PRICES IN AUSTRIA
Austria is not a low-cost relocation destination, but the actual budget depends more on the city, housing and household size than on the price of any one product. Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck usually require a larger housing allowance, while Graz, Linz and smaller regional centres can be more manageable for daily spending.
Anyone considering Austria as a relocation destination should compare the full monthly cost with income after tax. The current average salary in Austria is about €3,406 gross per month, but disposable income differs substantially by contract and family situation.
AT A GLANCE
- A one-bedroom apartment averages about €876 in a city centre and €717 outside it.
- Utilities for an 85 m² apartment average roughly €331 per month.
- A single public-transport ticket costs about €3, while a monthly pass averages €53.
- Housing, water, energy and fuels make up 26.4% of average household spending in Austria.
CONTENTS
PRICES IN AUSTRIA IN 2026
Product prices in Austria
The following figures are nationwide Numbeo averages accessed on 1 October 2026. Prices can be lower in discount supermarkets and higher in central, tourist-oriented or convenience locations.
| Product | Price |
| Milk (1 litre) | €1.52 |
| Loaf of fresh white bread (500 g) | €2.50 |
| Rice, white (1 kg) | €2.14 |
| Eggs (12) | €4.22 |
| Local cheese (1 kg) | €16.95 |
| Chicken fillets (1 kg) | €12.48 |
| Beef (1 kg) | €20.17 |
| Apples (1 kg) | €2.59 |
| Bananas (1 kg) | €2.08 |
| Oranges (1 kg) | €2.68 |
| Tomatoes (1 kg) | €3.75 |
| Potatoes (1 kg) | €1.94 |
| Onions (1 kg) | €1.84 |
| Lettuce (one head) | €1.73 |
| Water (1.5-litre bottle) | €0.82 |
| Bottle of wine, mid-range | €7.80 |
| Local beer (0.5-litre bottle) | €1.28 |
| Imported beer (0.33-litre bottle) | €1.80 |
| Pack of cigarettes, Marlboro (20) | €6.70 |
Prices of goods, services and housing
Housing is normally the decisive item for a newcomer. A room in a shared apartment, an independent one-bedroom flat and family accommodation create very different budgets, which is one of the practical realities of living in Austria.
| Goods or service | Price |
| Meal in an inexpensive restaurant | €16.00 |
| Three-course meal for two, mid-range restaurant | €70.00 |
| Cappuccino | €4.12 |
| Public transport, one-way ticket | €3.00 |
| Monthly public-transport pass | €53.00 |
| Taxi starting fare | €4.85 |
| Taxi, 1 km | €2.00 |
| Petrol, 1 litre | €1.59 |
| Utilities for an 85 m² apartment, monthly | €331.12 |
| Mobile plan, monthly | €14.31 |
| Home internet, monthly | €32.34 |
| Fitness-club membership, monthly | €38.20 |
| Tennis-court rental, one hour | €22.04 |
| Cinema ticket | €12.50 |
| Private preschool, monthly per child | €375.26 |
| Jeans, mid-range brand | €88.96 |
| Summer dress in a chain store | €37.91 |
| Mid-range running shoes | €93.03 |
| Men’s leather business shoes | €122.45 |
| One-bedroom apartment in a city centre, monthly | €876.06 |
| One-bedroom apartment outside a city centre, monthly | €717.45 |
| Three-bedroom apartment in a city centre, monthly | €1,559.65 |
| Three-bedroom apartment outside a city centre, monthly | €1,262.38 |
| Apartment purchase price in a city centre, per m² | €6,346.00 |
| Apartment purchase price outside a city centre, per m² | €4,296.24 |
IMPORTANT
Numbeo rent figures are current market estimates. Official rent statistics also include long-running contracts, so they can show a lower nationwide average. A newcomer should budget from active listings in the intended district.
Personal care and household purchases
Personal-care items are shown separately because they are not part of Numbeo’s standard Austria basket. Retail figures are representative prices from large Austrian chains dm Austria and BIPA; the haircut is an average Vienna estimate, not a fixed salon tariff.
| Item | Price |
| Standard men’s haircut in Vienna | about €24.00 |
| Toothpaste, mass-market brand | €3.11–4.49 |
| Shampoo, mass-market brand, 250 ml | about €2.95 |
| Shampoo, mid-range, 200–250 ml | €4.44–5.99 |
| Shower gel, 200–300 ml | €2.95–4.95 |
| Children’s toothpaste, 75 ml | €3.45 |
| Shampoo and shower gel 2-in-1, 150 ml | €5.95 |
A realistic monthly budget
A monthly budget should be built from a person’s own housing arrangement rather than from a national average. The ranges below assume ordinary spending and are intended as planning estimates.
| Household | Without rent | Typical total with rent |
| One person | €1,050–1,150 | €1,800–2,050 |
| Couple | €1,750–2,050 | €2,700–3,100 |
| Family with one child | €2,500–3,000 | €3,800–4,700 |
A gross salary alone does not reveal how much remains after tax, rent and family costs. The net salary calculator lets a prospective employee test a job offer against their own monthly expenses.
The first month commonly includes a deposit, moving costs and basic household purchases. A relocation savings plan makes those one-off costs visible before the move.
What Austrian households spend on
Statistik Austria’s Household Budget Survey for 2024/25 found average consumer spending of €4,170 per household per month. The distinctive point is that housing, water, energy and fuels alone represented more than one quarter of spending.
| Category | Monthly spending | Share of budget |
| Housing, water, energy and fuels | €1,100 | 26.4% |
| Transport | €567 | 13.6% |
| Food and non-alcoholic drinks | €484 | 11.6% |
| Recreation, sport and culture | €475 | 11.4% |
| Restaurants and accommodation | €276 | 6.6% |
Costs by city and country comparison
City choice is both a financial and lifestyle decision. Vienna has the broadest labour market, while Salzburg and Innsbruck often need a higher housing budget; the trade-off between opportunity, rent and everyday infrastructure shapes the best cities to live in Austria.
| Country | Broad comparison with Austria | Practical point |
| Germany | Generally comparable | City rents often matter more than national averages |
| Czech Republic | Usually less expensive | Lower costs often accompany lower typical pay |
| Switzerland | Substantially more expensive | High prices should be assessed beside higher salaries |
| Slovakia | Usually less expensive | A lower budget comes with a different labour market |
Comparing income, rent and projected savings through country comparisons is more useful than comparing a grocery basket alone.
What changed in prices during the last year
Austria’s annual inflation rate was 3.2% in August 2026, up from 2.8% in July. Statistics Austria identified fuel and heating-oil prices as important drivers, while services remained the main source of upward pressure on the general price level.
A notable change in 2026 was the reduction of VAT on basic foodstuffs from 10% to 4.9% in July. It helped keep food prices below their level a year earlier in August, but it did not remove the pressure of rent, transport, energy and service costs.
Sources
- Numbeo — Cost of Living in Austria, accessed 1 October 2026.
- dm Austria and BIPA — retail prices for personal-care products.
- Expatistan — average estimate for a standard men’s haircut in Vienna.
- Statistik Austria — Household Budget Survey 2024/25.
- Statistics Austria — Consumer Price Index and August 2026 inflation release.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does one person need per month in Austria?
A realistic planning range is about €1,800–2,050 per month with a one-bedroom apartment outside a city centre. Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck can require more.
What is the largest household expense in Austria?
Housing, water, energy and fuels are the largest category, accounting for 26.4% of average household consumer spending in the 2024/25 Household Budget Survey.
Why can official rent statistics be lower than current listings?
Official data include existing and often older contracts. Current listings reflect the price a newcomer is more likely to face when renting today.
Did prices in Austria fall in 2026?
Prices did not fall overall: annual inflation was 3.2% in August 2026. Food-price pressure eased after the VAT reduction, but services and energy-related costs continued to affect household budgets.
Founder and Editor-in-Chief of WageCentre, with a degree in finance and 15+ years of professional experience. He writes about salaries, taxes, labour markets, immigration and financial planning for relocation.
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