๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,288 in Vienna versus $2,232 in Alexandria, MN.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,508 in Vienna versus $3,457 in Alexandria, MN.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,728 in Vienna versus $4,682 in Alexandria, MN.
๐Living in Vienna is roughly 3% more expensive than Alexandria, MN, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vienna70% above, Alexandria, MN66% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Vienna
Alexandria, MN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.69โฌ15.06
$15.27$15.27
15.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.2โฌ73.4
$59.1$59.1
45.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.61โฌ9.88
$10.05$10.05
15.52%
Cappuccino
$4.98โฌ4.24
$5.29$5.29
-5.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46โฌ2.95
$1.95$1.95
77.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19โฌ2.71
$1.97$1.97
61.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.87โฌ4.99
$5.40$5.40
8.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.29โฌ4.51
$7.20$7.20
-26.53%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Vienna
Alexandria, MN
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76โฌ1.50
$1.02$1.02
72.55%
White Bread(500g)
$2.83โฌ2.41
$3.33$3.33
-15.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.74โฌ2.33
$3.96$3.96
-30.81%
Eggs
$4.73โฌ4.02
$3.21$3.21
47.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.48โฌ14.88
$9.20$9.20
90.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.18โฌ12.92
$11.50$11.50
32.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.99โฌ20.42
$14.28$14.28
68.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97โฌ2.52
$5.00$5.00
-40.60%
Banana(1kg)
$2.36โฌ2.01
$1.17$1.17
101.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.32โฌ2.82
$5.90$5.90
-43.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.10โฌ3.49
$5.12$5.12
-19.92%
Potato(1kg)
$2.18โฌ1.86
$3.94$3.94
-44.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03โฌ1.73
$3.78$3.78
-46.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96โฌ1.67
$2.04$2.04
-3.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94โฌ0.80
$1.95$1.95
-51.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.33โฌ6.24
$10.47$10.47
-29.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.40โฌ7.15
$16.20$16.20
-48.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46โฌ1.25
$1.78$1.78
-17.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94โฌ1.65
$4.37$4.37
-55.61%
๐ Getting Around
Vienna
Alexandria, MN
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.71โฌ2.31
$1.96$1.96
38.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.15โฌ35.02
$126$126
-67.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.72โฌ4.02
$4.86$4.86
-2.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.12โฌ1.80
$1.43$1.43
48.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$38.08โฌ32.40
$29.07$29.07
30.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90โฌ1.62
$0.87$0.87
118.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2Kโฌ27.4K
$35.1K$35.1K
-8.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.7Kโฌ28.7K
$25.4K$25.4K
33.07%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vienna
Alexandria, MN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$333โฌ283
$220$220
51.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.61โฌ14.14
$47.87$47.87
-65.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.19โฌ34.20
$72.6$72.6
-44.60%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Vienna
Alexandria, MN
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.59โฌ40.50
$75.9$75.9
-37.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.21โฌ22.30
$50.6$50.6
-48.20%
Cinema Ticket
$13.80โฌ11.74
$9.93$9.93
38.97%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Vienna
Alexandria, MN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$324โฌ276
$994$994
-67.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.1Kโฌ19.7K
$30.2K$30.2K
-23.37%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Vienna
Alexandria, MN
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.7โฌ84.0
$24.56$24.56
301.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.60โฌ37.95
$24.94$24.94
78.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.2โฌ84.4
$50.3$50.3
97.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155โฌ132
$60.9$60.9
154.37%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Vienna
Alexandria, MN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,257โฌ1,070
$1,064$1,064
18.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$897โฌ764
$917$917
-2.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,335โฌ1,987
$2,124$2,124
9.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,633โฌ1,389
$1,850$1,850
-11.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$13.8Kโฌ11.8K
$2,776$2,776
398.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,488โฌ5,521
$2,741$2,741
136.65%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Vienna
Alexandria, MN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,567โฌ3,035
$3,354$3,354
6.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.6
6.43
-44.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vienna: April 12, 2026
Last update for Alexandria, MN: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,257 in Vienna and $1,064 in Alexandria, MN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐVienna pays 6% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $86 in Vienna vs $59 in Alexandria, MN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $397 vs $382 per month, with Alexandria, MN cheaper across the board.
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
Vienna vs Alexandria, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Vienna or Alexandria, MN?
Alexandria, MN wins on cost โ living expenses run 3% lower than in Vienna. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Alexandria, MN the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Vienna or Alexandria, MN?
Vienna pays 6% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Vienna vs Alexandria, MN?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,257 in Vienna versus $1,064 in Alexandria, MN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Vienna and Alexandria, MN?
Childcare runs $324 in Vienna versus $994 in Alexandria, MN. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Vienna or Alexandria, MN?
Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Vienna. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Vienna or Alexandria, MN?
At $2,232 in Alexandria, MN versus $2,288 in Vienna, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Alexandria, MN but tight or insufficient in Vienna. The gap between the two cities makes Alexandria, MN the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Vienna or Alexandria, MN?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Vienna compared to Alexandria, MN?
Safety-wise, Vienna and Alexandria, MN are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Alexandria, MN gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 3% less than in Vienna. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.