Cost of living in Austria 2026: official prices, rents, Vienna and your health-insurance line
As of October 2026, the cost of living in Austria is above the EU average. Eurostat’s price level for Austria’s household consumption and individual public services is 119.7 % of the EU average (2024), and inflation was 3.6 % in September 2026 (Statistik Austria). People living alone spend about €2,700 a month on average (consumer survey 2024/25); average rent including operating costs was €694.7 per flat in Q2 2026. Without a job subject to compulsory insurance, add health insurance.
Which budget question are you answering?
Is Austria expensive overall?
Compare price levels across Europe and this year’s inflation.
Jump to prices vs the EU or inflation 2026.
What will my month cost?
Rents, household spending by category and a sample budget with an insurance line.
The sections on rents and the sample budget answer this.
How much must I show for a permit?
Official income reference rates and one-off fees are different from what people actually spend.
The figures are under money before moving.
Cost of living in Austria in 8 official figures
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Price level, actual individual consumption (EU27 = 100) | 119.7 (2024) | Eurostat prc_ppp_ind |
| Inflation, September 2026 | 3.6 % year on year (published 16 October 2026) | Statistik Austria |
| Average rent incl. operating costs, Q2 2026 | €694.7 per flat / €10.5 per m² | Statistik Austria |
| Rent on contracts under 2 years, 2025 | €12.4 per m² incl. operating costs | Statistik Austria |
| Household spending per month, 2024/25 | about €4,170 | Statistik Austria |
| Single-person household spending per month, 2024/25 | about €2,700 | Statistik Austria |
| Median gross annual pay, full-time full-year, 2024 | €54,143 (incl. 13th/14th salary) | Statistik Austria |
| Permit income reference rate 2026, single | €1,308.39 net per month (base; + regular costs above €386.43) | BMI |
Is it expensive to live in Austria?
Austria is expensive to live in by EU standards. In 2024 Austria’s price level for actual individual consumption (household spending plus individual public services such as health and education) was 119.7 % of the EU27 average, up from 115.1 % in 2022 (Eurostat, latest year published). That puts Austria above Germany (109.1) and well above Slovenia, Czechia, Slovakia and Hungary (see the table), but far below Switzerland. A price level index compares what the same basket of goods and services costs across countries; it says nothing about wages, so a high index does not by itself mean life is harder to afford.
| Country | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 115.1 | 117.9 | 119.7 |
| Switzerland | 182.4 | 183.7 | 184.3 |
| Germany | 108.9 | 109.0 | 109.1 |
| Italy | 100.6 | 98.4 | 98.1 |
| EU27 average | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Slovenia | 87.8 | 89.9 | 91.0 |
| Czechia | 82.6 | 84.2 | 80.2 |
| Slovakia | 79.5 | 80.3 | 81.1 |
| Hungary | 61.9 | 68.3 | 68.3 |
Source: Eurostat (prc_ppp_ind), dataset updated 10 July 2025, read 30 October 2026; no 2025 value published yet. Values unchanged.
How fast are prices in Austria rising in 2026?
Consumer prices in Austria rose 3.6 % in the year to September 2026, after 3.2 % in August; the consumer price index (2025 = 100) stood at 103.9 points (Statistik Austria, published 16 October 2026). By group, transport went up 10.0 %, driven by fuel, while food and non-alcoholic drinks rose only 0.4 %. Actual rents rose 4.1 %.
| Spending group | Change vs a year earlier |
|---|---|
| All items (CPI) | +3.6 % |
| Transport | +10.0 % |
| Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels | +4.2 % |
| — of which actual rents | +4.1 % |
| Insurance and financial services | +4.2 % |
| Restaurants and accommodation | +4.1 % |
| Health | +3.6 % |
| Recreation, sport and culture | +2.1 % |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | +0.4 % |
| Information and communication | −0.2 % |
Datenquelle: Statistik Austria — data.statistik.gv.at (VPI 2025 open data, CC BY 4.0). Monthly values January–September 2026 are in the CSV below.
What does rent cost in Austria?
The average main-tenancy rent in Austria was €694.7 per flat, or €10.5 per m², including operating costs in Q2 2026, which was 3.3 % more than a year earlier (Statistik Austria). Without operating costs it was €520.8 per flat. These averages exclude heating and hot water, and they cover all existing contracts, including old ones; newcomers sign newer contracts, which cost more per m² on average in these statistics.
| Measure | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Average rent incl. operating costs, per flat | €694.7 | Q2 2026 |
| Average rent incl. operating costs, per m² | €10.5 | Q2 2026 |
| Operating costs alone, per flat | €176.5 | Q2 2026 |
| Net rent per m²: private, built 1945 or later | €10.7 | Q2 2026 |
| Net rent per m²: cooperative (Genossenschaft) | €6.5 | Q2 2026 |
| Net rent per m²: municipal (Gemeindewohnung) | €5.7 | Q2 2026 |
| Contracts under 2 years old, incl. operating costs | €12.4 per m² | 2025 |
| Private main tenancies that are fixed-term | 50 % | 2025 |
| Share of household income spent on housing (on average, im Mittel) | 15 % | 2025 |
Sources: Statistik Austria press releases of 8 September 2026 (Q2 2026) and 10 June 2026 (2025). © Statistik Austria; reuse with source credit. Not part of our open-data CSV.
An average main-tenancy flat has 68.6 m² and 2.8 rooms, and half of all private main tenancies are fixed-term (Statistik Austria, 2025). Regular costs such as rent also count against the income you must show for a residence permit, above an allowance of €386.43 a month (2026, § 11 (5) NAG). The details are under money before moving.
What do households in Austria spend each month?
An average household in Austria spends about €4,170 a month, and a person living alone about €2,700 (Statistik Austria consumer survey 2024/25, April 2024 to May 2025, 6,689 households). Housing and energy take the largest share, about a quarter. Statistik Austria notes that the figures include large purchases such as cars or holidays, spread over the survey period, and that spending is partly paid from the 13th and 14th salary, savings or loans. So read them as averages, not as a minimum.
| Category | Per household per month | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Housing and energy | €1,100 (energy €175) | 26.4 % |
| Transport | €567 | 13.6 % |
| Food and non-alcoholic drinks | €484 | 11.6 % |
| Leisure, sport and culture | €475 | 11.4 % |
| Restaurants and accommodation | €276 | 6.6 % |
| Health | €198 | 4.8 % |
| Insurance and financial services (all types) | €197 | 4.7 % |
| Communication | €115 | — |
| All categories | about €4,170 | 100 % |
For people living alone, the survey reports about €3,080 a month for employed singles, €2,430 for singles without a job and €2,570 for retired singles (2024/25; Statistik Austria, 1 October 2026). The €197 for “insurance and financial services” covers every kind of insurance and bank fees, so it is not a health-insurance figure.
What is the cost of living in Vienna?
The cost of living in Vienna is not above the Austrian average by Statistik Austria’s spending measure. Vienna households’ equivalised spending was 2.4 % below the national average in 2024/25. Vienna households spend about €100 a month on public transport but only €354 on vehicles, against €761 in rural areas, with 0.56 cars per household (Statistik Austria).
Statistik Austria publishes rents Austria-wide in the releases we used, and we found no official Vienna-only rent figure in them. Property-portal asking rents are not official statistics, so we do not quote them here. For students, the University of Vienna’s international office estimates about €1,400 a month in total (accommodation including heating and electricity €450–€700; university estimate, year not stated). Student permits, means and insurance are covered on study in Austria; residence permits in Vienna are handled by MA 35. How Vienna compares with the other state capitals on rents, climate and quotas is on Austria’s nine state capitals compared.
How much money do you need before moving to Austria?
Before moving to Austria you need money for one-off fees, such as €218 for a first temporary residence permit and, if you need a visa D, €195 for it (from age 6; 2026, oesterreich.gv.at, bmeia.gv.at), plus the first months of living costs. For residence titles to which § 11 (5) NAG applies, net income must also reach at least the 2026 reference rate of €1,308.39 a month for a single person or €2,064.12 for a couple, plus €201.88 per child (BMI). The settlement permit without gainful employment asks for twice that, €2,616.78 a month single or €4,128.24 couple (spouses or registered partners living together), plus €403.76 per child (migration.gv.at). Regular costs such as rent above €386.43 a month (2026) raise the income needed (§ 11 (5) NAG, BMI). To turn a gross salary into net pay, use the salary calculator for Austria.
| Item | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Permit income reference rate, single | €1,308.39 net per month | BMI |
| Permit income reference rate, couple | €2,064.12 net per month (+ €201.88 per child) | BMI |
| Settlement permit without employment (income, 2026) | €2,616.78 single / €4,128.24 couple net per month (+ €403.76 per child; base; + regular costs above €386.43) | migration.gv.at |
| Student means, under 24 / from 24 | €722.58 / €1,308.39 per month | OeAD (see study in Austria) |
| Fee, first temporary residence permit (incl. RWR card) | €218 | oesterreich.gv.at |
| Fee, visa D (from age 6) | €195 | bmeia.gv.at |
| Health insurance without a job subject to compulsory insurance (private, unlimited, under 50) | €155 per month (Care Austria Standard unlimited, 2026); min. 1 year (AVB § 3); rises from 2028 | Care Concept tariff page |
See health insurance for a residence permit for the insurance rule and the permit-specific figures, how health care in Austria works for co-payments such as the prescription fee, and retire in Austria, moving to Austria or moving to Austria from the US for the full move.
Sample monthly budget with a health-insurance line
A budget for Austria starts with housing and health insurance, because qualifying insurance is checked for a permit and, for titles under § 11 (5) NAG, regular housing costs can raise the income required. The table is a worked example, not an official figure. It combines the 2025 new-contract rent with the 2026 insurance prices. Food, energy and transport come from your own habits; the household averages above help as a check.
| Line | Per month | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Rent, 60 m² on a new contract, incl. operating costs | €744 | 60 × €12.4 per m² (Statistik Austria 2025); heating and electricity extra |
| Health insurance, employed | Deducted from salary | Only if the job is subject to compulsory insurance; a marginal job paying up to €551.10 a month (2026) gives accident insurance only (ÖGK) |
| Health insurance without a job | Care Austria Standard unlimited €155 under 50 / €222 at 50–64 / €510 at 65–74 | 2026 price; rises from 2028; minimum term 1 year (AVB § 3). Unlimited Standard age band: the first price is set by the calendar year cover starts minus your birth year; after that, age = current calendar year minus birth year, and the next band applies from 1 January of the year you turn 50 or 65. 364-day tariff €95 (0–64), extra MA 35 declaration. All prices: health insurance cost in Austria |
| Comparison: ÖGK self-insurance | €565.25 | 2026; needs residence in Austria and, for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, a valid residence permit; 6-month waiting period unless waived (oegk.at) |
Illustrative example: Daniel, 44, arrives in Linz on a job seeker visa (see Austria job seeker visa), finds a job after four months and starts work once his Red-White-Red Card is issued. His rent for a 60 m² flat on a new contract is about €744 a month. Until his job starts he needs health cover. The visa accepts all-risk cover such as comprehensive travel insurance. If he wants health insurance not tied to a trip, Care Austria Standard unlimited costs €155 a month under 50 (2026), and his fixed costs would come to €899 before energy, food and transport. Care Austria’s acceptance for a visa D has not been confirmed to us. Because the unlimited tariff runs for at least 1 year (AVB § 3), his insurance costs at least €1,860 (12 months; more if cover does not start on 1 January) even if the job comes sooner. Ask Care Concept AG how the contract ends once compulsory insurance starts. Once he works in a job subject to compulsory insurance (above €551.10 a month in 2026), his contribution is deducted from his salary.
The insurance rows are explained in detail on Care Austria plans and prices (insurer HanseMerkur Versicherungsgruppe (Advigon Versicherung AG)); for ÖGK, see ÖGK self-insurance, and for relatives on a worker’s ÖGK insurance, ÖGK co-insurance. Care Concept AG is on Vienna's MA 35 list: unlimited Care Austria tariffs need no extra declaration, 364-day ones do (checked 30 October 2026).
Read the Care Austria online application checklist before you apply.
Referral link context: we may earn a commission from Care Concept AG if you take out Care Austria, at no extra cost to you (how we are paid).
Download the open data (CSV) and how to cite it
The CSV contains only open-licence data. It holds the Austrian consumer price index January–September 2026 with inflation by month and by main spending group (Statistik Austria open data, CC BY 4.0), and the Eurostat price level index 2022–2024 for Austria and comparison countries (CC BY 4.0). Values are copied unchanged. Rents, household spending and wages come from Statistik Austria press releases, which may be reused with source credit but are not open data, so they are cited on this page and left out of the file.
How to cite: “Austria cost of living: consumer prices 2026 and price level vs the EU, Health Insurance Austria, updated 4 November 2026.” Data credits: Datenquelle: Statistik Austria — data.statistik.gv.at (licence terms); Source: Eurostat (prc_ppp_ind) (Eurostat copyright notice).
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to live in Austria?
On average, a household in Austria spends about €4,170 a month and a person living alone about €2,700 (Statistik Austria, consumer survey 2024/25). Housing and energy are the biggest item at €1,100 per household, followed by transport (€567) and food (€484). These averages include large purchases spread over time, such as cars and holidays, so they are not a minimum budget. Rent alone averaged €694.7 per flat including operating costs in Q2 2026.
How much money do I need to live in Austria?
To live in Austria on a residence permit to which § 11 (5) NAG applies, you need net income of at least €1,308.39 a month as a single person and €2,064.12 as a couple, plus €201.88 per child (2026 reference rates, BMI; a base, and regular costs such as rent above €386.43 a month raise the income needed, § 11 (5) NAG). We found no single official figure for living costs beyond that; the settlement permit without gainful employment asks for twice that, €2,616.78 single / €4,128.24 couple (migration.gv.at). Real spending is higher: people living alone spend about €2,700 a month on average (Statistik Austria). Add health insurance if you are not insured through a job subject to compulsory insurance (a marginal job up to €551.10 a month in 2026 gives accident insurance only) — Care Austria Standard unlimited costs from €155 a month under 50 (2026; min. 1 year, AVB § 3; rises from 2028).
Is 3000 euro net a good salary in Austria?
Whether 3,000 euro net a month is a good salary in Austria depends on your rent and household; we cannot give a verdict, because we found no official median net salary. Official reference points: full-time, full-year employees earned a median of €54,143 gross in 2024, including the 13th and 14th salary (Statistik Austria); employed people living alone spend about €3,080 a month on average (2024/25); and the average rent including operating costs was €694.7 per flat in Q2 2026. Compare your expected rent and fixed costs with those figures; how collective agreements set minimum pay is on minimum wage in Austria, and how tax and social security turn gross into net pay is on taxes in Austria for expats.
Is the cost of living in Vienna high?
Spending in Vienna is not higher than the Austrian average by the official measure: Vienna households’ equivalised spending was 2.4 % below the Austrian average in 2024/25 (Statistik Austria). Vienna households spend more on public transport (about €100 a month) but much less on vehicles than rural households (€354 vs €761). Austria as a whole is expensive by EU standards — 119.7 % of the EU price level in 2024 (Eurostat). We found no official Vienna-only rent figure, so treat rent figures for Vienna from property portals with care.
How much money do you need before moving to Austria?
Before moving to Austria, plan for one-off official fees plus the first months of living costs: the official fee for a first temporary residence permit is €218 and, if you need a visa D, it costs €195 for people aged 6 and over (2026; all official fees); a new flat can also need a rental deposit, usually three gross monthly rents (oesterreich.gv.at). As a sample, a 60 m² flat on a new contract at the 2025 average of €12.4 per m² comes to about €744 a month including operating costs, before heating and electricity. For residence titles to which § 11 (5) NAG applies, net income must reach at least the reference rate (€1,308.39 a month single / €2,064.12 couple, +€201.88 per child, 2026, BMI); the settlement permit without gainful employment asks for twice that: €2,616.78 single / €4,128.24 couple, +€403.76 per child (migration.gv.at); these are a base: regular costs such as rent above €386.43 a month (2026) raise the income needed (§ 11 (5) NAG).
How much do students spend per month in Vienna?
The University of Vienna estimates about €1,400 a month in total — accommodation including heating and electricity €450–€700, food €350, study and personal costs €400–€500 (university estimate, year not stated, not official statistics). For the student permit, the OeAD lists means of €722.58 a month under 24 and €1,308.39 from 24 (2026; a base, and regular costs such as rent above €386.43 a month raise the means needed, § 11 (5) NAG). More on the student route: study in Austria and the Austria student visa.
Official sources
- Eurostat: price level indices (prc_ppp_ind) (2022–2024, dataset updated 10 July 2025)
- Statistik Austria open data: consumer price index 2025 = 100 (updated 16 October 2026) and the press release September 2026
- Statistik Austria: housing costs Q2 2026 and housing 2025, for rents per flat and per m²
- Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI): means and health insurance for residence permits, for the 2026 reference rates
- Statistik Austria: consumer survey 2024/25 and single-person households, for monthly spending
- oesterreich.gv.at: residence permit fees and bmeia.gv.at: visa D, for the official fees
- Statistik Austria: wage tax statistics 2024, for median gross pay
- City of Vienna (MA 35): health insurance for residence permits (checked 30 October 2026)
Our editorial standards set out how we work, and you can also read about this site or contact us. Figures are averages from official statistics and change over time; your own costs depend on where and how you live. Referral links may earn us a commission from Care Concept AG at no extra cost to you (affiliate disclosure).
Budget the health-insurance line first
If you will not be insured through a job subject to compulsory insurance from day one (a marginal job up to €551.10 a month in 2026 gives accident insurance only), your permit needs all-risk cover. Check Care Austria’s prices by age and its limits.
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age 0–49: €155/month in 2026 · unlimited, min. 1 year (AVB § 3)
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