Monthly budget in Vienna — EUR 1,800 to 2,400
Vienna is cheaper than Munich, Zurich, or Amsterdam, but not a bargain. A comfortable remote worker budget runs EUR 1,800-2,400/month including rent. The big variable is housing — a 1BR in Neubau costs EUR 900-1,100, while the same apartment in Favoriten or Simmering drops to EUR 700-850. Groceries, transport, and dining are predictable and moderate by Western European standards.
Detailed cost breakdown
| Category | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment | EUR 800-1,100 | EUR 800 in outer districts (10th, 15th). EUR 1,000-1,100 in Neubau or Josefstadt. Check willhaben.at and immoscout24.at. |
| Groceries | EUR 250-350 | Hofer (Aldi-owned) and Lidl are cheapest. Billa and Spar for wider selection. EUR 250 cooking at home, EUR 350 with specialty items. |
| Eating Out | EUR 150-300 | Lunch Menu at a Beisl: EUR 8-12. Schnitzel dinner: EUR 14-18. Kebab or Asian takeaway: EUR 5-8. Skip Innere Stadt — 30% markup. |
| Transport | EUR 30.40 | Wiener Linien Jahreskarte: EUR 365/year (EUR 30.40/month). Covers all trams, buses, U-Bahn. Best transit deal in Europe. |
| Coworking | EUR 149-250 | Sektor5 from EUR 149. Impact Hub from EUR 180. Skip WeWork — overpriced for Vienna at EUR 350+. |
| Internet + Mobile | EUR 30-50 | Home broadband EUR 20-30/month (A1 or Magenta). Prepaid SIM EUR 10-15/month (HoT or Drei). |
| Health Insurance | EUR 80-150 | EU citizens: EHIC covers basics. Non-EU: private insurance from EUR 80/month (SafetyWing). Required for visa. |
| Entertainment | EUR 100-150 | Cinema EUR 12. Museum combo ticket EUR 32 (covers 8 museums). Donaukanal bars free entry. |
| Total | EUR 1,800-2,400 | Lower end: cook at home, outer district, Sektor5. Upper end: eat out often, Neubau, Impact Hub. |
Money-saving tips
- Get the Jahreskarte immediately. EUR 365/year for unlimited public transport is unbeatable. Single tickets cost EUR 2.40 each — the pass pays for itself in 6 weeks of daily commuting.
- Shop at Hofer and Lidl. Same quality as Billa at 20-30% lower prices. The Hofer on Mariahilfer Straße (6th district) is the most convenient central location.
- Eat the Mittagsmenu. Most Beisln (traditional pubs) and restaurants offer a 2-course lunch for EUR 8-12 between 11:30-14:00. Dinner menus are 40-60% more expensive for the same food.
- Use willhaben.at for everything. Austria’s Craigslist. Furniture, electronics, bikes — all significantly cheaper secondhand. Especially useful when furnishing a sublet.
- Skip the 1st district for daily life. The Innere Stadt is for tourists. Groceries, cafes, and restaurants cost 20-40% less one district out.
Payment and banking
Austria uses EUR. Cash is more common here than in Germany — many smaller shops, Beisln, and market stalls are cash-only. Always carry EUR 50-100 in bills.
Cards: Visa and Mastercard accepted at most shops and restaurants. Amex is rare. Bankomat/Maestro debit cards work everywhere. Apple Pay and Google Pay are widespread.
For stays over 3 months, open a free account at N26 (German neobank, works in Austria) or Erste Bank. Wise is useful for multi-currency transfers. ATMs from Erste Bank and Raiffeisen charge no withdrawal fees for domestic cards.