Cost of Living Comparison Between Salzburg and Vienna Cost of Living Comparison Between Salzburg and Vienna

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,660 per month in Salzburg vs $2,337 in Vienna, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,018 per month in Salzburg vs $3,519 in Vienna, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,377 per month in Salzburg vs $4,701 in Vienna, rent included.

Salzburg costs about 14% more than Vienna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Salzburg and Vienna sit above the global median – Salzburg by 99%, Vienna by 74%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.34 €14.79

$17.58 €14.99

-1.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.0 €68.2

$85.3 €72.8

-6.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.66 €11.65

$11.41 €9.73

19.72%

Cappuccino

$4.73 €4.03

$5.06 €4.32

-6.52%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.34 €3.70

$3.55 €3.03

22.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 €3.31

$3.07 €2.62

26.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.54 €4.72

$5.70 €4.86

-2.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 €3.95

$5.06 €4.31

-8.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 €1.46

$1.74 €1.48

-1.15%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 €2.43

$2.78 €2.37

2.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.65 €2.26

$2.74 €2.34

-3.28%

Eggs

$5.61 €4.78

$4.46 €3.81

25.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.82 €19.46

$17.04 €14.53

33.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.86 €12.68

$14.98 €12.78

-0.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.18 €19.77

$23.74 €20.25

-2.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 €2.44

$2.97 €2.53

-3.70%

Banana (1kg)

$2.43 €2.08

$2.39 €2.04

1.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.01 €3.42

$3.50 €2.99

14.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.98 €7.66

$4.17 €3.56

115.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.33 €1.99

$2.17 €1.85

7.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.15 €1.83

$2.08 €1.77

3.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.88 €1.61

$1.96 €1.67

-4.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 €0.84

$0.86 €0.73

13.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.43 €6.34

$7.70 €6.57

-3.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.74 €9.16

$8.34 €7.11

28.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 €1.30

$1.41 €1.20

8.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 €1.44

$2.02 €1.72

-16.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.84 €2.42

$2.70 €2.30

5.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.5 €75.5

$39.74 €33.90

122.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.34 €4.56

$4.74 €4.04

12.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.04 €1.74

$2.06 €1.76

-0.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$37.81 €32.25

$38.90 €33.18

-2.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.72 €1.47

$1.91 €1.63

-9.95%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.8K €24.6K

$31.5K €26.9K

-8.66%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.6K €23.5K

$33.0K €28.1K

-16.26%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$377 €321

$329 €280

14.65%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.69 €19.36

$16.94 €14.45

33.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.88 €37.43

$40.09 €34.20

9.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.66 €36.39

$48.17 €41.09

-11.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.74 €23.66

$25.89 €22.08

7.15%

Cinema Ticket

$16.06 €13.70

$13.86 €11.82

15.87%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$484 €413

$329 €280

47.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.8K €29.7K

$23.2K €19.8K

50.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$114 €96.9

$101 €86.0

12.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.0 €53.7

$44.92 €38.32

40.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 €94.4

$101 €86.0

9.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 €117

$159 €136

-14.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 €1,096

$1,235 €1,053

4.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,051 €897

$876 €747

20.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,248 €1,918

$2,278 €1,943

-1.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,876 €1,600

$1,668 €1,423

12.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,865 €7,561

$13.9K €11.9K

-36.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,659 €5,680

$6,419 €5,476

3.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,447 €2,941

$3,582 €3,055

-3.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.9

3.6

8.33%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Salzburg: April 22, 2026

Last update for Vienna: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,284 in Salzburg versus $1,235 in Vienna. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 4% higher in Vienna, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80 in Salzburg versus $85 in Vienna. Groceries tell a different story – $444 in Salzburg vs $392 in Vienna – so Vienna wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Salzburg vs Vienna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Salzburg costs about 14% more than Vienna, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,990 per month in Salzburg and $3,505 in Vienna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Vienna, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 123% less in Vienna. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $484 per month in Salzburg and $329 in Vienna. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Vienna, where all-in costs run around $2,337, than in Salzburg at $2,660. In Vienna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Salzburg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Vienna – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Vienna. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Salzburg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.