Austin VS Oslo

Cost of Living & Salary Comparison 2026

Austin
United States
64.8
COLI Index
#32
Global Rank
USD
Currency
Oslo
Norway
78.5
COLI Index
#14
Global Rank
NOK
Currency

Key Differences

Cost of Living
64.8
78.5
1BR Rent (USD/mo)
$1,800
$1,600
Total Deductions
19.5%
32.1%
Exchange Rate
1 USD = 10.0452 NOK
Is Austin cheaper than Oslo?

Yes, Austin is 17% cheaper than Oslo based on our cost of living index. Austin has a COLI of 64.8, while Oslo has a COLI of 78.5. 17% cheaper

Key Takeaways: Austin vs Oslo

Overall, Austin is approximately 17% cheaper than Oslo based on our cost of living index. Austin has a COLI of 64.8 (ranked #32 of 182 cities), while Oslo has a COLI of 78.5 (ranked #14).

When it comes to housing, one-bedroom apartment rent in Austin averages $1,800/month compared to $1,600/month in Oslo. That makes Oslo approximately 11% cheaper for rent alone.

Austin has lower total deductions (19.5%) compared to Oslo (32.1%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Austin. When evaluating a relocation, remember that total deductions directly impact your take-home pay and should be weighed alongside cost of living differences.

Tax & Deductions Comparison

Full breakdown of mandatory payroll deductions for a mid-range salary as a local employee in each city.

Austin

Income Tax
12%
Social Security + Medicare (FICA)
7.6%
Total: 19.5%Take-Home: $39,137/yr

Oslo

Income Tax
24%
Trygdeavgift
7.8%
Total: 32.1%Take-Home: kr 401,306/yr

Rates shown for local employees. Expat deductions may differ — use the main converter for personalized calculations.

Salary Equivalent

If you earn $75,000 in Austin, you would need approximately kr 912,670 in Oslo to maintain the same purchasing power. That is 17% more due to higher cost of living.

Salary Comparison by Job Title

Estimated mid-level annual salaries in local currency, adjusted for each city's cost of living:

Job Title Austin (USD) Oslo (NOK)
Doctor (General) $116,640 kr 1,419,384
Software Engineer $55,080 kr 670,265
Product Manager $64,800 kr 788,547
Lawyer $64,800 kr 788,547
Data Scientist $61,560 kr 749,119
Marketing Manager $46,656 kr 567,754
Teacher $31,104 kr 378,502
Nurse $37,584 kr 457,357

Salary estimates are adjusted by each city's COLI relative to the New York baseline. Actual salaries vary by company, experience, and industry.

Neighborhoods

Austin (Top 5)

NeighborhoodMultiplier
West Lake Hills1.30x (+30%)
Downtown1.25x (+25%)
Clarksville1.25x (+25%)
Zilker1.22x (+22%)
South Congress (SoCo)1.18x (+18%)

Oslo (Top 5)

NeighborhoodMultiplier
Frogner1.30x (+30%)
Aker Brygge1.25x (+25%)
Bygdøy1.22x (+22%)
Majorstuen1.18x (+18%)
Holmenkollen1.18x (+18%)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Austin or Oslo more expensive?

Oslo is more expensive overall. Austin has a COLI of 64.8 while Oslo has a COLI of 78.5, making Austin approximately 17% cheaper.

What salary in Oslo equals $75,000 in Austin?

To maintain the same standard of living as $75,000 in Austin, you would need approximately kr 912,670 in Oslo.

Is rent cheaper in Austin or Oslo?

Average one-bedroom rent in Austin is $1,800/month compared to $1,600/month in Oslo. Oslo has lower rent by approximately 11%.

Which city has lower taxes, Austin or Oslo?

Austin has lower total deductions (19.5%) compared to Oslo (32.1%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Austin.

Explore Each City

Data Sources & Methodology

Cost of living indices (COLI) are benchmarked to New York City = 100 and derived from Numbeo and Expatistan crowd-sourced price surveys, cross-referenced with national statistics agencies. Rent data from Numbeo Property Prices.

Salary ranges are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OES), Glassdoor, and PayScale. Tax rates are approximate effective rates for mid-range earners based on OECD Taxing Wages and national tax authorities. Exchange rates from the European Central Bank. Neighborhood multipliers are estimated from local rental indices and property data.

Last updated: 2026-02-28. Data is refreshed periodically. All figures are estimates for informational purposes only.