Townleap

Cost of Living: Brighton vs Graz (2026)

United Kingdom vs Austria — relocation comparison

Your passport:
Brighton
Graz
$1894/mo
Rent
$772/mo
64/100
Livability
78/100
86/100
Safety
90/100
Healthcare
85/100
5 yr
PR path
5 yr
Tax breaks

Open incentive regimes for newcomers

Zuzugsfreibetrag (Researcher Relocation Allowance), Flat-Rate Foreign Income Tax (Zuzugsbegünstigung)
Freelance setup
Sole Trader
  • VAT-free under €105k
  • 9% social
  • €600/yr accountant
WiseStripe
EPU
  • VAT-free under €42k
  • 27% social
  • €1400/yr accountant
WiseStripe

Sourced from Numbeo · Updated May 2026

TL;DRGraz is 59% cheaper on rent ($772/mo vs $1894/mo). Graz summers average 25°C vs 20°C. Both countries will let you complain about the government in public — and mean it.
Graz scores 78 to Brighton's 64 on livability — the gap is real. Brighton has its charms, but the numbers favor Graz.
Household
Brighton
Metric
Graz
$1894/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$772/mo
$859/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$909/mo
🧳
Cost to land
$4,786
1.1 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
0.9 / 100k
20°C
☀️
Summer high
25°C
4°C
❄️
Winter low
-3°C
🌬️
Air quality (PM2.5)
15.1 μg/m³
8.5 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
8.3 / 10
100/100
🗣️
Street English
100/100
$62k
💼
GDP per capita
$74k
3.3% · Boringly steady
📈
Inflation
2.9% · Boringly steady
64 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
78 / 100
5 years
📋
Time to PR
5 years
See exactly what you keep after taxes in each city

Sources: Numbeo · UNODC · Ookla · WHO · EIU · World Bank · Freedom House · Updated May 2026

💰
Cost of Living
Graz
$1122/mo cheaper on rent alone
☀️
Weather
20°C vs 25°C summers

Sun

How much sky you actually get

36% clear
Win
Spr
Sum
Fall
Sky clear
avg daytime
40% clear
Win
Spr
Sum
Fall
8.0h
Shortest day
Dec
8.6h
16.4h
Longest day
Jun
15.8h

Sun clocks out before 5pm in both cities come December. Plan accordingly.

Source: WeatherSpark (clear-sky share of daytime hours)

Settler Essentials

Inflation trend
stable
5 yrs
Time to PR
5 yrs
Moderate
🇺🇸 Your visa
Moderate
Moderate
EU visa
Easy
Complex
RU visa
Moderate
Moderate
UA visa
Moderate
Spouse works
Partner can work immediately
Recognized (2+ yr)
unmarried partner / civil partnership
Partner pathway
Not recognized
eingetragene Partnerschaft
Tax breaks
Zuzugsfreibetrag (Researcher Relocation Allowance), Flat-Rate Foreign Income Tax (Zuzugsbegünstigung)

Visa stamps:Easy <90 daysModerate 3–6 moComplex 6+ mo

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

Reproductive Rights

Because your body shouldn't need a visa too

Broad social grounds
Abortion access
On request
24 wk
Gestational limit
14 wk

Requires two doctors' approval under Abortion Act 1967, but broadly available up to 24 weeks.

Legal within first trimester. Counseling required.

Source: Center for Reproductive Rights

LGBTQ+ Rights

Can you hold hands without doing a risk assessment first

52/100
Rainbow Index
50/100
Legal
Marriage
Legal
Joint adoption
Adoption
Joint adoption
Yes
Job protection
Yes
Yes
Hate crime law
Yes

Source: Rainbow Europe (ILGA-Europe)

The Short Version

  • Rent is 59% cheaper in Graz ($772/mo vs $1894/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are noticeably warmer in Graz (25°C vs 20°C).

Brighton vs Graz — Common Questions

Is Brighton cheaper than Graz?

Graz is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $772/month in Graz vs $1894/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Brighton or Graz?

Graz is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Brighton has a rate of 1.12 per 100,000 and Graz has 0.88 per 100,000.

Should I move to Brighton or Graz?

Graz scores 78 to Brighton's 64 on livability — the gap is real. Brighton has its charms, but the numbers favor Graz. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in Brighton or Graz?

Brighton: no specific remote work visa. Graz: EU Blue Card (Austria) (complex process, Up to 4 years). See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Which has better weather, Brighton or Graz?

Graz is warmer in summer (25°C vs 20°C). Brighton has milder summers, which suits those who prefer cooler weather. Climate preference is personal — use the weather section above to compare seasons.

What's the cost of rent in Brighton vs Graz?

A 1-bedroom in the centre: $772/month in Graz, $1894/month in Brighton (Numbeo). That's 59% cheaper rent in Graz.

Plot twist: other matchups exist

Maybe the real city was the comparisons we made along the way.

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