Cost of Living in Vienna

I was born in Vienna and couldn't get out fast enough, its an interesting place as far as history goes. However, if you are a tourist with money that's great. As a local we couldn't afford the expensive restaurants, to find an apartment was just so hard, most of the old buildings were not maintained because of 'Rentenschutz'...food is good, the weather is good for a few month then cold and miserable for most part of the year.Anyway, over last 30 odd years or so the Austrian culture changed a lot, I guess it happens just about everywhere. It's kind of a lonely place.The countryside is beauty full and I miss the mountains.
Now I live in Australia, the weather is great, its easy to find a place to live, plenty of work, hospitals are free, the ocean is blue...

Hello Everyone,

I'm living in Vienna for about 1.5 yrs. I'm a foreigner from Asia.
Just wanted to share my experience so, few would get benefit.

Cost of living for a family of Couples + 1 Kid
Food --> EUR 500 / Month (occasionally eating outside)
Travel --> EUR 365 / Year or EUR 54 / Month which every is easy for you, but Vienna has excellent computation
Safety --> One of the best place to live in this world.
Culture--> Famous for its best
Climate --> It will peak upto 33C in summary and freeze upto -15C in winter, but 3/4 of year is good climate with floating 5C to 20C.
Medical care --> If you are covered by company well and good, if you have government covered very good. If you are not cover in the above two, its very expensive to get private players. They will eat your money.
Good medical system in Vienna.
Clothing --> Its OK i would rate it medium pricing, you can still find some shops with offers and discounts.
Internet --> Home WIFI package start from EUR 15 to 35 based on speed. Mobile Internet may goes upto EUR 20/month.
Language --> Yes if you know, "AUSTRIAN" German you always have edge over. If you don't know German, better to learn, but I could still survey without knowing it. But planning to Learn no more excuse. I use to buy from local market my daily stuffs without knowing German, not always profitable.
Education --> You have Government School (100% German) --Free, Bilingual School (80% German) -- cost depends on which area you stay and Off-course International Schools (Only English Medium) --> EUR 10000,00/Year Minimum.
Apartment --> Getting Rent Apartment is little challenge here, there is concept of Private holder/companies playing, holding 80% of total available, where they generally ask for 2mm to 3mm + 20% tax as commission you have to pay. Finding Right place and right price is not easy but need to consistently search. On an average EUR 250-400 per person on a sharing basis. If you wanted to have separate apartment 1BHK or 2BHK or 3BHK minimum starts with EUR 700 and claims upto EUR 2000 based on your priority.
Note: there is another category called Fully Furnished Apartment, Partially Furnished and Un-Furnished Apartment. Price also depends on this.
Another important this is, utility (Electricity, Warm Water, Heating, Maintenance, Parking, Household Insurance etc) make sure you double check when you rent the apartment. I had some bad experience with this.
Taxing: Austria Taxes at very high slab. Always check with you company.

On an average for a couple with one kid (7 yrs old) would need at-least EUR 2500/month to survey with moderate life style. (After TAX)

Hope this is helpful far someone as base start.

BR
Sara

I know this is a website regarding price of living, but for those thinking of moving to Vienna permanently
I would say the biggest problem I've had in Vienna is the people not the prices.

They are polite enough but they're not welcoming or friendly.
I'm a white European who has been here over 6 years now and I speak pretty good German so I could easily pass for a local accept for my accent, I hang out with Austrians, work with Austrians, drink with Austrians and even sleep with Austrians, yet I have no Austrian friends. All my friends are foreigners. Foreigners who have also lived here for many years, most of whom speak fluent German and have the same issues with the locals as I do.

After trying really hard to get in with the locals for about 3 years, joining groups and inviting myself to parties and events, I eventually gave up and accepted reality.
If you are a foreigner here, you will always be a foreigner, which is a weird feeling if Austria is your home.

Vienna is too expensive for a family, unless you earn 3000 EUR net per month

Relocating to Vienna, family with 2children.
I understood the reasonable priced flats are very hard to find. But what if a am ready to pay more but just to find a place for my family within 1month? What is that rental amount which can almost guarantee me finding a 2-3 room flat within 1month?

Be warned!

It took me 4 months to find a decent place. Apparently the main reason for this is AirBNB,
and the recent migrant crisis. A private landlord I spoke to who had a few apartments said all of them were rented out by government tenants - meaning they were used for "refugee" housing.

And these days less than 10% of the properties are rented privately.
Which means you can expect to pay an agent 2000-3000 euros provision, for simply placing the ad. which is a complete scam.
( you do not get any of this money back, it's not a deposit )
I refused to pay provision, so it took me much longer.

And as somebody else mentioned in the comments, a lot of the private places have curious problems.
Here are just a few select examples I saw while flat hunting:
One I went to see had no lights at all, which they let us view at night time, so we all had to walk around like miners with our cell phone lights trying to inspect the place. Another place I saw was sub street level with bare concrete floors and no heating.
A couple were renovated attic apartments, which means you are basically living in a roof, freezing to death in winter and roasting to death in summer, also the angles of the roof mean that you can't put furniture against the wall, and if you are 6ft or taller, you'll spend half your life crouching over. Using the kitchen counter was physically impossible for me.
Another place had a kitchenette in the entrance of the apartment, fabricated from cheap unfinshed wood, the bedroom directly opposite the entrance had double doors, but only one could open because the other was blocked by the shitty kitchenette.
Another apartment had a toilet/shower about the size of barbie's broom closet, connected to the kitchen, you would basically sit on the loo to take a shower, and god help you if you need to take a dump while somebody is cooking.
And lastly there was a place that had a shower in the kitchen.... no walls, no separator, just a shower in the corner of the kitchen.
The thing is, people are so desperate, even these places are taken on the first day.

After tax I'm getting around 2000 euro, the cost of my flat ( rent, elec, heating, internet ) is over 1k.
so, about 50% of my wages go straight to my housing.
Just a few years ago I was only spending 1/4 to 1/3 of my salary on housing.
I like Vienna as a city, but I'm having a hard time finding reasons to stay.

@Med: I leave close to Praterstern and many littering are from drunk young people.

@Ed - 'poor weather' maybe for foreigners cominh from warm climate places.
Normal precipitation levels throughout the year; all four seasons are present and in the appropriate way (summer warm, winter snow, fall colors, spring flowers and birds).

As a discomfort for Vienna i would list the "too many foreigners" (many of these behave inappropriately, littering streets and parks as in their home country)

I would advice anybody to avoid Vienna: Poor weather, cost of living increased a LOT, people are unfriendly, I have been here for 4 years and I try to move from here everyday.

Is 4000 euro net salary a month is ok for living in vienna? I will live alone and will look for 1 bedroom apartment to rent near city center

Hi. I will come over to your beautiful country for a master's degree at uni Wien. So how much will i pay for daily breakfast, lunch and dinner at the dorm? if i need to buy the foods how much should i pay for the raw material in a daily basis and how much should i pay from the dorm (wien 1030, or 1090) to the university Wien by U-Bahn? is the Bahn the cheapest option? i am not into convenience and luxury. i will have a low budget. how much will i be paid for 12 hours per week? please make replies with an estimation. I know myself that the questions are hard to answer
best regards
Viele Gruesse
Sarah

@Vishal: I think this is not very true. I have to admit that I am quite well educated and so everybody! of my friends speaks English perfectly. It may be right that in some parts of the city there are many people not speaking English. But in general I guess you will have no problems.
And also like Bob wrote on Mar.25, 2016 a lot of things people are writing here are absolutely not true.
As there were also comments about racism. Concerning this I have to admit that lately due to the "refugee crisis" but especially due to populist, right politicians the whole country has been divided into those who want to help refugees and those who want to build up walls. Therefore I guess foreigners (esp. if coming from Syria or Afghanistan) might feel some kind of racism - but also mainly verbal...I do not really hear of physical attacks. And on the other hand they will also get a lot of help from other people. I e.g. know a number people giving free German language lessons to refugees.
I would also say that unfortunately this 'against-refugees-problem' is existing in nearly all European countries these days and not a typical Austrian problem.
Besides this, Vienna also in my opinion is one of the nicest, most beautiful cities, safe, clean, cultural and historically interesting - a place worth living.

I live in Seattle area and I have the opportunity of moving to Vienna area with my wife and 2 kids. What would be a good income to live comfortably and possibly set some money a side? We are not big spenders, we eat out 2 times a month and we like to cook at home and just hang out in the weekends.

Is 2200 EUR net per month Will it be sufficient for a husband wife and 1 year old kid

I'm going to Vienna for the study. Pleace tel me your advices thank you a lot

Hi. I am a foreigner living and working in Vienna for 16 years now. contrary to some people saying that people here are not friendly and never smile, they are completely wrong. please don`t be misled by the information you get, and from the folks`s expression that you actually see once you get here. Austrians are great people, their culture and values. Vienna is rated internationally as number one city in the whole world for seven consecutive years, and Vienna would not be voted number one for nothing. For 16 years living here, i have never experienced not even once where i felt i was never welcomed. in fact, i am even employed by an Austrian where i am the only asian working in the company and i am completely welcomed. of course there are a few who do not want foreigners in their land but to think about it, it happens everywhere even in the poorest and richest places on earth.

about the cost of living in Vienna, i earn over two thousand Euro a month and i am renting a government owned apartment. as long as you dont live so luxuriously like a millionaire, with that salary, i can still save something.

The worst city i have ever seen
Most of these people are racist & who ever goes there they think that you're gonna suck they're blood.
And also any one want to buy fruit in vienna you can go reumanplatz station and go to turkish bazaar and etsan supermarket its much cheaper to buy many things.
For your city transportation use weekly or monthly tickets.
Do not sign in fitinn gym . It will charge you for year incase if you don't use it still they will charge you. Use mcfit gym because you can signin for month.
Lidel and billa and penny is better for shopping.
Email me any question at tenrado@yahoo.com for whom wants to stay for 6 month or less

Hi! I'm from Kosovo,I have just accepted to study in university of Wien,but I don't have I job and plase to stay can anyone find mee a job,I'll be greatfull and very happy .I can do any job.I can speak english very good and german a little

should i accept an offer of 2200EUR per month? Will it be sufficient for a husband wife and 2 year old kid?

Hii me Saeed I want to move from Russia to Austria for study exchange program did is possible and what kind of thing required?

Hi
i will be working in Wallnerstraße, 1010 Wien area. Which international school is closer there and were would be the best place to live so that my 10 year old can go to school alone
and still get to work without so much hassle? many thank you for your help.
M

Hi, I'm going to relocate to Vienna for Lead Software Engineer position, employer offers 60k gross. Is it fair remuneration? Will it be enough for a couple? What will be the level of life for the couple?

Will be renting apartment. Is it also possible to rent garage space for my tools? at what cost?

Hi i will come in Vienna next month on Red White Red card immigration i have to find job in 6 months In the beginning i may do odd jobs as well but i would do a job of my field which is engineering i am Asian. Can anyone please tell me what are the chances of odd jobs or low level jobs from the beginning.
Shall be thankful to you for this favour

Hi Guys,

I have a query here,please help me out with your answers

I have an job offer which would pay me 2200€ net per month in Vienna, I would be coming alone. So how much would it cost on average for an individual on monthly expenses including accommodation, food and travel in Vienna. How about renting an individual house with one bedroom.

Would this amount be enough, how much is enough to live with out any problem and with out any sacrifices?

Please post your answers soon. Thanks in advance

Regards

For the people considering a job in Vienna, don't. Look elsewhere ie. Graz, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Linz. Vienna's prices are rising every two months due to greedy and incapable politicians. The crime rate is exponentially increasing. Every 5th person roaming the streets is of Turkish/Romanian/Ukrainian descent.There have been many reported sexual assaults on women in the past two years, and that number just gets bigger every year. Just last year, I was robbed at gunpoint by an Eastern European gang in a district that should be considered 'safe'. A couple of weeks ago, there was a shoot-out between two tschechien mafia families in a park. The media desperately tries to hide these facts but I feel that people have the right to know what really goes on in the city. I can assure you, that Vienna shouldn't be in the 'safest city' rankings and the reason why it still shows up in these lists is solely due to payed marketing.

#A tourist on Aug 16, 2014 :
sorry you had such problems but i hardly ever meet people from/in vienna who do not speak english, friends from english speaking countries who wanted to learn german here had problems to learn german because everybody no matter where could and wanted to speak english with them

*********

#S.Dwane on Sep 05, 2014 :
I received a job offer for around 77k (14x5500).

Is this enough to survive in Vienna with a wife and small child (2 years old)? My wife will not work (at least not from the beginning).

Thanks.

***********

Hey Mr. S! I moved to Vienna just some 6 months ago, but I think I may be of help (being student living on tight budget, knowing all the prices, expenses and so on). I must admit I chuckled a bit at your question (no bad intention there)! I don't know where are you coming from, but with month salary of 5500€, you may as well "live like a king" here haha I don't know what kind of life you are used to, but let's say you could rent a very nice and spacy center-located flat, buy lots of quality food from supermarkets, get some nice clothes every month, pay the car insurance every month and so on. Unless you're used to very luxurious life, you should be more than fine!

On other side, if the 5500€ salary is brutto, which would leave you with about 3000€ (I guess) of netto salary per month, you could still live nice and without bigger worries, though not in middle of the centre (but you'd still be not so far away).

Even when the both partners are working, I dare to say they that in lot of the cases total income would be well under 5500€ (again, if we're talking about netto), and even if it was brutto, you'd still be in the group of people with quite average household income (not to mention you only have a one child, and a little one for that matter, so the expenses for he/she are not as big as they would be for a teenager).

Bottom line - you really shouldn't worry! Brutto or netto, your life should vary between good and very good.

I hope I was helpful! All the best to you and your family, N.