Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kalmar and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Kalmar: $1,907 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $9,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kalmar
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,907
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,907 in Kalmar versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

  • Kalmar $1,907
  • Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,844 in Kalmar versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

  • Kalmar $2,844
  • Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,781 in Kalmar versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

  • Kalmar $3,781
  • Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Kalmar costs roughly 28% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kalmar 41% above, Austin, TX 97% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kalmar
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.70 SEK 146
$20.77 $20.77
-29.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.0 SEK 704
$84.6 $84.6
-16.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.27 SEK 102
$12.32 $12.32
-16.64%
Cappuccino
$4.65 SEK 46.09
$5.63 $5.63
-17.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 SEK 27.99
$3.72 $3.72
-24.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 SEK 25.71
$2.50 $2.50
3.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.66 SEK 95.7
$8.05 $8.05
20.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.03 SEK 69.7
$9.01 $9.01
-21.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalmar
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 SEK 14.61
$1.12 $1.12
31.25%
White Bread (500g)
$3.01 SEK 29.83
$3.75 $3.75
-19.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.92 SEK 28.97
$3.26 $3.26
-10.43%
Eggs
$4.59 SEK 45.43
$4.17 $4.17
10.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.24 SEK 161
$12.90 $12.90
25.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.97 SEK 109
$14.16 $14.16
-22.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.76 SEK 216
$16.22 $16.22
34.16%
Apples (1kg)
$2.46 SEK 24.38
$4.33 $4.33
-43.19%
Banana (1kg)
$2.63 SEK 26.06
$1.46 $1.46
80.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.40 SEK 33.69
$4.51 $4.51
-24.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.27 SEK 42.33
$4.34 $4.34
-1.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.63 SEK 16.12
$2.58 $2.58
-36.82%
Onion (1kg)
$2.30 SEK 22.82
$2.35 $2.35
-2.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.84 SEK 18.19
$1.78 $1.78
3.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 SEK 16.43
$2.22 $2.22
-25.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.97 SEK 79.0
$9.88 $9.88
-19.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.19 SEK 91.1
$15.08 $15.08
-39.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 SEK 19.44
$2.92 $2.92
-32.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 SEK 24.87
$3.46 $3.46
-27.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Kalmar
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.33 SEK 33.01
$1.49 $1.49
123.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.6 SEK 759
$41.72 $41.72
83.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$9.70 SEK 96.1
$2.73 $2.73
255.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 SEK 16.40
$1.66 $1.66
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$46.98 SEK 466
$35.30 $35.30
33.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.70 SEK 16.81
$0.95 $0.95
78.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K SEK 296.3K
$36.0K $36.0K
-17.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7K SEK 284.4K
$27.1K $27.1K
6.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalmar
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$142 SEK 1,403
$229 $229
-38.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.84 SEK 266
$59.4 $59.4
-54.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.79 SEK 315
$69.9 $69.9
-54.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalmar
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.76 SEK 305
$57.2 $57.2
-46.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.42 SEK 262
$16.33 $16.33
61.79%
Cinema Ticket
$14.67 SEK 145
$14.28 $14.28
2.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalmar
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$138 SEK 1,367
$1,506 $1,506
-90.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,914 SEK 48.7K
$21.5K $21.5K
-77.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalmar
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.5 SEK 501
$52.8 $52.8
-4.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.32 SEK 419
$43.82 $43.82
-3.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.8 SEK 791
$84.8 $84.8
-5.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 SEK 998
$103 $103
-2.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalmar
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$914 SEK 9,056
$1,907 $1,907
-52.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$751 SEK 7,440
$1,274 $1,274
-41.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,294 SEK 12.8K
$3,664 $3,664
-64.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,107 SEK 11.0K
$2,538 $2,538
-56.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,041 SEK 40.0K
$7,614 $7,614
-46.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,682 SEK 26.6K
$3,157 $3,157
-15.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalmar
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,878 SEK 28.5K
$5,121 $5,121
-43.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.93
6.79
-42.12%

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

Last update for Kalmar: October 12, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kalmar
$751
Austin, TX
$1.3K 69.7% $523
Groceries & Markets
Kalmar
$377
Austin, TX
$405 7.4% $28
Eating Out
Kalmar
$288
Austin, TX
$354 22.8% $66
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalmar
$200
Austin, TX
$358 79% $158
Clothing & Footwear
Kalmar
$123
Austin, TX
$128 4% $5
Getting Around
Kalmar
$108
Austin, TX
$59 45.6% $49
Sport & Entertainment
Kalmar
$60
Austin, TX
$86 42.7% $26

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $914 in Kalmar and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 78% 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: $71.0 in Kalmar vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $405 per month, with Kalmar cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇸🇪 Kalmar
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
06:25 6:25 AM
23:25 11:25 PM
7 h behind Kalmar
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
35,170
974,447
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to SEK – Swedish Krona Converter

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 9.91 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.14 SEK (100 SEK = 8.98 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kalmar Austin, TX 8,550 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kalmar
  • 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
Kalmar vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kalmar or Austin, TX?
Kalmar wins on cost – living expenses run 40% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kalmar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Kalmar or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 78% 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 Kalmar compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $914 in Kalmar 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 Kalmar compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $1,907 per month in Kalmar versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Kalmar compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Kalmar runs roughly 84% 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 $3,000/month in Kalmar or in Austin, TX?
At $1,907 in Kalmar versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Kalmar but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Kalmar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Kalmar 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 Kalmar compared to Austin, TX?
Safety-wise, Kalmar 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 Kalmar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Kalmar vs other spots: cost of living compared

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