✦ Cost of living
Vienna
Vienna, Austria
US = 100
In plain terms: Vienna is about 3% cheaper than a typical US city. A one-bedroom in the centre runs around $1,150/month.
▤ Category breakdown
Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.
- Housing105+5%
- Food & groceries95−5%
- Transport70−30%
- Utilities110+10%
- Healthcare80−20%
- Goods & services100−0%
Is Vienna expensive?
Not really — Vienna indexes at 97 against a US average of 100, so a month here lands within a few percent of a typical US city. Expect the surprises in individual lines rather than in the total.
Of the 87 cities we track, Vienna ranks #53 by overall cost — 34 of them are cheaper.
What a month in Vienna costs
One person
$2,500/mo
A one-bedroom outside the centre, modest everyday spending.
Couple
$3,580/mo
A one-bedroom in the centre, two adults sharing the bills.
Family of four
$6,260/mo
A three-bedroom in the centre, two adults and two children.
| Monthly line | One person | Couple | Family of four |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | $850 | $1,150 | $2,200 |
| Food & groceries | $440 | $640 | $1,060 |
| Transport | $420 | $620 | $1,040 |
| Utilities | $220 | $330 | $550 |
| Healthcare | $220 | $330 | $550 |
| Goods & services | $350 | $510 | $860 |
| Total per month | $2,500 | $3,580 | $6,260 |
Estimates, not quotes. Rent comes from this city's own figures; every other line is a US-average household basket (shaped by the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey) scaled by this city's category index. Your own total moves with the neighbourhood, your habits and whether you run a car. How we calculate these figures →
Good to know before you move to Vienna
Imperial grandeur, coffee-house culture and famously the world's most liveable city year after year — world-class public transport and healthcare, at rents below most Western-European capitals.
- Currency
- Euro (€ EUR)
- Languages
- German
- Time zone
- UTC+1
- Internet
- 180 Mbps
- English
- Widely spoken
- Safety
- 78/100
- Climate
- ❄ 1°C · ☀ 20°C · 190 sunny days/yr
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
- Power
- F · 230V
- Driving
- Right-hand side
- Popular areas
- Neubau · Leopoldstadt · Mariahilf · Josefstadt
About
“City of Music”
Imperial grandeur, coffee-house culture and famously the world's most liveable city year after year — world-class public transport and healthcare, at rents below most Western-European capitals.
- Currency
- Euro · EUR
- Languages
- German
- Coordinates
- 48.21, 16.37
- Emergency
- 112
What things cost
Housing
Taxes
55%
Income tax
progressive
20%
VAT / sales
23%
Corporate
27.5%
Capital gains
$2,400
Avg net salary
per month
Visas & residency
The points-based Red-White-Red Card for skilled workers; EU Blue Card.
✈ Schengen 90/180 for many passports.
Points-based, for skilled workers.
Permanent residence after ~5 yrs. Citizenship after ~10 yrs.
Quality of life
Quality of life
80/100
Safety
78/100
Healthcare
88/100
Pollution
30/100
Internet
180 Mbps
Jan avg
+1 °C
Jul avg
+20 °C
Sunny days
190/yr
Walkability
85/100
Public transit
90/100
Family-friendly
80/100
Living there
- English spoken
- High
- Expat community
- Large
- Coworking spaces
- 40
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
Popular areas
Relocation & documents
Where to look
Updated: · Sources: Cost/quality survey (placeholder) · Economy: World Bank Open Data (GDP per capita, life expectancy, inflation) · Minimum wage (EU + Türkiye): Eurostat earn_mw_cur, 2026-S2 · Taxes: national tax authority / OECD (headline figures)
Can you live in Vienna without a car?
87/100
Car-free score
85/100
Walkability
90/100
Public transport
Yes — Vienna scores 87/100 on our car-free score, so commuting, errands and nights out all work on foot or by public transport. Most residents here can skip car ownership entirely, and the savings go straight into the rest of the budget.
Transport in Vienna indexes at 70 against a US average of 100 — about 30% cheaper than a typical US city. That line covers fares, fuel and running a vehicle, so it is the one that moves most when you drop the car.
Vienna ranks #14 of 87 cities we track for walkability. See the most walkable cities →
The car-free score is our own composite: 60% walkability, 40% public transport, both on a 0–100 scale. Like the rest of our quality-of-life figures, they are calibrated estimates, not official statistics.
Cost of living in Vienna — in your currency
- 1-bed rent, city centre$1,150
- 1-bed rent, outside centre$850
- Inexpensive meal$15
- Monthly transit pass$55
- Utilities (monthly)$200
Converted from USD at approximate rates (2026-09).
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? Frequently asked questions
Is Vienna, AT expensive to live in?
Vienna, AT's cost-of-living index is 97 (US average = 100) — about 3% cheaper than a typical US city — and it ranks #53 of the 87 cities we track. On our estimates one person needs around $2,500 a month and a family of four around $6,260, rent included.
How much does it cost to live in Vienna, AT?
Vienna, AT's cost-of-living index is 97 (US average = 100) — about 3% cheaper than a typical US city. A one-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around $1,150 per month.
What are the average living costs in Vienna, AT?
Living costs in Vienna, AT are about 3% cheaper than the US average — its cost-of-living index is 97 (US = 100). Monthly living expenses scale with that, and housing is the biggest line: a one-bedroom in the centre runs around $1,150. See the category breakdown above for where the money goes.
What is the average rent in Vienna, AT?
A one-bedroom in the city centre averages about $1,150 per month, and around $850 outside the centre.
What taxes would I pay in Austria?
Austria has a top income-tax rate of 55% and a VAT or sales tax of 20%. See the taxes section above for the full breakdown.
What is the weather like in Vienna, AT?
Vienna, AT averages around +1 °C in January and +20 °C in July, with roughly 190 sunny days a year.
Is Vienna, AT safe?
Vienna, AT scores 78 out of 100 on our safety index, where higher means safer.
Can you live in Vienna, AT without a car?
Vienna, AT scores 87/100 on our car-free score — 85/100 for walkability and 90/100 for public transport. The higher the score, the more of daily life you can cover on foot or by transit instead of paying to run a car.
❖ Compare Vienna with…
★ Ranked in
Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.