Cost of Living in Austria
Expats moving to Austria will find the high cost of living a small price to pay for the much higher quality of life their move will afford them. According to the 2010 Mercer Cost of Living Survey (which evaluated 214 cities across five continents), Vienna, Austria's capital and host to 
the country's largest expat population, was ranked first in terms of quality of life and 28th in terms of cost of living.
Similar to its geographic location, the cost of living ranking leaves the country snug in the mid-section of Europe; making it cheaper than the UK and France, but more expensive than the Netherlands and Spain.
Cost of living in Austria naturally varies according to location - urban centres are more expensive than rural villages - and personal choice, a factor that can certainly influence one's bank balance at the end of the month.
That said, expats should note that food costs in Austria are high, especially during winter when fresh fruits and vegetables are more likely to be scarce; the price for purchasing housing is astronomical; and sending your children to international schools can monopolise a fair chunk of cash.
Most expats will not be able to afford to purchase property in Austria. Renting is a much more reasonable option, though again, prices can vary dramatically depending on location.
In Vienna, the government's efforts to construct state-owned apartment buildings with subsidised rates makes it possible to find affordable options even in high-income neighbourhoods. These flats are typically small, but the rent can be as little as €450 for 40 to 45 sq. metres. Outside of these spaces, prices for apartments in Vienna can be much more costly - especially in the posh 18th and 19th districts of the city, where a similar sized flat costs at least twice as much.
When initially signing a lease, expats should also anticipate paying at least the equivalent of two month's rent as a refundable deposit, in addition to the first month of rent. If using an estate agent, the bill may also amount to two to three month's of rent.
Utilities are fairly reasonable: the cost of electricity and gas (water is generally included in rent) is generally around €200 a month for a 100 sq. metre apartment.
The majority of Austrian cities and towns are well-connected by an efficient and reliable public transport system. Larger metropolises feature an underground metro, tramlines, buses and even suburban railways; while smaller towns may only
have one or two modes of transit available. Public transport in Austria isn't expensive, but it's also not cheap. A single journey on the metro in Vienna is €1.80 and an unlimited monthly pass for all modes of transit is €49.50.
Cycling, which is free, is also popular in Austria, and many cities have incorporated bike lines into their city planning. It's also possible to rent a bicycle for €4 per hour in major urban centres.
That said, Austria loves automobiles, and expats who choose to live outside of the city may opt to buy a car. Do note that parking is at a premium, both in terms of availability and price. It's also necessary to purchase a Vignette, which is a toll that provides access to Austria's highways. Owning and driving a car is expensive, and in many cases, more of a headache than a help.
Austria has some of the highest food costs in Europe. That said, buying in bulk can minimise expenditure, and shopping at grocery stores and then cooking at home can be a help to those who need to pinch pennies. Penny Markt and Zielpunkt are the most reasonably priced supermarkets, though at the sacrifice of the quality and selection of the goods available. Spar Gourmet and Merkur are high-end, and everything else falls somewhere in between. Fruits and vegetables can be expensive and hard to find out of season.
Alcohol, on the other hand is fairly reasonably priced, and cheap tickets for most types of entertainment are also affordable. A bottle of table wine can cost as little as €2, and a can of beer below €0.80.
Expat residents can send their children to Austrian public schools for free. That said, the curriculum is taught in German, and if a child isn't fluent, this course of action is not recommended. There are plenty of international schools in the larger Austrian cities, but these can be quite expensive, costing as much as €18,000 a year for high school students. Tuition fees vary depending on the school and the age of the child. Expats moving to Austria with kids should try and negotiate an education allowance as part of their job contract.
the country's largest expat population, was ranked first in terms of quality of life and 28th in terms of cost of living.Similar to its geographic location, the cost of living ranking leaves the country snug in the mid-section of Europe; making it cheaper than the UK and France, but more expensive than the Netherlands and Spain.
Cost of living in Austria naturally varies according to location - urban centres are more expensive than rural villages - and personal choice, a factor that can certainly influence one's bank balance at the end of the month.
That said, expats should note that food costs in Austria are high, especially during winter when fresh fruits and vegetables are more likely to be scarce; the price for purchasing housing is astronomical; and sending your children to international schools can monopolise a fair chunk of cash.
Accommodation costs in Austria
Most expats will not be able to afford to purchase property in Austria. Renting is a much more reasonable option, though again, prices can vary dramatically depending on location.
In Vienna, the government's efforts to construct state-owned apartment buildings with subsidised rates makes it possible to find affordable options even in high-income neighbourhoods. These flats are typically small, but the rent can be as little as €450 for 40 to 45 sq. metres. Outside of these spaces, prices for apartments in Vienna can be much more costly - especially in the posh 18th and 19th districts of the city, where a similar sized flat costs at least twice as much.
When initially signing a lease, expats should also anticipate paying at least the equivalent of two month's rent as a refundable deposit, in addition to the first month of rent. If using an estate agent, the bill may also amount to two to three month's of rent.
Utilities are fairly reasonable: the cost of electricity and gas (water is generally included in rent) is generally around €200 a month for a 100 sq. metre apartment.
Cost of Transport in Austria
The majority of Austrian cities and towns are well-connected by an efficient and reliable public transport system. Larger metropolises feature an underground metro, tramlines, buses and even suburban railways; while smaller towns may only
have one or two modes of transit available. Public transport in Austria isn't expensive, but it's also not cheap. A single journey on the metro in Vienna is €1.80 and an unlimited monthly pass for all modes of transit is €49.50.Cycling, which is free, is also popular in Austria, and many cities have incorporated bike lines into their city planning. It's also possible to rent a bicycle for €4 per hour in major urban centres.
That said, Austria loves automobiles, and expats who choose to live outside of the city may opt to buy a car. Do note that parking is at a premium, both in terms of availability and price. It's also necessary to purchase a Vignette, which is a toll that provides access to Austria's highways. Owning and driving a car is expensive, and in many cases, more of a headache than a help.
Cost of food/entertainment in Austria
Austria has some of the highest food costs in Europe. That said, buying in bulk can minimise expenditure, and shopping at grocery stores and then cooking at home can be a help to those who need to pinch pennies. Penny Markt and Zielpunkt are the most reasonably priced supermarkets, though at the sacrifice of the quality and selection of the goods available. Spar Gourmet and Merkur are high-end, and everything else falls somewhere in between. Fruits and vegetables can be expensive and hard to find out of season.
Alcohol, on the other hand is fairly reasonably priced, and cheap tickets for most types of entertainment are also affordable. A bottle of table wine can cost as little as €2, and a can of beer below €0.80.
Cost of education in Austria
Expat residents can send their children to Austrian public schools for free. That said, the curriculum is taught in German, and if a child isn't fluent, this course of action is not recommended. There are plenty of international schools in the larger Austrian cities, but these can be quite expensive, costing as much as €18,000 a year for high school students. Tuition fees vary depending on the school and the age of the child. Expats moving to Austria with kids should try and negotiate an education allowance as part of their job contract.
