Living In Austria: A Comprehensive Guide

If you're considering a move to Austria, there's a lot to think about. From visas and residency to housing and healthcare, it can be a complicated process. But with its high quality of life, efficient public transport, and beautiful scenery, Austria has a lot to offer expats. So, if you're planning to call Austria home, here's what you need to know.

Cost of living

The cost of living in Austria varies depending on location, lifestyle, and type of housing. The average monthly living cost for one person in Austria is roughly €1,900, while a single person's estimated monthly costs are $1,162.90 (€1,069.40) without rent. However, the average monthly salary in Austria is between €1,700 and €2,200, depending on the city.

Living in big cities like Vienna can be quite expensive. The average rent in Vienna is approximately €1,200 per month for an apartment, €590 for a room, and €916 for a studio. Utility costs can be around €347 per month if not included in the rental agreement, and groceries can cost around €330 per month.

On the other hand, smaller towns like Innsbruck offer a more tranquil lifestyle with easy access to major places within walking distance. Graz is another option, offering a mix of cultural life and nightlife.

Austria has a high quality of life, ranking second in a 2019 global study. The country offers excellent healthcare, highly ranked education, safety, and cultural opportunities. The public transport system is efficient and punctual, with buses, trams, and metros operating within cities, and the ÖBB Railjet connecting cities at speeds of up to 143 miles per hour.

When considering the cost of living in Austria, it's important to factor in these expenses and weigh them against the expected salary and quality of life.

Visas and permits

Austria is a great destination for those who enjoy the outdoors, with plenty of activities on offer, including hiking, mountain climbing, skiing, and snowboarding. It is also a convenient base for those who want to travel, with Germany, Switzerland, and six other countries along its borders.

If you are a citizen of the EU or EEA, you do not need a visa or a residence or work permit to live in Austria. However, if you are from a non-EU/EEA country, you will need to apply for a visa and a residence permit for stays longer than six months. This can be done at any Austrian embassy or consulate.

There are different types of visas available, including a restricted work permit valid for one year, a work permit valid for two years, and an unrestricted work permit valid for five years. The Austrian visa application process is generally straightforward, but each visa has specific requirements, so it is important to prepare well in advance.

In addition to the visa, non-EU citizens may need to obtain an Austrian residence permit, which will depend on their purpose of stay. This can be done at a Residence Registration Service Centre or Meldeservice office within three days of arrival. The process is free of charge, but you will need a completed application form (usually in German), your passport, and a signed document from your landlord or main tenant.

It is worth noting that Austria does not offer a "digital nomad" visa, and certain provinces will not allow non-EU citizens to purchase property in their name. However, it may be possible to register the property with a legal entity.

Additionally, all adult Roman Catholics living in Austria are subject to Church Tax contributions, although this does not apply to members of the Church of England.

Housing

The rate of homeownership in Austria is increasing, standing at 55.4% in 2018, but still below the European average of 69%. The average price of a new home is €359,000, but this varies depending on the state. For example, a new-build in Styria might cost around €300,000, while in Lower Austria, the average price is closer to €338,000.

Renting a home in Austria typically involves signing a lease and providing proof of identity, and sometimes, proof of employment, a visa, and references from previous landlords. The national average rent is €390 per month, excluding running costs, but this varies by province. For example, the minimum average rent is found in Carinthia at €310 per month, while the highest is in Vorarlberg at €500 per month. In major cities like Vienna, Innsbruck, and Salzburg, the average cost of a furnished apartment is around €1,380 per month. Rental leases are usually three years long, and short-term rentals are available but tend to be more expensive.

Austria also has a strong social housing system, with about one-fourth of residents living in subsidised public housing. In Vienna, this number is even higher, with over 60% of residents in social housing. Anyone earning up to €48,400 to €53,225 EUR annually and having lived in Austria for at least five years can apply for these subsidised flats. This system ensures that households spend a lower proportion of their income on housing compared to other countries.

Healthcare

Austria has a two-tier healthcare system, with universal healthcare for residents and those from other EU countries. Healthcare in Austria is publicly funded, with mandatory health insurance, but there is also the option to purchase supplementary private health insurance.

Public Healthcare

Public healthcare in Austria is comprehensive, covering virtually all health care needs, no matter your age or background. It is funded by mandatory health insurance, with contributions from salaries, and covers 99.9% of the population. Public health insurance is mandatory for most Austrian residents, including those on unemployment benefits, childcare allowance, social assistance, or rehabilitation allowance. Employed people are automatically enrolled in the public healthcare system, and their dependants are also covered.

Private Healthcare

Private healthcare in Austria is an option for those who want it. Some individuals choose to pay for their care privately, while others may have private health insurance as part of their employment package, which grants access to additional medical services and shorter waiting times.

Accessing Healthcare

All insured persons are issued an e-Card, which must be presented when visiting a medical professional to receive treatment without advanced payment. The e-Card can also be used for electronic signatures. To find a doctor, you can use the Vienna Medical Association's doctor search tool, or the United States Embassy's list of English-speaking doctors. If you are a foreign job seeker, expat, or student, you may be able to use an EHIC or GHIC card to access public healthcare in Austria.

Language and culture

Austria is divided into nine 'Bundeslander', with geographical, political, and regional differences that have nurtured a degree of cultural diversity within the country. This diversity is evident in the differences in dialect, food, customs, and architecture.

Austrian culture is characterised by historical and modern influences, including interactions between Celtic, Roman, Slavic, and Germanic peoples. Austria is particularly known for its classical music, folk music, baroque architecture, coffee culture, winter sports, and Alpine traditions. It is historically a strongly Catholic country, having been the centre of the Habsburg monarchy (1273–1918) which championed Roman Catholicism. Austrian German is the dominant language, although the region historically had a more diverse linguistic landscape. Austrian German has taken over some words from Hungarian, Czech, Yiddish, and some South Slavic languages.

Austrian culture has also been significantly shaped by its leading position within the historic Austra-Hungarian Empire, which included Bosnia, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Herzegovina, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. This multinational state status has resulted in a diverse range of native tongues within its borders, with Hungarian being the most widely spoken minority language. Other recognised minority languages include Croatian, Slovene, Czech, Slovak, and Romani. These languages are taught alongside German in some bilingual schools.

Austrian German is the language of business and government in Austria, and schoolchildren are taught to read and write in Standard German (Standarddeutsch, Hochdeutsch). The Austrian German spoken at home and in local commerce will be one of several regional Upper German dialects, the most common of which is Austro-Bavarian, followed by Alemannic. While strong forms of these dialects may not be comprehensible to other native German speakers, there is virtually no communication barrier between the Austro-Bavarian dialects in Austria and those in Bavaria, Germany.

Frequently asked questions