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Austria vs France

France is {pct} {word} than Austria. Compare cost of living, taxes, salaries and visas — and the salary you’d need in France to match Austria.

Austria vs France at a glance — France is 7% more expensive than Austria overall. Average net salary: $2,600/mo vs $2,400/mo. Top income tax: 45% vs 55%.

AustriaFrance
Cost of living
Cost of living index97104
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)55%45%
VAT / sales tax20%20%
Social security (employee)—22%
Corporate tax23%25%
Capital gains27.5%30%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$2,400/mo$2,600/mo
Avg annual wage (OECD, PPP)$78,301✓$60,483✓
Minimum wage—$2,164/mo✓
GDP per capita$56,505✓$48,986✓
Inflation (annual)3%✓0.9%✓
Life expectancy82 yr✓83 yr✓
Quality of life
LGBTQ+ acceptanceHighHigh
Digital-nomad visaNoNo

✓ = official statistics (OECD (PPP), Eurostat 2026, World Bank 2025, World Bank 2024). Unmarked figures are CostTrek estimates. How we calculate these figures →

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? Frequently asked questions

Is Austria cheaper than France?

France is about 7% more expensive than Austria overall — its cost-of-living index is 104 versus 97 for Austria.

How much do you need to earn in France to live like in Austria?

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Austria is worth about $80,558 in France. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Austria or France?

France has the lower top income-tax rate — 45% versus 55% in Austria.