Move to Austria
2 cities, one country, zero sugar-coating. Residency paths, real costs, and whether the government will leave you alone.
Austria at a Glance
1BR rent / mo
Democracy index
Homicides / 100k
English level
How to actually stay
Visas, residency, and the paperwork mountain between you and a lease
Visa routes we know about
Can your partner work?
Because 'trailing spouse' shouldn't mean 'trailing income'
Spouse receives Red-White-Red Card Plus with unrestricted work access.
Source: official guidance
Where to land in Austria
2 cities ranked by Livability Score — the one number that rolls up rent, safety, democracy, and internet
Vienna
77/100Salzburg
68/100Compare cities in Austria
What it costs to exist
Real monthly numbers, not what the expat blog says
$1,537
priciest 1BR / mo
Rent + food + transport + utilities, averaged across 2 cities. No gym membership, no brunch budget.
How rich is everyone, really
GDP, taxes, and other numbers politicians argue about
$73,911
GDP per capita
5.6%
Unemployment
2.9%
Inflation
Moderate inequality — some neighborhoods will feel like different countries.
Will the government leave you alone?
Democracy, press freedom, and whether you should use a VPN
8.28/10
🏛️ Full democracy
Is Austria safe?
Homicide rates and the stats that matter for sleeping at night
Safe enough to stop thinking about it. Standard urban awareness applies.
Safest tracked city: Salzburg (0.9 per 100k)
Can you order coffee?
The language situation, no sugarcoating
German
Primary language
Very High
English proficiency (#3 globally)
Most people speak decent English. You can survive without German, but your landlord will respect you more if you try.
❓ Moving to Austria — Common Questions
What is the best city to move to in Austria?▾
Based on our Livability Score, Vienna ranks #1 in Austria with a score of 77/100. City-centre rent starts around $1303/month.
How much does it cost to live in Austria?▾
City-centre 1-bedroom rent ranges from $1303 to $1537/month across our 2 tracked cities. Average monthly solo expenses are around $2,535.
Is Austria a democracy?▾
Austria scores 8.28/10 on the EIU Democracy Index and is classified as a "Full democracy."
Is Austria safe to live in?▾
The average homicide rate across our tracked cities in Austria is 0.9 per 100,000 people. That's quite safe by global standards.