Thinking about moving to Austria? This overview pulls together how it compares across the things that shape daily life: cost, language, safety, healthcare and the route to staying long term. In MoveMap’s model, Austria stands out for everyday safety, quality healthcare and strong public transport, while it is worth weighing a less remote-ready setup, heavier bureaucracy and a higher cost of living.
Austria at a glance
Tap any metric to see what is behind the number.
Cost of living74/100
Cost of living here sits around to a little above the EU average. As rough monthly figures, a typical net salary is around €2300 and a one-bedroom rent runs about €1000 a month. Your real budget depends heavily on the city and your lifestyle.
English65/100
English gets you a long way in cities and with younger people. Everyday admin and smaller towns often expect the local language, so some learning helps a lot.
Safety88/100
This is a MoveMap score out of 100 (higher is safer), so 88/100 means very safe: violent crime is rare and most areas feel comfortable at any hour. The usual big-city pickpocketing is the main thing to watch.
Healthcare85/100
Scored 85/100 in MoveMap's model (higher is better). A strong universal system with good access and quality; most needs are covered publicly.
ClimateCold
Cold winters and warm summers, with four distinct seasons. Typical daytime highs: winter around 3°C, spring 15°C, summer 26°C, autumn 14°C. Figures are approximate and vary by region.
Citizenship~10 yrs
On the ordinary residence route you can usually apply for permanent residence after about 5 years, and for citizenship after about 10 years of continuous legal residence. Marriage to a citizen or ancestry can be much faster. Most countries also require a language test (commonly around B1) and some restrict holding two passports, so confirm Austria's current rules and dual-citizenship stance.
Taxes0-55%
Personal income tax: Progressive 0-55% (top rate above ~€1M, kept until 2030). As a freelancer: Same progressive brackets on profit. Company owners: CIT 23%, dividends 27.5%. Rates as of July 2026. Tax rules change every budget cycle and depend on your personal situation: verify with a licensed tax advisor before acting.
Where Austria stands out
Relative to the other 26 EU countries, Austria scores best for:
- Everyday safety.
- Quality healthcare.
- Strong public transport.
Worth weighing before you move
Every country has trade-offs. For Austria, keep an eye on:
- A less remote-ready setup.
- Heavier bureaucracy.
- A higher cost of living.
Is Austria right for you?
These are general patterns. Whether Austria actually fits depends on your income, work, family, documents and what you want from a move, and the right city matters as much as the country. The quickest way to see where Austria lands for your situation is the MoveMap check.