Damon Mcknight
Austria is a beautiful country with a high quality of life, efficient public transport, and high-quality healthcare and education. It is a great choice for expats, with its strong economy, low unemployment rate, and diverse food scene. The country offers a unique blend of old and new, with its stunning architecture and vibrant culture. However, it is also ranked as one of the most expensive countries to live in, with high costs for housing and utilities. Nevertheless, Austria's geographical location and privacy laws make it an ideal asset storage location.
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What You'll Learn
Cost of living
The cost of living in Austria is around €1,900 per month for one person, but this can vary depending on location, lifestyle, and type of housing. For example, couples can expect to spend approximately €3,100 per month, while a family of four would typically have monthly expenses of around €4,903. The average net salary in Austria is about €2,996 per month, making the country quite affordable, especially for full-time workers.
Living costs in Austria can differ significantly from city to city. Graz, the country's second-largest city, is one of the most affordable places to live. Linz is generally cheaper than the tourist hotspots of Vienna and Salzburg. As the capital, Vienna offers a rich cultural experience and is more expensive than smaller cities, but it is still more affordable than other major European cities. Salzburg, known for its Alpine scenery, and Vienna are among the most expensive cities in the country.
The cost of utilities in Austria can add up, with bills calculated based on the size of the home rather than resource consumption. On average, households pay around €347 per month for utilities, including €20 for electricity. Internet prices range from €9 to €83, depending on the provider and speed. When it comes to groceries, plan to spend approximately €330 per month. While grocery shopping in Austria is slightly expensive, stores like Aldi, Lidl, Penny, and Eurospar offer budget-friendly options. Eating out typically costs between €12 and €50 per meal, depending on the restaurant.
Public transportation costs vary depending on the mode of transport and location. Local bus and train journeys in rural areas average €2 every five kilometres. Driving comes with additional expenses, such as motorway tolls and the requirement to purchase a motorway sticker (Autobahnvignette). Leisure activities in Austria can cost between €180 and €320 per month, including dining out, cultural experiences, entertainment, and sports or club memberships. A monthly gym membership is about €32, and a cinema ticket is around €10.
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Language and culture
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe with nine federated states and a diverse range of ethnicities and religions. The country's culture has been influenced by its surrounding countries, its position within the historic Austro-Hungarian Empire, and its Catholic tradition. While daily life and legislation are strictly secular, social cohesion and tolerance are highly valued in Austrian society.
German is the official language of Austria, but Austrian German differs from the German spoken in Germany. It is more guttural and softer in pronunciation and is full of regional idioms and particularities. Some sources claim that Austrian German is more metaphorical and expressive than standard German. It is also taught alongside minority languages such as Croatian and Hungarian in some bilingual schools. While many Austrians know some English, they may hesitate to speak it unless necessary for communication. Learning basic German phrases or enrolling in a language class can help with integration into Austrian culture.
Austrians are generally described as warm, hospitable, and welcoming to foreigners. They are also said to be conservative, prudent, and moderate in their behaviour, with a strong work ethic and a focus on family and community. The family forms the basis of Austrian social structure, with weekends devoted to family activities and dinners. Austrians take pride in their homes, keeping them neat and tidy, and only close friends and relatives are invited inside. Neighbourly etiquette is also important, with common areas expected to be kept clean at all times.
In terms of social interactions, Austrians tend to be reserved in public with people they do not know well, and they do not engage in small talk. They appreciate personal titles and use them when addressing or introducing someone. While Austrians do not typically hug each other, close friends often kiss when greeting or departing. Generally, women kiss other women, and men and women kiss, while men shake hands with other men.
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Social norms and manners
Austrians are generally polite, formal, and reserved, especially in business settings. They are also conservative in their dress and behaviour, with a strong emphasis on punctuality and respect for authority.
Greetings
Austrians tend to be quite formal in their greetings, with a handshake being the traditional form of introduction. It is also common to greet people with a formal verbal greeting, such as “Guten Morgen” (good morning), “Guten Tag” (good day), or “Guten Abend” (good evening). Informally, women may hug or offer two light air kisses on the cheek, accompanied by a greeting such as “Hallo” (hello) or “Servus” (hi). When greeting sales staff, a casual greeting like 'Grüß dich' or 'Grüß gott' (God bless you) is customary.
Dining Etiquette
Austrians follow standard European dining etiquette, including keeping one's hands on the table during meals, not gesturing with utensils, and not placing elbows on the table. It is considered polite to wait until everyone has been served and the host says “Guten Appetit” or “Mahlzeit” before beginning to eat. The host will usually offer a second serving, which can be politely declined with a “Nein, danke” (no, thank you). Dinner is often the main meal for socialising, and it is customary to raise a toast, saying “Prost”, “Prosit”, or “Zum Wohl” (all meaning “to your health”), while maintaining eye contact.
Gift-giving
When invited to someone’s home, it is customary to bring a small gift, such as flowers, chocolates, alcohol, or a handcrafted item. Gifts should be moderately priced and nicely wrapped, and they are usually opened immediately upon receiving. If giving flowers, it is considered bad luck to give an even number, except for 12.
Dating and Marriage
Austrians tend to be conservative and shy when it comes to dating, and flirting is not a common practice. However, they are comfortable with public displays of affection. Most Austrians date with the intention of eventually getting married, although the younger generation may delay marriage until they feel financially secure. Same-sex marriage has been legal in Austria since 2019, and the country generally has a tolerant view of same-sex relationships, although this may vary in rural areas and among the older generation.
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Dating customs
Austrians tend to be well-educated and polite, and men often like to be chivalrous, holding open doors for women and helping them with their coats. Men will also usually want to pay for dinner on the first date, but women should still bring their purse just in case.
Austrian men are in great demand among ladies of different nationalities, and they are considered very attractive, with tall, slim physiques and dreamy blue eyes. They are also confident, patient, and reliable, and they tend to be good with their hands, often enjoying hobbies like renovating or making things. Austrian men are also supportive of their partners' careers and are usually good parents. However, some have expressed concerns that Austrian men are afraid of long-term relationships and taking on the responsibility of a family.
When dating an Austrian, it might take some time to figure out whether they are into you, as Austrians don't play dating games or leave room for interpretation when it comes to feelings. However, once the ice is broken, you can expect sweetness and warmth in your relationship. Austrians also have a thing for giving their lovers nicknames derived from cute animals, like "Mausi" (mouse), "Hasi" (bunny), or "Spatzi" (sparrow).
When it comes to physical intimacy, Austrians are more willing than some more conservative cultures to move beyond kissing and cuddling and into the bedroom. There is less stigma surrounding one-night stands, especially for women. Austrians also tend to be comfortable discussing intimate problems with their partners directly.
Some cultural differences to be aware of when dating an Austrian include the fact that Austrians often sleep with separate blankets, even as couples. They are also very punctual, so be ready when they say they will come to your house at a specific time! Learning some German can also be helpful, as Austrians may be shy about speaking English. Finally, be prepared for some cultural habits like smoking and drinking beer, which are common among Austrians.
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Family life and traditions
Austria is a very family-centric country with a solid work-life balance, allowing families to spend a great deal of time together. The family forms the basis of Austrian social structure, and families are generally small and closely-knit within a certain town or village. Weekends are devoted to family activities, such as outdoor pursuits, and eating dinner together in the evening is the norm. Sundays are often reserved for visiting grandparents for dinner or going on a hike.
Austria is a safe country with one of the lowest crime rates in the world, and teenagers can enjoy their independence while remaining relatively safe. There is a thriving café culture, and Austrian youth information centres are dotted around the country, providing free support and information on any subject.
Austrian society was traditionally highly stratified, with well-defined social distinctions. In the early 1800s, the three major social classes were aristocrats, "citizens," and peasant-farmers or peasant-serfs. By the early 20th century, a small aristocracy and middle class remained, alongside a larger working class and a large class of peasant-farmers (around 55% of the population).
Infants are well cared for by Austrian parents, with both mother and father allowed paid time off from work when a child is born. Families in urban areas tend to be small, and each child receives plenty of attention. In larger farming families, siblings and other relatives may help care for infants. Most infants receive a traditional baptism in the Roman Catholic Church. Parents of handicapped children receive double payments, and thousands of children receive free school lunches.
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Frequently asked questions
The cost of living in Austria can be quite high, especially in big cities like Vienna. The average cost of living is €1,900 per month for a single person. The average monthly salary in Austria is between €1,700 and €2,200.
Austrians are known for their love of nature and the outdoors, skiing, music and the arts, and their drinking culture. They also have a strong belief that you should not go to work if you are sick. In business, people take things quite seriously and tend to be very straight-to-the-point.
Austria is known for its delicious cakes, good bread, and organic foods. However, it can be hard to find a nice variety of vegetables as Austrians tend to eat the same 10 types.
Austria has a well-organized network of trains, buses, trams, and metros, making it easy to get around the country. The train system is considered one of the best in Europe, with a 95% punctuality rate. However, public transport in rural areas can be lacking.
Healthcare in Austria is accessible and affordable, with mandatory contributions of only 7.6% of your salary. There is also support available for low-income individuals and families through subsidies.
