Townleap

Cost of Living: Graz vs Oslo (2026)

Austria vs Norway — relocation comparison

Your passport:
Graz
Oslo
$772/mo
Rent

1BR centre

$2,004/mo
5 yr
PR path
—
Zuzugsfreibetrag (Researcher Relocation Allowance), Flat-Rate Foreign Income Tax (Zuzugsbegünstigung)
Tax breaks

Open incentive regimes for newcomers

—
Freelance setup
EPU
  • VAT-free under €42k
  • 27% social
  • €1400/yr accountant
WiseStripe
—

Sourced from Numbeo · Updated May 2026

TL;DRGraz is 61% cheaper on rent ($772/mo vs $2,004/mo). Oslo is safer — homicide rate 0.1 vs 0.9 per 100k. Both cities require a personal relationship with your winter coat.
Graz edges ahead 80 to 73. Oslo isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you.
How the livability score breaks down
Graz
Oslo
21.4/25
💰 Affordability
9.6/25
14.1/15
🔒 Violent Crime
14.9/15
7.3/10
🛡️ Perceived Safety
6.6/10
5.3/15
⚡ Internet
15/15
12.4/15
🗳️ Democracy
14.7/15
8.9/10
🗣️ English
8.8/10
9.9/10
☀️ Climate
7.8/10
7.1/10
📊 Stability
6.9/10
9.1/10
🚗 Road Safety
4.3/10
8.8/10
🕊️ Geopolitical Safety
5.9/10
Household
Graz
Metric
Oslo
✓$909/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
lower is better
$1105/mo
$4,786
🧳
Cost to land
lower is better
—
87 / 100
🛡️
Settler safety
higher is better
91 / 100
0.9 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
lower is better
0.1 / 100k✓
4.6 / 100k
🚗
Road deaths
lower is better
—
✓73 / 100
🚨
Safety Index
higher is better
66 / 100
77°F
☀️
Summer high
personal taste
70°F
27°F
❄️
Winter low
personal taste
23°F
—
⚡
Internet speed
higher is better
258 Mbps
15.1 μg/m³
🌬️
Air quality (PM2.5)
lower is better
—
85 / 100
🏥
Healthcare
higher is better
87 / 100
8.3 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
higher is better
9.8 / 10✓
6.1 / 9
🤝
Migrant acceptance
higher is better
7.7 / 9✓
50 / 100
🏳️‍🌈
Rainbow Index
higher is better
69 / 100✓
74/100
🗣️
Street English
higher is better
73/100
$74k
💼
GDP per capita (PPP)
higher is better
$102k✓
✓2.9% · Boringly steady
📈
Inflation
lower is better
3.1% · Boringly steady
93/100
🗽
Freedom House
higher is better
99/100✓
See exactly what you keep after taxes in each city

Sources: Numbeo · UNODC · Ookla · WHO · EIU · Gallup · World Bank · Freedom House · Updated May 2026

💰
Cost of Living
Graz
$1,232/mo cheaper on rent alone
🔒
Safety
Oslo
0.1 homicides per 100k
🗳️
Democracy
Oslo
9.8/10 EIU index
☀️
Weather
—
77°F vs 70°F summers

Sun

How much sky you actually get

40% clear
Win
Spr
Sum
Fall
Sky clear
avg daytime
33% clear
Win
Spr
Sum
Fall
8.6h
Shortest day
Dec
6.1h
15.8h
Longest day
Jun
18.7h

Sun clocks out before 5pm in both cities come December. Plan accordingly.

Source: WeatherSpark (clear-sky share of daytime hours)

Settler Essentials

Democracy trend
stable →
Inflation trend
—
Moderate
🇺🇸 Your visa
—
Easy
EU visa
—
Moderate
RU visa
—
Moderate
UA visa
—
✅ Partner can work immediately
Spouse works
—
Not recognized
eingetragene Partnerschaft
Partner pathway
Recognized (2+ yr)
samboerskap

Visa stamps:Easy <90 daysModerate 3–6 moComplex 6+ mo

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · official immigration portals

Reproductive Rights

Because your body shouldn't need a visa too

On request
Abortion access
On request
14 wk
Gestational limit
18 wk

Legal within first trimester. Counseling required.

On request up to 18 weeks (extended from 12 weeks; law effective 1 June 2025). After 18 weeks, specialized committees review cases.

Source: Center for Reproductive Rights

LGBTQ+ Rights

Can you hold hands without doing a risk assessment first

Legal
Marriage
Legal
Joint adoption
Adoption
Joint adoption
Yes
Job protection
Yes
Yes
Hate crime law
Yes

Graz vs Oslo — Common Questions

Is Graz cheaper than Oslo?▾

Graz is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $772/month there vs $2004/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Graz or Oslo?▾

Oslo is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Graz has a rate of 0.88 per 100,000 and Oslo has 0.15 per 100,000.

Should I move to Graz or Oslo?▾

Graz edges ahead 80 to 73. Oslo isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in Graz or Oslo?▾

Graz: EU Blue Card (Austria) (complex process, Up to 4 years). Oslo: no specific remote work visa. See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Which has better weather, Graz or Oslo?▾

Graz is warmer in summer (77°F vs 70°F). Oslo has milder summers, which suits those who prefer cooler weather. Climate preference is personal — use the weather section above to compare seasons.

What's the cost of rent in Graz vs Oslo?▾

A 1-bedroom in the centre: $772/month in Graz, $2004/month in Oslo (Numbeo). That's 61% cheaper rent in Graz.

Is Graz or Oslo better for democracy and rule of law?▾

Oslo scores 9.8/10 on the EIU Democracy Index vs 8.3/10 for Graz. That puts it in 'full democracy' territory — free press, independent courts, the works.

Plot twist: other matchups exist

Maybe the real city was the comparisons we made along the way.

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