Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lulea and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Lulea: $1,823 a month against $2,704 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $10,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lulea
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,823
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,704
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,823 in Lulea versus $2,704 in Austin, TX.

  • Lulea $1,823
  • Austin, TX $2,704

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,920 in Lulea versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

  • Lulea $2,920
  • Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,016 in Lulea versus $5,562 in Austin, TX.

  • Lulea $4,016
  • Austin, TX $5,562

Living in Lulea costs roughly 33% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lulea 36% above, Austin, TX 102% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lulea
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 SEK 117
$20.22 $20.22
-42.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$95.5 SEK 955
$85.0 $85.0
12.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.95 SEK 109
$12.35 $12.35
-11.34%
Cappuccino
$4.36 SEK 43.52
$5.47 $5.47
-20.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 SEK 25.10
$3.82 $3.82
-34.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 SEK 18.66
$2.50 $2.50
-25.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.58 SEK 85.8
$8.06 $8.06
6.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.49 SEK 94.8
$8.99 $8.99
5.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lulea
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 SEK 17.71
$1.13 $1.13
56.64%
White Bread (500g)
$3.26 SEK 32.60
$3.78 $3.78
-13.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.94 SEK 49.41
$3.25 $3.25
52.00%
Eggs
$4.65 SEK 46.43
$4.14 $4.14
12.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.25 SEK 122
$13.08 $13.08
-6.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.21 SEK 132
$14.31 $14.31
-7.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$26.18 SEK 262
$15.96 $15.96
64.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.55 SEK 25.47
$4.38 $4.38
-41.78%
Banana (1kg)
$2.65 SEK 26.53
$1.45 $1.45
82.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.49 SEK 24.87
$4.54 $4.54
-45.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.11 SEK 41.10
$4.19 $4.19
-1.91%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 SEK 20.39
$2.63 $2.63
-22.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 SEK 15.43
$2.36 $2.36
-34.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.36 SEK 33.58
$1.76 $1.76
90.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 SEK 12.93
$2.16 $2.16
-40.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.68 SEK 66.7
$9.81 $9.81
-31.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.05 SEK 120
$14.72 $14.72
-18.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 SEK 17.77
$2.78 $2.78
-35.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 SEK 17.15
$3.48 $3.48
-50.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Lulea
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.32 SEK 33.21
$1.49 $1.49
122.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.4 SEK 554
$40.51 $40.51
36.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$9.04 SEK 90.3
$2.67 $2.67
238.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 SEK 20.52
$1.58 $1.58
29.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$70.6 SEK 706
$35.29 $35.29
100.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.77 SEK 17.65
$0.99 $0.99
78.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9K SEK 318.5K
$35.8K $35.8K
-11.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K SEK 334.6K
$27.2K $27.2K
23.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lulea
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$160 SEK 1,603
$219 $219
-26.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.51 SEK 315
$58.0 $58.0
-45.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.96 SEK 269
$68.4 $68.4
-60.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lulea
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.15 SEK 461
$57.9 $57.9
-20.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.47 SEK 354
$14.82 $14.82
139.34%
Cinema Ticket
$12.94 SEK 129
$14.13 $14.13
-8.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lulea
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$153 SEK 1,528
$1,509 $1,509
-89.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,466 SEK 54.6K
$21.5K $21.5K
-74.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lulea
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$117 SEK 1,168
$51.7 $51.7
126.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.97 SEK 320
$44.05 $44.05
-27.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 SEK 1,202
$85.1 $85.1
41.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161 SEK 1,611
$105 $105
53.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lulea
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$778 SEK 7,773
$1,932 $1,932
-59.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$581 SEK 5,811
$1,272 $1,272
-54.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,418 SEK 14.2K
$3,670 $3,670
-61.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,098 SEK 11.0K
$2,525 $2,525
-56.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,049 SEK 30.5K
$7,617 $7,617
-59.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,254 SEK 22.5K
$3,199 $3,199
-29.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lulea
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,595 SEK 25.9K
$5,105 $5,105
-49.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
6.79
-43.30%

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

Last update for Lulea: October 3, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lulea
$581
Austin, TX
$1.3K 119% $691
Groceries & Markets
Lulea
$404
Austin, TX
$403 0.2% $1
Eating Out
Lulea
$258
Austin, TX
$348 34.8% $90
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lulea
$219
Austin, TX
$346 57.9% $127
Clothing & Footwear
Lulea
$194
Austin, TX
$129 33.5% $65
Getting Around
Lulea
$88
Austin, TX
$57 35.2% $31
Sport & Entertainment
Lulea
$72
Austin, TX
$86 19.6% $14

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $778 in Lulea and $1,932 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 97% 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: $96.0 in Lulea vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $404 vs $403 per month, with Austin, TX cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇸🇪 Lulea
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
04:27 4:27 AM
21:27 9:27 PM
7 h behind Lulea
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
73,864
974,447
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to SEK – Swedish Krona Converter

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lulea Austin, TX 8,190 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lulea
  • 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
Lulea vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lulea or Austin, TX?
Lulea wins on cost – living expenses run 48% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lulea the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lulea or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 97% 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 Lulea compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $778 in Lulea versus $1,932 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 Lulea compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $1,823 per month in Lulea versus $2,704 in Austin, TX – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Lulea compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Lulea runs roughly 37% 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 $2,000/month in Lulea or in Austin, TX?
At $1,823 in Lulea versus $2,704 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lulea but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Lulea the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lulea or Austin, TX?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lulea delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,823 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lulea hard to pass up.
How safe is Lulea compared to Austin, TX?
Safety-wise, Lulea 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 Lulea gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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