Cost of Living Comparison Between Spain and AustriaCost of Living Comparison Between Spain and Austria
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,646 in Spain versus $2,271 in Austria.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,401 in Spain versus $3,345 in Austria.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,155 in Spain versus $4,418 in Austria.
🙂Living in Spain costs about 28% less than in Austria on average.
📊Both countries sit above the global median: Spain23% above, Austria69% above.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Spain: monthly costs span $1,133 to $3,262, compared to $1,784–$2,696 in Austria. City choice carries more weight in Spain.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Spain
Austria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.91
$17.53€15.08
-7.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.3€49.27
$81.8€70.4
-29.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.62€9.14
$11.65€10.02
-8.84%
Cappuccino
$2.38€2.05
$4.37€3.76
-45.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59€2.23
$3.82€3.29
-32.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91€1.64
$3.00€2.58
-36.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$5.70€4.91
-38.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.46
$5.13€4.42
-21.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Spain
Austria
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$1.71€1.47
-27.49%
White Bread(500g)
$1.59€1.37
$2.81€2.42
-43.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.59€1.37
$2.59€2.23
-38.61%
Eggs
$3.05€2.62
$4.69€4.03
-34.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.55€12.52
$19.01€16.35
-23.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.42€7.24
$15.05€12.94
-44.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.35
$23.68€20.37
-34.46%
Apples(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$2.86€2.46
-11.19%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$2.47€2.12
-18.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$3.08€2.65
-32.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.53€2.18
$4.62€3.97
-45.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$2.22€1.91
-16.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89€1.63
$1.99€1.71
-5.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35€1.16
$1.89€1.63
-28.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74€0.64
$0.84€0.72
-11.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.35€5.47
$7.43€6.39
-14.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.66€4.87
$9.12€7.85
-37.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25€1.08
$1.43€1.23
-12.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.77
$1.91€1.65
7.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Spain
Austria
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.69€1.46
$2.92€2.51
-42.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.10€30.20
$59.3€51.0
-40.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.42€3.80
$5.93€5.10
-25.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34€1.15
$2.04€1.76
-34.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.32€22.64
$34.73€29.88
-24.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$1.76€1.52
4.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.4K
$29.3K€25.2K
32.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6K€27.2K
$31.6K€27.2K
-0.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
Austria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€129
$375€323
-59.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.56€17.69
$20.30€17.46
1.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.49€29.67
$39.99€34.40
-13.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Spain
Austria
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.96€41.25
$47.35€40.73
1.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.05€13.80
$25.79€22.18
-37.77%
Cinema Ticket
$8.99€7.73
$13.92€11.98
-35.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Spain
Austria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$509€438
$385€331
32.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,884€8,502
$15.1K€13.0K
-34.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Spain
Austria
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.5€74.4
$104€89.1
-16.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.14€31.95
$44.37€38.17
-16.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.0€79.1
$104€89.3
-11.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109€93.6
$144€124
-24.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Spain
Austria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,045€899
$1,010€869
3.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$834€717
$806€693
3.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,689€1,453
$1,778€1,530
-4.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,065
$1,426€1,227
-13.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,378€3,766
$7,514€6,463
-41.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,747€2,363
$4,994€4,296
-44.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Spain
Austria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,073€1,783
$3,052€2,626
-32.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.51
3.72
-5.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Spain: May 30, 2026
Last update for Austria: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $898 in Spain, $913 in Austria. Capital cities: $1,566 in Madrid vs $1,232 in Vienna.
💰National salary averages: $2,030 in Spain, $2,981 in Austria. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Dining out costs 47% more in Austria.
⭐Public transport is 76% more expensive in Austria.
⭐Salaries are 47% higher in Austria.
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
Spain vs Austria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Austria and Spain?
At $2,240 per month in Austria and $2,198 in Spain, there's a 2% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Spain is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Austria beats Spain across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget in Austria or Spain?
In Spain, $3,000 covers most cities easily. In Austria, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Austria or Spain?
It depends on what you're after. Spain wins on affordability; Austria may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.