When deciding on a place to live, one of the most important things to consider is the cost of living. It’s one of the highest priorities taken into consideration when deciding on a place to live.
The overall cost of living in Austria is significantly different from state to state and from city to city. This can be impacted by many factors including but not limited to: health insurance, tax rates, transportation pricing, availability, number of children enrolled in school, etc.
The most expensive cities in Austria are Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Linz, while those that are the most affordable include the likes of Klagenfurt and the rest. The majority of the Austrian population lives in these urban centers. Austria’s public housing known as social housing is quite affordable and desirable. Most buildings have swimming pools, saunas, onsite childcare, cafes, and tennis courts.
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Is Austria expensive to live in?
The cost of living in Austria is high by European standards and more expensive than in other Eastern European countries. This is mainly due to the higher salaries which automatically lead to higher prices for goods and services, especially in large cities. The most important factors are taxes (especially income tax and VAT) and social security.
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In addition, Austria has low prices on many consumer goods compared to other European countries. The purchasing power in Austria is higher and this is considered one reason why people are less concerned with price increases (in terms of month-on-month deflation).
Vienna is the capital city of Austria and it has been ranked as one of the most expensive cities in the world. It’s no surprise that Vienna ranks as one of the most expensive European countries to live in as well. If you’re looking for cheap alternatives to living in Vienna, Graz, Linz, and Villach are prime destinations for immigrants and expats.
City
Cost Of Living Index
Vienna
70.88
Salzburg
70.49
Innsbruck
73.32
Linz
71.48
Graz
70.97
If you’re looking for a cost-of-living comparison between Austria’s major cities, this brief article covers them.
Cost Of Living: What Are the Living Expenses Like In Austria?
What will money buy you in Austria? The cost of living in Austria is the subject that pops into your head first if you decide to move to this beautiful country. Austria is indeed a wealthy country and, it’s the 14th most expensive country in Europe. It’s still possible to live comfortably and stay within a limited budget.
The living expenses of a person in Austria depend largely on what type of life they have. A person who lives alone in an apartment will naturally have different expenses than a couple with kids. A person who
Living expenses include basic costs of living like rent, food, utilities, and so forth. Depending on the exchange rate, the living expenses in Austria often vary by 15-20% compared to other European countries. You may find a list of living expenses in Austria interesting for planning your vacation or business trip. owns their own home will have different expenses than someone who rents from a private landlord.
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Whether you are a tourist or planning to move to Austria/Vienna soon, it is always good to know how much things cost. The prices of products vary more than you think between states, towns and of course shops.
A common feature of the prominent economies of the world is their high cost of living when compared to environments with lesser currency values. The most evident indicators of a high cost of living are presented by expenses such as groceries, accommodations, and clothing.
This part of our article will explain a general insight, into how easy it is to live in Austria, the cost of living, and what income you will have to have!
Cost Of A Meal & Restaurants Food Prices In Austria
Prices of food in Austria are low compared to other European countries. A good meal at a restaurant will cost around 15 euros or less, while a decent meal at home might set you back by around 35 euros.
Food Item
Price in Euros (€)
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant
15.00 €
Three-course Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant
70.00 €
McMeal at McDonald’s (or Equivalent Combo in a Food Chain Restaurant)
20.00 €
Domestic Beer (0.5L)
6.00 €
Imported Beer (0.33L)
6.00 €
Regular Cappuccino
3.23 €
Coke/Pepsi (0.33L)
3.66 €
Water (0.33L)
3.18 €
Cost Of Groceries & Consumer Goods In Austria
Consumer goods in Austria are one of the most important expenditures for people and travelers. Prices are rising in almost all the countries. This article is a collection of the average price of food items and other wares from local supermarkets in Austria.
The cost of living in Austria is higher than the European average. Prices for most goods and services are set by the free market and law prohibits the government from interfering in the setting of prices.
Groceries
Price in Euros (€)
Regular Milk, (1L)
2.18 €
Loaf of Fresh Bread (500g)
3.95 €
White Rice, (1Kg)
3.98 €
Regular Eggs (12)
5.21 €
Local Cheese (1Kg)
13.74 €
Chicken Fillets (1Kg)
10.73 €
Beef Round (1Kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)
16.87 €
Apples (1Kg)
2.28 €
Banana (1Kg)
1.77 €
Oranges (1Kg)
2.47 €
Tomato (1Kg)
2.83 €
Potato (1Kg)
3.62 €
Onion (1Kg)
2.41 €
Lettuce (1 head)
3.41 €
Water (1.5L)
0.62 €
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)
7.00 €
Domestic Beer (0.5l)
1.08 €
Imported Beer (0.33L)
1.55 €
Cost Of Transportation and Travels In Austria
The transportation system is convenient and prices are generally affordable. Austria has a developed, complex road network. It is well marked, and mostly in good repair, except for a few mountainous areas. It equally has one of the best railway services. The quality and efficiency of Austria’s trains are nothing to be ashamed of, in fact, it is very impressive.
To get around Austria, there are a few options. You can drive, take a train, or take a bus. There are also bikes and motorcycles you can rent. Before taking to the road, it’s important to know what the driving laws are in Austria. Getting around in Austria is as easy as driving. Austrian drivers keep to the right and give priority to vehicles coming from the right. Here, motorists drive on the same side of the road as bicyclists, so watch out for bikes.
Transportation is one of the most essential costs in Austria. It’s a necessity to have a car if you’re moving to Austria to live here permanently because public transportation is not available in all departments. Public transportation systems do exist in big cities, but again, it’s quite costly. You will save money by having your vehicle!
If you drive or have a car, you have to pay a toll to use the motorways. Also, you should have a motorway sticker (Autobahnvignette), which is purchased at any post offices, Trafik shops, border posts, and service stations in the country.
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Transportation
Price in Euros (€)
One-way Ticket
3.40 €
Monthly Pass (Local Transport)
60.00 €
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
6.00 €
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)
3.80 €
Taxi 1-hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
30.80 €
Gasoline (1 liter)
2.79 €
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)
23,460.00 €
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)
19,963.65 €
Cost Of Basic Utilities In Austria
When contemplating a move to Austria, it is important to have an awareness of the costs associated with living there. You may not see any major fluctuations – it all depends on the Euro, Austrian lives at a relatively high cost. So, you should be prepared for some hefty utility bills. Although some utility bills may be covered by your employer, you should bear in mind the others when budgeting for your moving costs that Austria is an expensive place.
I’ll show a price breakdown for the most common utility bills in Austria. These are calculated based on the size of the family rather than the resources consumed. A household pays;
Utilities
Price in Euros (€)
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 45m2 Apartment
233.21 €
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment
486.67 €
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)
0.07 €
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)
34.25 €
Cost OF Entertainment In Austria
It pays to do your research, especially when it comes to the cost of entertainment! In general, nightlife costs are highest in Salzburg. In Vienna, don’t expect to pay over €20 for entrance to a club. The same goes for coffee. A cup will hardly ever set you back more than €2.50 (and if it does, I suggest asking for a receipt).
The free time that people get during their weekend, can be used very differently. Some people take the opportunity to do things they enjoy with their family, while others prefer to go out with friends and/or colleagues. All of these activities require money, which means the cost of entertainment has a big impact on people’s budgets.
are tons of fun activities here, from forest hiking to mountain climbing to swimming in icy lakes or relaxing in thermal baths, or skiing and camping among scenic vistas. The country is perfectly suited for outdoor activities.
Leisure & Sports
Price in Euros (€)
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult
34.34 €
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)
20.01 €
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat
11.00 €
iPad, Wi-Fi, 128 GB
507.00 €
Cost Of Childcare and Education In Austria
Austria is significantly more affordable than the U.S., the U.K., France, or Germany when it comes to childcare and educational costs. It has a free public educational system and around 90% of children in Austria attend these schools. Part-time daycare and preschool education are free for children under or six years since 2009. However, you might pay for your kids’ meals which may be around 60 EUR per month.
Austrian students have a lot to be grateful for. In Austria, every child and a young person without financial means are entitled to a free primary and general secondary education. Also, over one-third of Austrian university students study free of charge; the average undergraduate degree in Austria costs 210 euros (257 US dollars) per semester, and graduate degrees are free. Public universities are free for all EU and EEA citizens, while international students pay to study per academic year.
School
Price in Euros (€)
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child
322.24 €
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child
7,376.41 €
International High School, Yearly for 1 Child
13,000.00 €
Colleges and University
3,000 €
Monthly expenses (rent, groceries, commuting…) for a Student
1000.00 €
Cost Of Clothing In Austria
The cost of clothing in Austria depends a lot on the kind of clothing and what you are buying. It is going to be pricy no matter which way you go but if you shop smart and take advantage of sales, coupons, and special events, you can get by without spending so much.
The prices of clothing items vary significantly depending on the item. Prices of apparel vary in most stores that carry clothing, especially bigger chain stores. Clothes and footwear become cheaper within continental Europe as you travel south, due to lower labor costs.
Clothing & Accessories
Price in Euros (€)
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
87.21 €
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, …)
33.82 €
1 Pair of Running Shoes (Adidas, Nike…)
86.73 €
1 Pair of Men’s Leather Business Shoes
110.91 €
Cost Of Personal and Health care In Austria
Healthcare is a government-run service in Austria and it has been for a long time (covers everyone for free!). Healthcare is naturally important to Austrians and is considered one of the best parts of living here. Austria has a top-level health care system. You or your employees will always get high-quality care in the majority of the cases. In addition, healthcare is available at a very low cost.
Hospital treatment is free or subsidized at universities and regional hospitals to anyone with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). With the EHIC, you can enjoy some healthcare benefits like seeing a doctor affiliated with one of Austria’s regional health insurance organizations free of charge
The cost of personal care in Austria is not only dependent on the item you are looking to purchase, but also on the store you wish to buy it from. As an example, the average price of a haircut in America is $ 28 (or € 23). In comparison, the average price for a haircut in Austria is € 63 (or $ 70).
Care Products
Price in Euros (€)
Cold Medicine (Tylenol, Frenadol, Coldrex, or equivalent brands)
8.00 €
Box of Antibiotics (12 doses)
9.00 €
15 minutes to Private Doctor
118.00 €
Box of 32 Tampons (tampax, ob, …)
5.49 €
Deodorant, Roll-on (50ml – 1.5 oz.)
3.50 €
Hair Shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml – 12 oz.)
2.54 €
4 rolls of Toilet Paper
1.74 €
A Tube of Toothpaste
2.20 €
Standard Men’s Haircut in the City
28.00 €
Standard Men’s Haircut in the Suburb
20.00 €
Cost Of Housing and Accommodation In Austria
The cost of living in Austria is about average for a European country, maybe a little above average. The income levels in Austria are also close to the European average. Still, the main challenge for anyone moving to Austria will be figuring out the cost of living – especially accommodation costs and rental prices.
The capital, Vienna, is considered to be the most expensive city in Austria, however, it is also the country’s largest and most important city which means that prices for most goods tend to be higher than in other major cities such as Salzburg or Graz.
The cost of housing in Austria varies depending on the area of the country. When researching a move to Austria, it’s important to know how much you can expect to pay for housing in Austria. Finding an apartment in Austria can be difficult at times. Finding the right one for you, and also finding that affordable one is just as challenging. Several factors affect the cost of housing in Austria including your preferred location, house size, and apartment features.
Looking to buy a house in Austria? Or are you moving to another country and want to find out how much would it cost? Looking for a flat in Vienna, a room in Salzburg, or an apartment in Graz? Here’s an overview of the costs of purchasing an apartment in Austria.
Purchasing an Apartment
Price in Euros (€)
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre
5,270.05 €
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre
3,803.72 €
Is it Expensive to Live in Austria?
While many expenses arise when relocating to another country, many expats in Austria are surprised at how expensive it is to live in this country. Salaries in Austria (average net income of € 2,057.65) are regarded as very high, but the cost of living in Austria is also high compared to other European Union countries. The estimated monthly expenses of a single person are around € 1,179.01 excluding rent, while for a small family (4 individuals) estimated monthly cost is around € 3,259.77 (also excluding rents).
Austria is one of the most expensive countries in Europe. It’s also one of the richest, so the cost of living is high. For example, a loaf of bread costs about $4 in Austria.
Food prices are higher than the average for a European country but still lower than in most other western European countries. The cost of eating out is also higher than average, but not as high as you might expect from a country with such high food prices.
Transportation is expensive in Austria because there aren’t many public transportation options available outside of the capital city of Vienna. You can get around by train, tram, or bus within Vienna, but getting to another part of the country requires renting a car or taking a plane or train (which will be expensive anyway).
Hi there, I'm Heaven. I'm an entrepreneur, blogger, and digital marketing enthusiast. When I'm not watching anime or learning something new from TikTok, I post and vlog about my incredible life experiences as a digital entrepreneur.
