The cost of living in Vienna means different things for visitors and people who already live in the city, but it has many things in common. The price of a pack of cigarettes, pint of beer, or dinner for two is definitely applicable for both weekend visitors and city locals, but rent (lodging), public transport and attraction tickets have a big difference in prices.

We hope both visitors and people who are planning to relocate to Vienna will find useful information here.

In comparison to other European capitals, Vienna is quite cheap, both for living or for short-term visits. You can rent a very decent apartment in the heart of Vienna for $1-1.5K, which is quite impossible in most of the bigger European cities (and many larger cities worldwide). Short-term rentals vary in range and quality and we covered this in our other post about lodging tips.

In general terms, visiting Vienna for tourism will not break the bank and you will get great deals for accommodation, attractions, food, and entertainment alike. These opportunities are much more available once you move here and learn how to get cheap or free stuff available.

Here is an interesting (and short) video about the cost of living in Vienna:

Let’s see some prices for the most common items:

Table of Contents

Accommodation (short and long term)

Accommodation prices are listed here without overhead costs, such as agency fees, security deposits, additional furnishing, etc. We will cover long-term rentals in a separate post.

Short-term rent (up to 1 month) – From $30 per day per person
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in the central area – $1,300
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in a peripheral area – $1,126
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas …) for 2 people in an 85m2 flat – $160
Home Internet, basic package – $25

Prices depend on location, of course, and how far you want to stay away from the city center.

Food and drinks

These are prices for food and drinks when going out, to the pub or a restaurant, not homemade.

Fast food combo meal – $9
Basic lunchtime menu (including a soft drink) in the business district – $15
Basic dinner out for two in a neighborhood pub – $36
Pint of beer in a local pub – $4.5
Cappuccino in ex-pat area of the city – $4.5
The average price of cocktails in clubs – $13
Dinner for two at an international restaurant – $65

As you can see, these are very affordable prices for food and drinks and they become much cheaper when eating at home.

Supermarket prices (if you rent an apartment)

If you rent an apartment through an agency or Airbnb, you might want to buy some groceries if you want to eat at home and save some money. Here are some most common items with average prices in supermarkets.

500 gr (1 lb.) of chicken breast meat – $5.5
1 liter (1 qt.) of milk – $1.2
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes – $2.8
1 Bread loaf (for 2 people for 1 day) – $2
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples – $2.5
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes – $2
0.5 l (16 oz) local beer – $1.1
1 bottle of local red wine – $8
2 liters of coca-cola – $2.5
Drinking water – Free (do not buy water, tap water in Vienna is perfect)

If you are staying more than a couple of days, it would be smart to rent an apartment (or a house) and buy local groceries.

Leisure expenses

Here are a few basic items to consider related to leisure activities.

2 tickets to the movies – $20
2 tickets to the theatre or opera (high end) – $180
1 month of gym membership in a residential area – $35
1 pack of cigarettes (Marlboro or similar) – $6
1 month of phone data plan (5 GB) – $12
Attraction tickets – starting from $10 – there is an option of a yearly ticket for unlimited visits.

These expenses are mostly applicable to residents, except for attractions, that can be used by both. Some attractions, such as museums and galleries, provide yearly tickets that are great value for money.

Transport

Assuming that you will use public transport, expenses are quite low. In the case of a car purchase, you will need to add at least $25,000 for a new car and add insurance, maintenance, fuel, parking, and other fees.

Monthly public transport ticket – $58
Yearly public transport ticket (adult) – $420
Yearly public transport ticket (child) – $85
1 liter of fuel – $1.4
An average taxi ride within city limits – $18

Public transport in Vienna is cheap, comprehensive, and efficient and it is highly recommended when visiting the city.

Summary of expenses

Statistically, monthly costs for living in Vienna can be summarized as follows:

Family of four (a couple with two kids) estimated monthly costs – $3,800
The single-person estimated monthly costs – $1,900

These are average figures and purely depend on your lifestyle and other, specific needs. Prices would go much higher if kids need to attend private school or need additional expenses for sports and other activities. The above calculations exclude those kinds of expenses.

This information can be helpful when looking for a job in Vienna and you need to match your income to expenses.

For more detailed info about the cost of living in Vienna and a more detailed breakdown of average prices, please visit this website.

Conclusion

The cost of living in Vienna is an important factor when deciding to move here. Based on the average prices of common goods and services, the cost of living in Vienna is not high, it is more on the average (or even low) side by European standards (for capital cities). Putting it together with all the things this city can offer, the city provides truly the best value for money. This is definitely good news for those of you who are planning to move here.