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SALZBURG

The best places to live in Austria that are not Vienna

Had enough of the Austrian capital? Then these cities and towns might be for you.

Published: 16 April 2021 15:27 CEST
Updated: 9 April 2022 11:23 CEST
The best places to live in Austria that are not Vienna
Salzburg: the birthplace of Mozart. Photo: Photo: Wikicommons

Vienna is one of the most popular cities for international residents in Austria.

But living in the capital isn’t for everyone – especially in these coronavirus times as people crave more space and easy access to nature.

REVEALED: The best districts to live in Vienna

Instead, here are four alternative cities and the type of lifestyle they can offer.

Salzburg

Salzburg is a pretty city with a population of just 156,872. In normal times it attracts 30 million tourists each year.

For music fans, Salzburg is the birthplace of Mozart and home to the famous Rockhouse live music venue. 

For those looking for nature, there are several ski resorts within easy reach of the city centre. Plus nearby lakes to enjoy in the summer.

Long-term resident, Graham Crewe, loves living in Salzburg and says there is a growing English-speaking community in the city. 

He said: “The English-speaking scene has really boomed in the last few years, not only due to social media bringing people together, but also with a number of companies using English as their working language.”

Salzburg has an average monthly salary of €2,204 but a high cost of living with the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom city centre apartment at €885.

When it comes to connectivity, Salzburg Airport has routes to Dubai, Istanbul and Frankfurt. But Vienna is three hours away by car or train.

Key industries in Salzburg are the automotive and metal processing sectors. 

Tourism also plays a major role in the city so it has been impacted by the pandemic. At the start of the year, unemployment in Salzburg was 70 per cent more than in January 2020. 

Graz

Last year, Graz in Styria was listed as one of the best cities in the world by the InterNations Expat City Ranking (even higher than Vienna).

A major reason for the favourable ranking was the cost of living. Rent in Graz is 38 per cent cheaper than in Vienna, with a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre costing on average €594.

Then there is the average monthly net salary (after tax) at €1,941 and the cost of a monthly public transport pass at just over €50. Overall, it’s an affordable place to live.

Graz’s historic city centre from way up high. Photo: Photo: Wikicommons

Graz is also well connected with an airport offering routes to cities like Vienna, Dusseldorf and Brussels. And Vienna Airport is just 2.5 hours away by car.

When it comes to career opportunities, the main industries in Graz are biotechnology, energy and environmental technology, the creative industries and tourism.

The unemployment rate for March 2021 was 26 per cent less than in March 2020. But the long term unemployed figure in Graz has gone up by 46.7 per cent.

The population in Graz is 291,130.

Innsbruck

Innsbruck is the capital of Tyrol and is located in the heart of the Alps. This means a passion for winter sports and a strong focus on environmental issues is a big part of life in the city.

The population of Innsbruck is 311,428 and there is a large international community – making up about 27.5 per cent of the residents.

Many international residents come from the university. But others are drawn to Innsbruck for the outdoor lifestyle and vibrant social scene.

Innsbruck, one of Austria’s most beautiful cities. Photo: Photo: Wikicommons

Innsbruck Airport has connections to places like Amsterdam, London and Menorca. For travel further afield though, Munich International Airport is the nearest major hub – around 2.5 hours away by car.

READ MORE: Which Austrian state has the cheapest rent based on your salary?

Unfortunately, the cost of living in Innsbruck is 15 per cent more expensive than Vienna. The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom city centre apartment is €773 and the average monthly salary is €1,901.

Tourism is the main industry in Innsbruck, which means the sector has been hit by job losses in the past year. The unemployment rate for March was 8.8 per cent – although this was down from 10.5 per cent in January.

Linz

Linz is a cool city with an industrial past. It has the Danube River, a thriving cultural scene and the acclaimed Ars Electronica – a modern, technology-based museum.

An old map of Linz from 1594. It’s pretty much the same now, except that there’s a McDonald’s. Photo: Photo: Wikicommons

It’s the capital of Upper Austria and the country’s second largest economic area. The population is 205,726 people with foreign residents making up around 24 per cent. 

The overall cost of living in Linz is slightly higher than in Vienna, but rent is 17 per cent cheaper with the average monthly rent for a one bedroom city centre apartment at €671.

The average monthly salary is just under €2,000 and a monthly public transport pass is around €45.

Linz has a small airport with routes to cities like Istanbul, Leipzig and Belgrade. Driving to Vienna takes two hours but a fast train can reach the capital in one hour and 15 minutes.

The industrial and service sectors are the main industries in Linz with companies like Borealis, BMW and Siemens based in the city. This means there is a strong job market.

In fact, the unemployment rate in Linz is now 22 per cent less than it was a year ago. Compared to other cities in Austria, Linz has not been as heavily impacted by the pandemic.

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For members

RENTING

What tenants in Austria need to know about getting their rent reduced

From construction noise to broken utilities, various issues can allow tenants in Austria to request a rent reduction. Learn the steps to follow and when legal action might be necessary.

Published: 19 September 2024 15:02 CEST
What tenants in Austria need to know about getting their rent reduced

In Austria, tenants can legally request rent reductions if their rental property’s usability is significantly impaired. 

According to MieterHilfe, the association that helps renters in Vienna, Section 1096 of the Austrian Civil Code (ABGB) regulates this. The ABGB covers rental agreements for all properties. 

The law offers protection when tenants experience issues like heavy construction noise or utility outages (such as gas, electricity, or water). However, knowing when and how to apply for a rent reduction and understanding the process can be tricky. Disputes often end up in court and are decided on a case-by-case basis.

READ ALSO: Can my landlord in Austria increase the rent whenever they want?

When you can ask for a rent reduction

If your rental property’s usability is restricted, you can apply for a rent reduction. Common examples of restricted usability often include disruptions in gas, electricity, or water supplies, major construction noise from remodelling, damage to property that prevents proper use, such as a broken heating system, and more. 

Importantly, tenants can claim a rent reduction even if the landlord is not directly responsible for the impairment. However, the extent of the usability issue must be clear, and the tenant must notify the landlord to allow them to fix the problem. Additionally, if a tenant repairs the issue, the rent reduction period ends as soon as the repair is made.

Not all impairments qualify for a rent reduction, though. For example, minor inconveniences or defects, issues that the tenant was aware of when signing the lease, impairments caused by the tenant’s actions and situations where the tenant has already waived the right to a reduction do not count.

An attic room can get extremely hot without air conditioning (Photo by Jakub Żerdzicki on Unsplash)

If there is a dispute, the court will decide the extent of the rent reduction, considering objective and subjective factors. For example, households with small children or pregnant women might receive higher reductions.

READ ALSO: Tenant or landlord: Who pays which costs in Austria?

MieterHilfe has a table with many recent cases that can give you an idea of the causes of rent reduction and the amount tenants received. For example, in one case in Vienna, the flat had significant mould infestation, and the tenants received a 75 percent rental reduction. In another case, rent was reduced by 30 percent because of “unhealthy odours” from the rubbish room that affected half of the flat.

In one case, dangerous electrical cables were accessible inside the flat, and the tenant did not have to pay any rent until the issue was fixed.

Things get more complicated when it comes to noise. In one case in 2005, the tenant got a 15 percent rent reduction due to the consequences (noise and smell nuisance) of a garage construction in the neighbouring property, but not a reduction when the next-door property was doing “normal construction work.”

Another common complaint tenants have is regarding heat, especially in Dachgeschoss apartments (attic apartments), which can get extremely hot due to the lack of ventilation and their location in buildings. In one case, the air conditioning system was positioned so unfavourably that the rooms were not cooled —the tenant got a 6 percent reduction in rent.

In another, though, the complaint regarding excessive heating was dismissed, and the tenant received no reduction because they had rented the room without any reservation or questioning, even though the place had no sun protection or air conditioning.

READ ALSO: What happens when my rental contract expires in Austria?

Legal action and rent payment strategies

Tenants must be cautious when pursuing rent reductions, the renter’s association say. Two approaches are commonly used.

You can continue paying the total rent while negotiating. The tenant informs the landlord about the issue and continues paying the total rent but reserves the right to claim a reduction later. This can be useful in avoiding eviction risks.

Or, they can reduce rent directly. This means the tenant pays a reduced amount but informs the landlord in writing. If the landlord disagrees, they may take legal action, and the court will decide the appropriate – if any – reduction.

In both cases, it is essential to notify the landlord in a verifiable form, such as a registered letter, to ensure the process is documented.

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