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COST OF LIVING

IN NUMBERS: Where are Austria’s most budget-friendly cities?

Austria is known for its high living standard and beautiful nature. However, settling down in the country can come with a higher price tag. But there are some cities that are more affordable while also offering jobs and activities.

Published: 18 September 2024 13:03 CEST
IN NUMBERS: Where are Austria's most budget-friendly cities?
City centre of Linz, Austria's third largest city. Photo by Harold Wainwright on Unsplash

If you want your living situation to be as affordable as possible while still living in a big capital city with a lot to offer, you should not focus on places like Salzburg, Innsbruck, or Vienna.

Instead, you should consider beautiful Klagenfurt near the mountains in Carinthia, cultural Graz in Styria, or, why not, lively Linz in Upper Austria, known for its music and cultural scene.

Linz

Linz is the capital of Upper Austria and Austria’s third-largest city.

For a long time, it was mainly known for being one of Austria’s most industrial hubs.

Today, it is also known for its cultural offerings, with many festivals and various events happening all year round, such as the famous festivals Ars Electronica and Lido Sounds.

The city also has a beautiful historical centre, with interesting architecture and a wide variety of bars, restaurants, and cafes.

In Linz, housing is relatively affordable compared to other Austrian cities. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre costs around €678 per month, while the price drops to around €576 outside the centre.

If you are looking to buy property, the price per square meter in the city centre is about €4,833, and outside the centre, it is as low as around €3,583.

Eating out costs €15 for a meal in a standard restaurant, while a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant costs around €66. 

Buying food is also relatively cheap, a litre of milk is priced around €1.35, while a loaf of fresh white bread (500 grams) costs €2.56. Rice costs around €2.22 per kilogram.

Using the public transport in the city costs €2.60 for a one-way ticket, and a monthly pass is €54.10.

In Linz, the average monthly net salary after taxes is about €2,524.58, similar to Vienna’s (€2,544). 

Renting or buying an apartment in Linz is affordable comparing to many other cities. Photo by Leonhard Niederwimmer on Unsplash
 
 
 
Graz

Graz is the capital of Styria and Austria’s second-largest city. It is a lively city full of students, cultural events and historical architecture. 

In fact, the city centre has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site and drags tourists from everywhere. 

Housing in Graz is relatively cheap compared to other larger Austrian cities.

Renting a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre costs about €753 per month, while the price drops to about €625 outside the centre.

If you instead plan to buy property, the price per square meter in the city centre is about €6,583.33. Outside the city centre, the price is about €4,316 per square meter, a price range higher than in Klagenfurt and Linz, but at the same time significantly lower than in cities such as Vienna and Salzburg.

Prices for eating out in Graz vary depending on what you are looking for. A meal at an inexpensive restaurant costs around €14, while a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant will cost about €70.

When it comes to groceries, a litre of milk costs around €1.44, and a loaf of fresh white bread (500 grams) around €1.74. A kilogram of rice goes for about €2.48.

Public transport in Graz is relatively affordable, although slightly more expensive than Vienna’s. A single ticket costs €3, valid for one hour, while a monthly pass costs around €64.

The average monthly net salary in Graz is around €2,491, similar to the average net salary in Vienna (€2,544).

A woman sitting and looking out over the city of Graz. Photo by Anna Oliinyk on Unsplash

READ MORE: Does Graz offer the best quality of life among Austria’s cities?

Klagenfurt

Klagenfurt is the capital of Carinthia in the south of Austria. The city is not only beautiful but is also located near Lake Wörthersee and many other impressive lakes and mountains.

Klagenfurt and its surroundings are a paradise for those who love nature, and the city itself has a lot to offer in terms of restaurants, bars, entertainment, and culture.

On top of this, Klagenfurt is quite an affordable city, especially when it comes to housing.

For a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre, you can expect to pay around €818 per month. Outside the city centre, the rent is even more affordable, and you will pay around €717 per month.

If you want to buy property, the price per square meter in the city centre is about €4,120. For locations outside the city centre, the price per square meter is around €4,425.

A three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant typically costs about €60, while a meal at an inexpensive restaurant costs around €15.

When you go to the supermarket, a litre of milk costs about €1.38, a loaf of fresh white bread (500 grams) is around €2.25, and one kilo of rice usually costs around €2.36.

If you want to travel with the local public transport, you pay about €2.50 for a one way ticket, while a monthly pass costs around €47.50.

The average monthly net salary in Klagenfurt is around €1,807, which is lower compared to some other Austrian cities.

However, since many other costs, such as housing, are significantly lower, many people still see Klagenfurt as a more affordable option compared to other cities.

Calm street in the city centre of Klagenfurt. Photo by Evangelia Panteliadou on Unsplash

READ ALSO: IN NUMBERS: What are Austria’s most expensive cities to live in?

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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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