Cost of Living: Graz vs Innsbruck (2026)

Austria vs Austria — relocation comparison

Your passport:

Livability Score

Graz

Innsbruck

$772/mo

Rent

1BR centre

—

5 yr

PR path

5 yr

Zuzugsfreibetrag (Researcher Relocation Allowance), Flat-Rate Foreign Income Tax (Zuzugsbegünstigung)

Tax breaks

Open incentive regimes for newcomers

Zuzugsfreibetrag (Researcher Relocation Allowance), Flat-Rate Foreign Income Tax (Zuzugsbegünstigung)

Freelance setup

EPU

VAT-free under €42k
27% social
€1400/yr accountant

WiseStripe

EPU

VAT-free under €42k
27% social
€1400/yr accountant

WiseStripe

Sourced from Numbeo · Updated May 2026

TL;DRGraz and Innsbruck are surprisingly similar on the numbers. Both cities require a personal relationship with your winter coat.

Graz edges ahead 80 to 72. Innsbruck isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you.

How the livability score breaks down

Graz

Innsbruck

21.4/25

💰 Affordability

11.7/25

14.1/15

🔒 Violent Crime

14.1/15

7.3/10

🛡️ Perceived Safety

7.6/10

5.3/15

⚡ Internet

5.3/15

12.4/15

🗳️ Democracy

12.4/15

8.9/10

🗣️ English

8.9/10

9.9/10

☀️ Climate

9.8/10

7.1/10

📊 Stability

6.5/10

9.1/10

🚗 Road Safety

9.1/10

8.8/10

🕊️ Geopolitical Safety

8.8/10

Verdict delivered. Your move.

The winner's file

🇦🇹 Graz

Full profile. Verify before you pack.

Due diligence

🇦🇹 Innsbruck

Every verdict deserves an appeal.

Plot twist

Vienna vs Graz

Someone else's dilemma, equally unsolvable.

Household

Graz

Metric

Innsbruck

$909/mo

🛒

Living costs (no rent)

lower is better

—

$4,786

🧳

Cost to land

lower is better

—

87 / 100

🛡️

Settler safety

higher is better

88 / 100

0.9 / 100k

🔒

Homicides

lower is better

0.9 / 100k

4.6 / 100k

🚗

Road deaths

lower is better

4.6 / 100k

73 / 100

🚨

Safety Index

higher is better

76 / 100

77°F

☀️

Summer high

personal taste

77°F

27°F

❄️

Winter low

personal taste

28°F

15.1 μg/m³

🌬️

Air quality (PM2.5)

lower is better

8 μg/m³✓

85 / 100

🏥

Healthcare

higher is better

87 / 100

8.3 / 10

🗳️

Democracy

higher is better

8.3 / 10

6.1 / 9

🤝

Migrant acceptance

higher is better

6.1 / 9

50 / 100

🏳️‍🌈

Rainbow Index

higher is better

50 / 100

74/100

🗣️

Street English

higher is better

74/100

$74k

💼

GDP per capita (PPP)

higher is better

$77k

✓2.9% · Boringly steady

📈

Inflation

lower is better

3.5% · Boringly steady

—

⚡

Grid reliability

higher is better

95/100 — Reliable

93/100

🗽

Freedom House

higher is better

93/100

See exactly what you keep after taxes in each city

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

Sun

How much sky you actually get

40% clear

Win

Spr

Sum

Fall

Sky clear

avg daytime

34% clear

Win

Spr

Sum

Fall

8.6h

Shortest day

Dec

8.5h

15.8h

Longest day

Jun

15.9h

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

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

Settler Essentials

Democracy trend

stable →

Inflation trend

—

Moderate

🇺🇸 Your visa

Moderate

Easy

EU visa

Easy

Moderate

RU visa

Moderate

UA visa

Moderate

✅ Partner can work immediately

Spouse works

—

Not recognized

eingetragene Partnerschaft

Partner pathway

Not recognized

eingetragene Partnerschaft

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

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

Reproductive Rights

Because your body shouldn't need a visa too

On request

Abortion access

On request

14 wk

Gestational limit

14 wk

Legal within first trimester. Counseling required.

Source: Center for Reproductive Rights

LGBTQ+ Rights

Can you hold hands without doing a risk assessment first

Legal

Marriage

Legal

Joint adoption

Adoption

Joint adoption

Yes

Job protection

Yes

Hate crime law

Yes

Graz vs Innsbruck — Common Questions

Which is safer, Graz or Innsbruck?▾

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

Should I move to Graz or Innsbruck?▾

Graz edges ahead 80 to 72. Innsbruck isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you. 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 Graz or Innsbruck?▾

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