Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Helsingborg and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Helsingborg: $1,723 a month against $2,704 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $11,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

82

Cost of Living Index in Helsingborg
Learn more

Helsingborg Living Index
129

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
Learn more

Austin, TX Living Index

Jump to prices

Helsingborg

🇸🇪 Sweden

$1,723

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,704

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Helsingborg 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 Helsingborg and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,723 in Helsingborg versus $2,704 in Austin, TX.

Helsingborg $1,723
Austin, TX $2,704

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,599 in Helsingborg versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

Helsingborg $2,599
Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,474 in Helsingborg versus $5,562 in Austin, TX.

Helsingborg $3,474
Austin, TX $5,562

Living in Helsingborg costs roughly 36% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Helsingborg 29% above, Austin, TX 102% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.83 SEK 128

$20.22 $20.22

-36.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.0 SEK 689

$85.0 $85.0

-18.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.36 SEK 124

$12.35 $12.35

0.08%

Cappuccino

$4.61 SEK 46.08

$5.47 $5.47

-15.72%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 SEK 29.10

$3.82 $3.82

-23.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 SEK 23.17

$2.50 $2.50

-7.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.77 SEK 67.7

$8.06 $8.06

-16.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.09 SEK 60.9

$8.99 $8.99

-32.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 SEK 14.28

$1.13 $1.13

26.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.70 SEK 27.00

$3.78 $3.78

-28.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.01 SEK 30.05

$3.25 $3.25

-7.38%

Eggs

$3.86 SEK 38.60

$4.14 $4.14

-6.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.17 SEK 112

$13.08 $13.08

-14.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.95 SEK 109

$14.31 $14.31

-23.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.75 SEK 147

$15.96 $15.96

-7.58%

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 SEK 30.06

$4.38 $4.38

-31.28%

Banana (1kg)

$2.44 SEK 24.37

$1.45 $1.45

68.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.02 SEK 30.14

$4.54 $4.54

-33.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 SEK 44.11

$4.19 $4.19

5.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.63 SEK 16.28

$2.63 $2.63

-38.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.52 SEK 15.19

$2.36 $2.36

-35.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.81 SEK 18.08

$1.76 $1.76

2.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 SEK 16.45

$2.16 $2.16

-23.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.19 SEK 81.8

$9.81 $9.81

-16.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.30 SEK 92.9

$14.72 $14.72

-36.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 SEK 20.33

$2.78 $2.78

-26.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 SEK 21.59

$3.48 $3.48

-37.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.13 SEK 31.24

$1.49 $1.49

110.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.6 SEK 626

$40.51 $40.51

54.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.20 SEK 62.0

$2.67 $2.67

132.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.69 SEK 16.94

$1.58 $1.58

6.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$59.5 SEK 594

$35.29 $35.29

68.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.75 SEK 17.53

$0.99 $0.99

76.77%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.2K SEK 322.2K

$35.8K $35.8K

-9.96%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.0K SEK 329.7K

$27.2K $27.2K

21.40%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$104 SEK 1,041

$219 $219

-52.48%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$19.28 SEK 193

$58.0 $58.0

-66.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.29 SEK 333

$68.4 $68.4

-51.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.67 SEK 377

$57.9 $57.9

-34.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.86 SEK 218

$14.82 $14.82

47.50%

Cinema Ticket

$14.85 SEK 148

$14.13 $14.13

5.10%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$172 SEK 1,721

$1,509 $1,509

-88.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K $21.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.7 SEK 786

$51.7 $51.7

52.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.25 SEK 332

$44.05 $44.05

-24.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 SEK 858

$85.1 $85.1

0.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 SEK 1,091

$105 $105

3.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$830 SEK 8,294

$1,932 $1,932

-57.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 SEK 6,315

$1,272 $1,272

-50.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,362 SEK 13.6K

$3,670 $3,670

-62.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,061 SEK 10.6K

$2,525 $2,525

-58.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,047 SEK 30.5K

$7,617 $7,617

-60.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,288 SEK 22.9K

$3,199 $3,199

-28.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,855 SEK 28.5K

$5,105 $5,105

-44.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.06

6.79

-54.93%

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

Last update for Helsingborg: October 4, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Helsingborg

$632 37.6%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 48.2% 101% $641

Groceries & Markets

Helsingborg

$333 19.8%

Austin, TX

$403 15.3% 20.9% $70

Eating Out

Helsingborg

$262 15.6%

Austin, TX

$348 13.2% 32.8% $86

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Helsingborg

$157 9.3%

Austin, TX

$346 13.1% 121% $189

Clothing & Footwear

Helsingborg

$138 8.2%

Austin, TX

$129 4.9% 6.8% $9.3

Getting Around

Helsingborg

$90 5.4%

Austin, TX

$57 2.2% 36.5% $33

Sport & Entertainment

Helsingborg

$67 4%

Austin, TX

$86 3.3% 27.9% $19

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $830 in Helsingborg and $1,932 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 79% 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: $69.0 in Helsingborg vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $333 vs $403 per month, with Helsingborg cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇸🇪 Helsingborg

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

05:14 5:14 AM

22:14 10:14 PM

7 h behind Helsingborg

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

93,838

974,447

💱 Currency

Swedish Krona SEK kr

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

100 SEK = 10.01 USD

100 SEK = 8.92 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to SEK – Swedish Krona Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇸🇪 Swedish Krona (kr)

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 9.99 SEK (1 SEK = 0.1 USD). 1 EUR = 11.21 SEK (100 SEK = 8.92 EUR).

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

USD to SEK in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Helsingborg Austin, TX 8,400 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight

From you

Helsingborg
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

Helsingborg vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Helsingborg wins on cost – living expenses run 57% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Helsingborg the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 79% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $830 in Helsingborg versus $1,932 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,723 per month in Helsingborg versus $2,704 in Austin, TX – a 57% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Helsingborg runs roughly 55% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,723 in Helsingborg versus $2,704 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Helsingborg but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Helsingborg the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Helsingborg delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,723 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Helsingborg hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Helsingborg 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.

Expats usually find Helsingborg gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.