Best Cities To Live In Austria

Austria has only 10 cities with a population of at least 50.000 people. The only really big city is Vienna with a population of 2 million people. In this article, you will learn which Austrian cities are the best for living and working, for families, the cheapest and the most expensive.

What are the 10 biggest cities in Austria?

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Best Cities To Live In Austria

The best cities to live in Austria are Graz and Vienna according to the “Expat City Ranking 2021” from InterNations.

1. Graz

Graz is the best city to live in for ex-pats because the living is relatively cheap live but it still offers most of the advantages of the big city. Expats appreciate the housing market, safe workplaces, and work-life balance in Graz. They are very happy with the quality of the environment and public transportation. However, ex-pats living in Graz are not satisfied with their social life.

2. Vienna

Vienna is well-known as the top city to live in the world and not just in Austria. This top ranking is based on the following factors: quality of infrastructure, medicine, education, economic and political environment and stability, socio-cultural factors, press freedom, women’s rights, and human rights, crime rates, etc. 

Vienna offers the best job opportunities for ex-pats since most of the big international companies are concentrated in the Austrian capital city. Settling in and making new friends is quite challenging in all Austrian cities. Vienna is the most popular among the younger population. The capital city has a big ex-pat community which makes it easier for ex-pats to settle in and make new friends. However, Vienna is one of the most expensive cities to live in Austria. Some surrounding cities such as Wiener Neustadt (30 minutes distance by train) might be a good affordable alternative. 

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Best Cities To Work In Austria

If you don’t speak German yet, Vienna is by far the best city in Austria to find English speaking job. Graz and Linz are following Vienna as the best cities to work in Austria especially due to very good work-life balance and secure jobs.

Attractive are small cities Bregenz, Dornbirn, and Feldkirch because they are close to the border with Switzerland and Lichtenstein and provide a good opportunity of working in these neighboring countries with very high salaries.

Best Place To Live In Austria For Families

Salzburg is the best city in Austria for families to settle in, especially families with children under 14 years. Although it is a big city, it has a rural feel, and it is smaller than Vienna. Salzburg has an overall attractive landscape and is considered to be a clean and beautiful city by ex-pats. The cultural offerings, the high quality of life, and the proximity to Munich and Vienna are highly praised

The proximity of an airport to major cities is also considered an asset. Also, the proximity to popular ski areas is very appreciated by sports enthusiasts.

Cheapest Cities To Live In Austria

Linz and Graz are the most affordable cities to live in in Austria.

Based on a single person living in a one-bedroom apartment in the city center, the following costs are estimated:

City Monthly cost of living

Linz 1.260€

Graz 1.336€

Source: Numbeo

Based on a four-person family living in a 3-bedroom apartment in the city center, the following costs are estimated:

City Monthly cost of living

Linz 3.471€

Graz 3.696€

Source: Numbeo

Using the following estimators, you can estimate your individual monthly costs:

Estimate costs of living for Linz

Estimate costs of living for Graz

Most Expensive Cities To Live In Austria

Innsbruck, Vienna, and Salzburg are the most expensive cities in Austria to live in. 

Based on a single person living in a one-bedroom apartment in the city center, the following costs are estimated:

City Monthly cost of living

Innsbruck 1,670€

Vienna 1,669€ 

Salzburg 1,614€

Source: Numbeo

Based on a four-person family living in a 3-bedroom apartment in the city center, the following costs are estimated:

City Monthly cost of living

Innsbruck 4,600€

Vienna 4,384€

Salzburg 4,625€

Source: Numbeo

Using the following estimators, you can estimate your individual monthly costs:

Estimate costs of living for Innsbruck

Estimate costs of living for Vienna

Estimate costs of living for Salzburg

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Conclusion

I hope this article will help you to make a decision when choosing the right city for you in Austria and that you will be happy with your choice. You can check our article about the best small cities to live in Austria as well as the best neighborhoods in Vienna.

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