Austria is small, prosperous and very safe, with the Alps in the west and Vienna, one of the world's most liveable cities, in the east. Public transport, healthcare and schools are excellent, and salaries are paid 14 times a year. The trade-offs are high taxes, formal bureaucracy and the need to speak German for most jobs.

Visas and residence

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can move freely and must register their residence within four months. Everyone else usually needs one of the permits described on the government's migration platform:

  • Red-White-Red Card: a points-based permit for very highly qualified workers, skilled workers in shortage occupations, other key workers, graduates of Austrian universities, self-employed key workers and start-up founders. Points are awarded for qualifications, experience, language skills and age. For other key workers, the minimum gross salary rose to €3,465 a month in 2026.
  • EU Blue Card: for university graduates with a job offer paying at least about €55,700 a year in 2026.
  • Settlement Permit – Gainfully Employed (Private): for financially independent people who will not work in Austria. It is issued within a small annual quota and requires substantial regular income.

After a few years, Red-White-Red Card holders can usually move to a Red-White-Red Card Plus with unrestricted access to the labour market.

How much does it cost to live in Austria?

Our Austria data puts an average one-bedroom at around $950 a month and a three-bedroom at around $1,700. Vienna is unusual among European capitals because around half of its residents live in council or subsidised housing, which keeps rents comparatively moderate, though newcomers usually start in the private market. Innsbruck and Salzburg are often pricier than Vienna.

Groceries cost about $320 a month for one person, and utilities about $250, with heating a major cost in winter. Public transport is outstanding: Vienna's annual pass rose from its famous €365 to €467 in 2026, still around €1.28 a day, and the national KlimaTicket covers almost all public transport in the country.

How Austrian tax works

Austria taxes residents on worldwide income. The 2026 brackets, according to the Federal Ministry of Finance, are:

  • 0% up to €13,308
  • 20% up to €21,617
  • 30% up to €35,836
  • 40% up to €69,166
  • 48% up to €103,072
  • 50% up to €1 million
  • 55% above €1 million

The 13th and 14th salary payments are taxed at a reduced rate of about 6% up to a limit, which lowers the effective burden. Employees pay roughly 18% in social insurance contributions. VAT is 20% and capital gains are taxed at 27.5%. Use our tax calculator to estimate take-home pay.

Healthcare

Employees and their dependants are automatically insured with the public health insurance fund. Care is high quality and largely free at the point of use, and many residents buy supplementary private insurance for private hospital rooms and faster specialist appointments.

Daily life

Austrians value order, punctuality and politeness. Titles matter: you may hear "Frau Magister" or "Herr Doktor" in formal settings. Shops close on Sundays, and quiet hours are respected. Vienna's coffee houses, on UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list, are where people read, work and talk for hours over a single coffee. Weekends often mean hiking or skiing.

Is Austria a good place to move?

Austria suits skilled professionals, EU citizens and families who value safety, culture and strong public services, and who are willing to learn German. For a comparison with its larger neighbour, read our Austria vs Germany guide.