Moving to a new country or even a new city is an exciting way to explore a different area and culture and meet new people. However, before deciding whether to move, it’s important to consider living expenses.
By planning living expenses beforehand, you can estimate how much your stay will cost or, if you plan to stay in Vienna, what the difference will be from where you lived before.
Cost of living in Vienna
The average cost of living in Vienna, Austria for a single person is between $850-$1000 per month. This does not include rent.
This is around $500 less than the cost of living in Sicily.
For a family of four, expect the cost of living to increase to around $3,500, not including rent or mortgage. This is similar to the cost of living in Dubai, UAE.
In Vienna, the currency is euro which is equal to $0.92 USD.
1. Housing
Vienna is one of the most expensive cities for housing in Austria. The median price for a home in the city is about $1.4 million. Renting an apartment or home can also be relatively expensive.
On average, an apartment costs between about 900 euros for a one-bedroom apartment and 1,700 euros for a two- or three-bedroom apartment.
This means, depending on how much space you need, you can expect to spend about $982 to $1,855 per month on rent.
Utilities, on the other hand, aren’t too expensive. Most people living in an apartment under 900 square feet can expect to spend about 184 euros or about $200 per month on water, trash, electricity, and heating.
The cost of property tax should also be factored in, as this will need to be paid if you purchase a home and can also affect the cost of an apartment.
In Austria, the exact property tax per year depends on the municipality, which sets its own rate. Property taxes per year can’t be more than 1% of the total value of the real estate, though.
You’ll also need to pay a property acquisition tax if you buy a home. These taxes differ depending on how much the home is worth.
Taxes for homes worth 250,000 euros or less will be charged 0.5% of the value. Homes from 250,001 to 400,000 euros will be charged 2% of the home’s value, and property worth 400,001 euros or more will be charged 3.5%.
You’ll also need to pay a 3.5% land acquisition tax.
Home insurance in Vienna is relatively inexpensive. Good plans generally average about 95 euros, or $104, per year, but some plans cost as little as 60 euros, or about $65 per year.
2. Food
The cost of food in Vienna is comparable to many places in the U.S. For example, if you want to eat at a casual restaurant, you’ll probably spend about 14.50 euros or $15.80 per person.
A mid-range upscale restaurant with a three-course meal costs about 30 euros or just less than $33 per person. Fast food usually costs about 9 euros or $9.82.
Grocery costs are also similar to those in the U.S. Some things, like milk, are a bit more expensive. A gallon of milk costs around 4.80 euros or $5.24 in Vienna.
Other items, such as eggs and bread, are less expensive, in general. A dozen eggs cost about 3.45 euros or $3.76, and a loaf of bread costs about 1.60 euros or $1.75.
Chicken fillets cost around 4.54 euros or $4.94 per pound, while a pound of fruit, such as bananas or apples, usually cost around 1 euro.
A mid-range bottle of wine costs about 5.50 euros.
3. Transportation
Cars are relatively expensive in Vienna. Many people choose to purchase a new car instead of importing their old car, as shipping and importing fees can be high.
How much a monthly car payment is will depend on the type of car you purchase and whether you buy a new or used car. A new sedan usually costs about 560 euros per month.
Anyone who purchases a car will also need to pay a 200 euro registration fee, a 20% car tax, and a 93.80 euro annual toll fee.
Car insurance is also mandatory and usually costs between 60 and 150 euros. You’ll also need to purchase gas, which can cost as much as $6.60 per gallon.
Parking fees in the city are usually low, however, with most parking lots charging about 3.60 euros per day.
Because owning a car can be so expensive, residents who choose to live right in the city often rely on public transportation. Buses, trams, and trains are all available.
A one-way ticket usually costs around 2.40 euros, but a monthly pass only costs about 45 euros.
The average cost of living in Vienna, Austria for a single person is between $850-$1000 per month.
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4. Healthcare
Austria’s healthcare system ensures that healthcare is free for almost everyone living in the country. As long as you are employed in Austria, your employer will need to register you for free healthcare.
This healthcare covers nearly every medical expense. Prescriptions usually cost around 6 euros, and you may need to pay about 11 euros per year for doctor visits.
5. Taxes
How much you’ll need to pay in Austrian taxes depends on how much you make. Anyone who makes 11,000 euros or less each year won’t need to pay any taxes.
People who make between 60,000 and 90,000 euros per year, however, will need to pay 48% in taxes, and there are several other tax brackets you might fit into.
Cost of living in Vienna table
| Expense | Cost – euros |
|---|---|
| Housing | Rent 1 bedroom – 900/month Rent 2 or 3 bedrooms – 1700/month Home purchase – $1.4 Million Utilities – 184/month Property tax – Max 1% Property Acquisition tax – 0.5%-3.5% Land Acquisition tax – 3.5% Insurance – 60-95/year |
| Food | Milk – 4.80/gallon Eggs – 3.45/dozen Bread – 1.60/loaf Chicken fillets – 4.54/pound Fruit – 1/each Fast food – 9/meal Restaraunt – 14.50 – 30/person |
| Transportation | Vehicle loan – 560/month Car tax – 20% Insurance – 60-160/month Bus tickets – 2.40 each/45 per month Gas – 6.60/gallon Parking – 3.60/day |
| Healthcare | Generally free Prescriptions – 6/each Doctor visit – 11/year |
| Taxes | Income 11,000 or less – 0 Income 60,000–90,000 – 48% |
| Childcare | Daycare (up to 6 years age) – free Private – 50 – 500/month |
| Education | Child private school – 11,000/year USA students – 1,500-7,500/year Public university Aus, EU, EEA students – free |
| Entertainment | Movie tickets – 11/each Concert ticket – 60-100/each Gym membership – 30/month |
| Personal Care and Clothing | Summer dress – 30 Jeans – 80 Toothpaste – 2 Toilet paper – 2 |
| Internet and Phone | Phone plan – 55.19/month Internet – 28.51/month |
| Miscellaneous | TV licensing fee – 20-25/per tv |
6. Childcare
In Vienna, parents can often find free all-day childcare for children up to age six.
If you want a private or more specialized type of childcare, however, you can expect to pay about 50 euros per month for afternoon childcare and about 560 euros per month for all-day care.
7. Education
If you want to send your child to a private school, you can expect to pay about 11,000 euros or about $12,000 per year. Public universities in Austria are free for all Austrian, EU, and EEA students.
Students from the United States will usually pay about 1,500 euros per year, but this rate can go up to 7,500 per year depending on what you’re studying and what university you choose.
8. Entertainment and Recreation
Costs for sports and fitness centers are a bit lower in Vienna than they are in the U.S. The monthly fee for a gym, for example, is about $30. Renting a tennis court for an hour costs about $21.
If you want to attend a sporting match, you can expect to spend between about $17 and $33.
If you enjoy watching movies, you can expect to spend about 11 euros or $12 each time you go to the movies.
If you enjoy attending museums, you’ll find that costs are comparable to most European or U.S. city museums.
The cost of seeing a concert or musical is usually about 60 euros or less, but more popular shows might go up to 100 euros.
9. Personal Care and Clothing
Clothing in Austria can be a bit expensive, depending on the quality of the items. A good pair of jeans, for example, can cost as much as 80 euros, but a light summer dress usually only costs around 30 euros.
Other personal care items cost less, however. For example, a tube of toothpaste costs about $2, and four rolls of toilet paper cost about the same amount.
10. Communication Costs
If you need to sign up for the internet, you can expect to spend about 28.51 euros or $31 per month in fees. Most mobile phone plans cost around 55.19 euros or $60 per month.
11. Other Miscellaneous Expenses
One cost that most people who move to Vienna don’t expect is a TV licensing fee. You must pay this fee for each TV you have in your home. These fees cost between $22 and $30.
If you want to adopt pets in Vienna or bring yours with you, you can expect to pay about the same amount for cat or dog food as most people do in the United States.