People from across the world are drawn to Austria’s stunning scenery – alpine lakes and mountains, forests and delightful towns and villages. Austria is a strong supporter of human rights and freedom of the press. It has a great healthcare and education system both of which are the envy of some neighbouring countries. This land landlocked country is the perfect base from which to explore other European countries on its borders.
If you are considering moving to Austria, the various costs listed below will help you make an informed decision on what costs are involved when moving and living in this part of the world.
Quick Austria Facts:
- Population: 9,129,713 (2022 estimate)
- Official Language:German is the official language in Austria. However, English, Croatian, Slovenian and Hungarian are also spoken in the country.
- GDP Per Capita:US$53,267.93 (2022)
- Quirky Fact: All males between the age of 17 to 51 in Austria have to undergo a six-month military service which is mandatory. You can choose between a six-month military service or nine-month of civil service.
- Currency: EURO (EUR/€). As of late 2022, €1= £0.86, US$1.04, $1.40 (CAD), and $1.54 (AUD).
1. Moving and Shipping Costs to Austria
Here are some sample container shipping rates to Austria from other countries around the world.
2. Austria Housing Costs
There’s a wide variety of housing available in Austria, from stately apartments in Vienna and chocolate box chalets in the mountains down to affordable apartments and houses in villages and cities. The standard of accommodation is high. Both newly built and older properties are well-built and carefully maintained. Almost half of Austrians rent property rather than buy. Furnished properties are hard to find and, if you are lucky enough to find one, it will be expensive. If you live in the EU, purchasing a property is straight forward but it’s not so easy if you live outside the EU.
Monthly Rental Prices in Austria
- 1 bedroom apartment in City Centre: €550,00 – €1,100.00
- 1 bedroom apartment outside the City Centre: €480,00 – €900,00
- 3-bedroom apartment in City Centre: €1,000.00 – €2,300.00
- 3-bedroom apartment outside the City Centre: €800.00 – €1,600.00
- Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy in City Centre: €3,300.00 – €10,000.00
- Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy outside City: €2,900.00 – €6,000.00
Source: Numbeo
Austria Housing Cost Comparison
Below are how rents in Austria compare with other countries around the globe.
United Kingdom is 34.71% more expensive
United States is 105.12% more expensive
Canada is 47.59% more expensive
Australia is 52.87% more expensive
France is 8.57% more expensive
Spain is 6.84% cheaper
Italy is 11.95% more expensive
Germany is 12.87% more expensive
Source: Numbeo
How to Save on Housing Costs
- Share an apartment or house. Have a look at the following sites to find your perfect room or flatmate: Iroommates, Erasmusu, Housing Anywhere, Roomsterand Just Landed.
- Different areas – different prices. Housing costs in Austria’s bigger cities are high, especially in Vienna and Innsbruck. However, like all cities, if you don’t mind living on the outskirts prices will be lower. Renting or purchasing a property in the countryside is also affordable as long as it’s not near a popular ski resort.
3. Austria Food, Grocery and Restaurant Costs
Austrian restaurants and supermarkets reflect the cosmopolitan makeup of the country. With a booming tourist industry and over 1.5million non-Austrians living the country, you’re bound to find food to suit your palate plus traditional Austrian delights such as Wiener Schnitzel, Marillenknoedel (apricot dumplings), Linzer Torte, Vorarlberg mountain cheese and, of course, Viennese apple strudel to name but a few.
- Inexpensive Restaurant: €8,50 – €20,00
- Domestic beer: €3,00 – €5,00
- Coke/Pepsi: €2,00 – €4,00
- 1L of milk: €0,99 – €1,55
- Loaf of Bread: €1,00 – €3,00
- 12 Eggs: €1,92 – €4,80
- 1kg Chicken Fillets: €5,00 – €15,00
- 1kg Beef: €8,98 – €25,00
- 1kg Apples: €1,00 – €3,00
- 1kg White Rice: €0,99 – €3,00
Source: Numbeo
This is how restaurants and food prices compare with other major cities in the world.
- UKrestaurants are 33% more expensive and groceries are 16.35% Cheaper than in Austria.
- United States restaurants are 51% more expensive and groceries are 24.73% more expensive than in Austria.
- Canada restaurants are 37% more expensive and groceries are 13.17% more expensive in Austria.
- Australia restaurants are73% more expensive and groceries are 23.40% more expensive than in Austria.
- France restaurants are 18% more expensive and groceries are 11.08% more expensive than in Austria.
- Spain restaurants are 80% cheaper and groceries are 30.02% cheaper than in Austria.
- Italy restaurants are 40% cheaper and groceries are 10.93% cheaper than in Austria.
- Germanyrestaurants are 78% cheaper and groceries are 13.72% cheaper than in Austria.
Source: Numbeo
Bonus Tips for Cheaper Food, Restaurants and Groceries
- Know your supermarkets: Austria has many supermarket chains, fantastic market and independently owned grocery stores. Popular supermarkets in Austria are Hofer Supermarket, Lidl, Maximarkt, Metro Supermarketand Spar.
- Find Cheap Eats:Many restaurants offer cheaper meals in the early evening. Sign up for email notifications at your favourite restaurants so you’re the first to be notified of any special deals. Have a look at the following sites for suggestions: –TripAdvisor, Wanderlog, Eurocheapo, and Austria Info.
4. Austria Alcohol Costs
Alcohol is a part of daily life. The country produces great wine, spirits and beer and they feature heavily on all restaurant and bar menus. Austrians usually finish a meal with a tot of schnaps, which is the country’s favourite digestif. Restaurants frequently bring complimentary tots of schnaps to the table at the end of a meal. Remember to drink it in one mouthful, after toasting each person at the table – Prost.
- Bottle of imported beer at a restaurant/pub: €3,00 – €5,00
- Pint (0,5L) domestic beer at a restaurant/pub: €3,00 – €5,00
- Pint (0,5L) domestic beer at a supermarket: €0,65 – €1,40
- Bottle of imported beer at a supermarket: €1,00 – €2,50
- Mid-range bottle of wine at a supermarket: €3,90 – €10,00
Source: Numbeo
How to drink for less in Austria
- Local papers and flyers provide information on offers and events along with other places like supermarkets, bars, clubs and restaurants where you can get drinks for cheap.
- Many restaurants, bars, clubs and pubs have happy hours, especially in the early evening. Have a look at the following sites for more tips on where to go to save money on a night out – City Seeker, YELP, Salzburg Happy Hour, Austria Trend, and Rooftop Bars in Graz.
5. Austria Transportation Fares
Austria has an excellent railway and road system. Public transport consists of the U-Bahn (underground or tube), S-Bahn (local train), Star Ben Bahn (tram) and Autobus. The railway is operated by the National Rail Operator – OBB but private rail operation is also carried out by WEST Bahn. Most bus services are run by Postbus which is a subsidiary of OBB but there are also other regional operators.
Below are some example ticket costs.
- One-way ticket (Local transport: €2,10 – €3,00
- Monthly Pass, (Regular Price): €30,42 – €55,90
- Taxi start (normal tariff): €3,60 – €7,00
- Taxi 1km (normal tariff): €1,27 – €2,20
Source: Numbeo
How to save money on public transport
- Buy a Vienna City Card of 24, 48, and 72-hours which comes with various discounts.
- For regular weekly travel, you can take the advantage of the weekly passes. You can also buy a monthly network pass for 31 days.
- Book your tickets well in advance to get discounts and check for concessions if you are a student or a senior citizen.
- Many people prefer to rent motorbikes to save money on public transport.
6. Cost of Internet in Austria
Austria ranked 58th in an international comparison survey for its internet speed with 67.45 Mbit/s downloading speed. Here are some sample broadband internet prices in 2022 in Austria.
- Innonet Lumi 30– €25.78/Mo for 29.3 Mbit/s
- Kabel Plus– €25.78.00/Mo for 16 Mbit/s
7. Cost of Clothing, Personal Items, Gym and Leisure
Most parts of Austria experience a cool/temperate climate, with winter temperatures ranging from -10C to 0C. The Danube valley and Pannonian plain, experience a continental climate where winter temperatures are higher. Summer is pleasant with temperatures ranging from 20C to 30C. The average rainfall in the mountainous regions is 2000mm and 600mm at lower altitudes.
Below are some clothing prices, together with other useful prices.
- Pair of Jeans: €45,00 – €120,00
- Summer Dress: €15,00 – €50,00
- Running Shoes (Trainers): €50,00 – €120,00
- Business Shoes: 60,00–159,00
- Short Doctor’s visit (15 mins): €152
- Deodorant: €3,31
- Shampoo: €3,08
- Toilet Paper (4 rolls): €2,07
- Gym membership per month: €20,00 – €60,00
- Movie (cinema) ticket: €9,00 – €15,00
Source: Numbeo and Expatistan
8. Cost of Owning a Car and Driving a Car in Austria
There are around 5 million cars in Austria and the number of car-owners is increasing in the country. Owning and driving a car is convenient, especially if you want to explore Austria and its neighbours.
Car registration in Austria is similar to other EU countries and8as long as you are over 18 and have a valid driving licence and proof of residence in the country, it’s a relatively straightforward process. If you are planning on buying a car, have a look at EXPATICA for detailed information.
EU and EEA driving licenses are valid for five years in Austria. However, you can convert them to an Austrian licence with ease. Oesterreich.Go gives you detailed information on getting an Austrian driving licence.
Here are some other sample costs of owning and operating a car in Austria:
- Volkswagen Golf:€22,000.00 – €24,000.00
- 1 litre (¼ gallon) of gas (petrol):€1,40 – €2,02
- Other fees (if any):The monthly cost of running a car in Austria is between €700 and €800 depending on the type of vehicle.
Source: Numbeo, Oesterreich.Gv, Austrian Career,
Ways to save money driving in Austria
- Car sharing or pooling is one way to save money. Try Blablacar, Share Now, Zip Car, and Ride Guru.
- Taxis can be a cheaper option, especially if you are going to have to park all day. Try Uberand Kiwi Taxi.
Need your car/vehicle moved to Austria? Then read our guide to Car Transport & Vehicle Shipping
9. Taxes in Austria
As an expat in Austria, you are liable to pay tax between 20% and 52% on your Austrian sources of income. VAT in Austria ranges from 10% to 20% depending upon the goods and services involved. Have a look at the TMF Group to learn more about VAT in Austria. Property tax on a property sale is 3.5%. For details, refer to Tax Summaries.
10. Flight Costs from Austria
If you do make the move to Austria, here’s approximately how much it will cost to fly to major cities around the world based on the lowest, one-way fares from Skyscanner as of late 2022:
- London: €42
- Paris: €39
- New York: €398
- Los Angeles: €429
- Toronto: €433
- Dubai: €273
- Sydney: €986
- Melbourne: €933
- Cape Town: €486
- Hong Kong: €696
Other Austria Relocation Tips
The costs and pricing above should give you a good idea of the cost of living in Austria but perhaps the following extra tips will make your move go smoothly.
11. Relocating to Austria Alone
Moving abroad is stressful but moving alone can be exceptionally difficult. Austrians are very proud of their country and love to share it with enthusiastic newcomers. Here are a few tips about settling in Austria.
- Meetups:Connect with various groups through Meetup to participate in a wide range of activities from skiing to making the perfect apple strudel.
- Attend local events: Austria celebrates many festivals and organises events which will allow you to become part of Austria’s culture. Have a look at the following sites for inspiration – TripAdvisor, Expatica, Travel Triangle, Austria Infoand World Festivals
12. Moving to Austria with a Family
Moving abroad with a family is exciting but it has many challenges. However, Austria has a lot to attract families. There are playgrounds, the theatre and opera, parks, art galleries and, of course, winter sports.
- New parents (or parents-to-be):Check out Moms Groups in Austria, Vienna Babies Club, Moms in Prayer, Mother Schools Austria, and Moms and Kids in Austria for advice, courses and ways to meet other parents or parents-to-be.
- Live in a family-friendly area: Vienna’s family-friendly areas are Mariahilf, Landstrabe, Wahring, Meidling, Liesing, and Margareten. Other areas include Herz-Jesu Church neighbourhoods in Graz, the old town in Salzburg, and various areas in Lienz. Many families also enjoy living in the villages dotted around Austria.
- Find things to do with the kids:Austria has many things for children to do. Have a look at the following website for inspiration – Expatica, Austria Info, Trip Advisor, Inspirock and Tyrol.
13. Moving to Austria for Work
Moving to a new country for work is one of the most common reasons people choose to move. While it is possible to move without a job, it makes sense to ensure there are jobs in your field before you make the move.
Austria is a big tourist destination and employs many people in the service industry – hotels, restaurants, bars, and the airport. There’s also a need for people in construction, IT, engineering, healthcare, vehicle, and vehicle parts production, banking, and insurance.
Here are a few things to consider when moving for work:
- Salary:Salaries in Austria are high compared with other countries. The costs we outlined above should give you a rough idea, how much more you’ll want to be making to make the move worthwhile. You can also check salary ranges on sites such as Glassdoor and Payscale.
- How to find work: If you want to have a job lined up before you move to Austria, but aren’t sure where to begin, the following sites are great places to start: Monster, Indeed, LinkedIn, Craigslist and Career Builder. You may also want to Google recruiters in your industry, as they can often help land you some initial interviews as well.
14. Moving to Austria from Australia
There’s a small number of Australians working and living in Austria. If you are thinking of moving from Australia to Austria, here are a few things to consider.
- Size comparison:Australia is 92 times bigger than Austria. The population of Australia is 25,890,773 whereas the population of Austria is 9,129,713.
- Join expat groups: Connect with fellow Australians through MeetUp, Internationsand Facebook in Austria.
15. Moving to Austria from Canada
There are a small group of Canadians living in Austria. If you are moving from Canada and want to meet fellow Canadians in Austria, consider the following.
- Size:Canada is 119 times bigger than Austria. The population of Canada is 38,929,902 whereas the population of Austria is 9,129,713.
- Expat groups:Connect with fellow Canadians through Internations and MeetUp in Austria.
16. Moving to Austria from the United Kingdom
11,225 UK expats are currently living in Austria. If you are moving from the UK and want to meet fellow Brits, consider the following.
- Size: The UK is 2.9 times bigger than Austria. The population of the UK is 68,730,050 whereas the population of Austria is 9,129,713.
- Expat groups:Connect with fellow Brits through Internations and MeetUp in Austria.
Hopefully, the tips and costs above are helpful. If want to get started pricing out how much it will cost you to move to Austria you can start by comparing moving quotes here. Also see: International Moving Companies in Austria.
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