOK 26.49
$2.35 $2.35
19.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.08 NOK 28.97
$1.78 $1.78
73.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 NOK 17.63
$2.22 $2.22
-15.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.68 NOK 176
$9.88 $9.88
89.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.63 NOK 147
$15.08 $15.08
3.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.42 NOK 32.24
$2.92 $2.92
17.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.17 NOK 39.21
$3.46 $3.46
20.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Grimstad
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.31 NOK 49.98
$1.49 $1.49
256.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$90.9 NOK 855
$41.72 $41.72
117.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$11.86 NOK 112
$2.73 $2.73
334.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.85 NOK 17.40
$1.66 $1.66
11.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$69.8 NOK 657
$35.30 $35.30
97.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.33 NOK 21.89
$0.95 $0.95
145.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.5K NOK 456.8K
$36.0K $36.0K
34.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.9K NOK 413.5K
$27.1K $27.1K
62.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grimstad
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$301 NOK 2,837
$229 $229
31.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.76 NOK 318
$59.4 $59.4
-43.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.1 NOK 509
$69.9 $69.9
-22.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Grimstad
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.35 NOK 389
$57.2 $57.2
-27.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.33 $16.33
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.75 NOK 148
$14.28 $14.28
10.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Grimstad
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$233 NOK 2,191
$1,506 $1,506
-84.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K NOK 147.6K
$21.5K $21.5K
-26.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Grimstad
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.6 NOK 900
$52.8 $52.8
80.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.3 NOK 492
$43.82 $43.82
19.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 NOK 996
$84.8 $84.8
24.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$157 NOK 1,478
$103 $103
52.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Grimstad
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$876 NOK 8,245
$1,907 $1,907
-54.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$532 NOK 5,006
$1,274 $1,274
-58.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,926 NOK 18.1K
$3,664 $3,664
-47.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,749 NOK 16.5K
$2,538 $2,538
-31.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,591 NOK 43.2K
$7,614 $7,614
-39.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,358 NOK 31.6K
$3,157 $3,157
6.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Grimstad
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,349 NOK 40.9K
$5,121 $5,121
-15.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.9
6.79
-27.84%

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

Last update for Grimstad: October 11, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Grimstad
$532
Austin, TX
$1.3K 140% $742
Groceries & Markets
Grimstad
$435
Austin, TX
$405 7% $30
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grimstad
$389
Austin, TX
$358 8% $31
Eating Out
Grimstad
$382
Austin, TX
$354 7.3% $28
Clothing & Footwear
Grimstad
$185
Austin, TX
$128 30.7% $57
Getting Around
Grimstad
$133
Austin, TX
$59 55.9% $75
Sport & Entertainment
Grimstad
$73
Austin, TX
$86 17.7% $13

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $876 in Grimstad and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 18% 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: $77.0 in Grimstad vs $85.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $435 vs $405, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇳🇴 Grimstad
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
20:48 8:48 PM
13:48 1:48 PM
7 h behind Grimstad
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
25,093
974,447
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to NOK – Norwegian Krone Converter

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).

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

On the map
Between locations
  • Grimstad Austin, TX 8,060 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Grimstad
  • Austin, TX

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
Grimstad vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Grimstad or Austin, TX?
Grimstad wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Grimstad the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Grimstad or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 18% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Grimstad compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $876 in Grimstad versus $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Grimstad compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $2,129 per month in Grimstad versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Grimstad compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Grimstad runs roughly 118% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Grimstad or in Austin, TX?
At $2,129 in Grimstad versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Grimstad but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Grimstad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Grimstad or Austin, TX?
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 Grimstad compared to Austin, TX?
Safety-wise, Grimstad and Austin, TX 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 Grimstad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Grimstad vs other spots: cost of living compared

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