Cost of Living Comparison Between Vienna and Alexandria, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Vienna and Alexandria, MN

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,288 in Vienna versus $2,232 in Alexandria, MN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,508 in Vienna versus $3,457 in Alexandria, MN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,728 in Vienna versus $4,682 in Alexandria, MN.

Living in Vienna is roughly 3% more expensive than Alexandria, MN, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vienna 70% above, Alexandria, MN 66% above.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Vienna
Alexandria, MN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.69 โ‚ฌ15.06
$15.27 $15.27
15.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.2 โ‚ฌ73.4
$59.1 $59.1
45.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.61 โ‚ฌ9.88
$10.05 $10.05
15.52%
Cappuccino
$4.98 โ‚ฌ4.24
$5.29 $5.29
-5.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 โ‚ฌ2.95
$1.95 $1.95
77.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19 โ‚ฌ2.71
$1.97 $1.97
61.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.87 โ‚ฌ4.99
$5.40 $5.40
8.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.29 โ‚ฌ4.51
$7.20 $7.20
-26.53%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Vienna
Alexandria, MN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 โ‚ฌ1.50
$1.02 $1.02
72.55%
White Bread (500g)
$2.83 โ‚ฌ2.41
$3.33 $3.33
-15.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.74 โ‚ฌ2.33
$3.96 $3.96
-30.81%
Eggs
$4.73 โ‚ฌ4.02
$3.21 $3.21
47.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.48 โ‚ฌ14.88
$9.20 $9.20
90.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.18 โ‚ฌ12.92
$11.50 $11.50
32.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.99 โ‚ฌ20.42
$14.28 $14.28
68.00%
Apples (1kg)
$2.97 โ‚ฌ2.52
$5.00 $5.00
-40.60%
Banana (1kg)
$2.36 โ‚ฌ2.01
$1.17 $1.17
101.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.32 โ‚ฌ2.82
$5.90 $5.90
-43.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.10 โ‚ฌ3.49
$5.12 $5.12
-19.92%
Potato (1kg)
$2.18 โ‚ฌ1.86
$3.94 $3.94
-44.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 โ‚ฌ1.73
$3.78 $3.78
-46.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.96 โ‚ฌ1.67
$2.04 $2.04
-3.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 โ‚ฌ0.80
$1.95 $1.95
-51.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.33 โ‚ฌ6.24
$10.47 $10.47
-29.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.40 โ‚ฌ7.15
$16.20 $16.20
-48.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 โ‚ฌ1.25
$1.78 $1.78
-17.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 โ‚ฌ1.65
$4.37 $4.37
-55.61%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Vienna
Alexandria, MN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.71 โ‚ฌ2.31
$1.96 $1.96
38.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.15 โ‚ฌ35.02
$126 $126
-67.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.72 โ‚ฌ4.02
$4.86 $4.86
-2.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.12 โ‚ฌ1.80
$1.43 $1.43
48.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$38.08 โ‚ฌ32.40
$29.07 $29.07
30.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.90 โ‚ฌ1.62
$0.87 $0.87
118.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K โ‚ฌ27.4K
$35.1K $35.1K
-8.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.7K โ‚ฌ28.7K
$25.4K $25.4K
33.07%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vienna
Alexandria, MN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$333 โ‚ฌ283
$220 $220
51.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.61 โ‚ฌ14.14
$47.87 $47.87
-65.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.19 โ‚ฌ34.20
$72.6 $72.6
-44.60%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Vienna
Alexandria, MN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.59 โ‚ฌ40.50
$75.9 $75.9
-37.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.21 โ‚ฌ22.30
$50.6 $50.6
-48.20%
Cinema Ticket
$13.80 โ‚ฌ11.74
$9.93 $9.93
38.97%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Vienna
Alexandria, MN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$324 โ‚ฌ276
$994 $994
-67.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.1K โ‚ฌ19.7K
$30.2K $30.2K
-23.37%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Vienna
Alexandria, MN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.7 โ‚ฌ84.0
$24.56 $24.56
301.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.60 โ‚ฌ37.95
$24.94 $24.94
78.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.2 โ‚ฌ84.4
$50.3 $50.3
97.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155 โ‚ฌ132
$60.9 $60.9
154.37%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Vienna
Alexandria, MN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,257 โ‚ฌ1,070
$1,064 $1,064
18.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$897 โ‚ฌ764
$917 $917
-2.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,335 โ‚ฌ1,987
$2,124 $2,124
9.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 โ‚ฌ1,389
$1,850 $1,850
-11.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.8K โ‚ฌ11.8K
$2,776 $2,776
398.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,488 โ‚ฌ5,521
$2,741 $2,741
136.65%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Vienna
Alexandria, MN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,567 โ‚ฌ3,035
$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

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.

Vienna 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.

Dining 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.

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