Austria is not among the low-cost countries. Meanwhile, to an outside observer, life in this state seems ideal. Many Russians tend to visit the Hofburg - the winter residence of the local Habsburg dynasty or the Vienna Opera, to see Innsbruck and Graz. However, in order not to face financial difficulties, you should first study the prices in Austria. The information in this article will help you plan your budget for travel or vacation in this country.
How much money to take with you to Austria
The level of a traveler's expenses depends on his individual needs. In places characterized by a fairly developed tourist business, you can live on 25 euros / day. But at the same time, eat in cafes and self-service canteens, do not drink strong drinks, spend the night in campsites or youth hotels, and travel by train.
If you stay in inexpensive boarding houses and compose a menu without excessive fantasies, it is quite possible to keep within 50 euros a day. And if you live in a separate room, your daily costs will increase by about 10 euros.
To make the trip pleasant, you should still eat in restaurants, live in a hotel of at least an average level and spend money on entertainment. Then, judging by the reviews on Internet forums, the tourist needs to be guided by 100 euros / day.
Away from large cities, in rural areas where the flow of travelers is relatively small, the cost of living is somewhat lower. A day there may be enough and 75 euros.
Moreover, it is recommended to take the euro with you. This will exclude any fees charged for converting other currencies.
Food costs
It must be said right away that food prices in Austria are one of the highest in Europe. Costs can be minimized by purchasing food from chain stores and preparing meals at home. This is the best option for saving the family budget.
Prices in Austrian supermarkets and shops
The most common retail chains are Eurospar, Billa and Hofer. Their price tags reflect the stable average European level. And the most expensive supermarkets in Austria are Merkur and Spar Gourmet.
Below is the average cost of the main components of the grocery basket, in euros:
- a loaf of fresh white bread - 1.54;
- milk, 1 l - 1.04;
- eggs, 12 pcs. - 3.11;
- rice, 1 kg - 1.68;
- chicken fillet, 1 kg - 8.5;
- local cheese, 1 kg - 9.76;
- vegetables (tomatoes, potatoes) - from 1.6 to 2.5 euros per 1 kg;
- fruits (oranges, apples) - from 2 to 2.3 euros per 1 kg;
- drinking bottled water, 1.5 l - 0.67.
At the same time, grocery stores in Austria sell alcoholic beverages at fairly low prices. For example, a can of beer can be purchased for 0.8 euros, and a bottle of table wine with a capacity of 0.75 liters - for 2.
What are the prices in cafes and restaurants
Eating in Austrian cafes is expensive by Russian standards. A full lunch or dinner with drinks per person will cost 15-25 euros. The table shows the average prices.
| Dish | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Euro | Russian rubles | |
| Soup portion | 2,5–5 | 220—440 |
| Goulash or schnitzel | 5–8 | 440—704 |
| Boiled beef with apple and horseradish | 20 | 1760 |
| Salad | 3–10 | 264—880 |
| Burger, sandwich | 4–6 | 352-528 |
| A large piece of strudel or pie with syrup or jam | 2,5–4 | 220—352 |
| Small bun or croissant | 1–1,5 | 88—134 |
| Sweets in the form of handmade candies (100 g) | from 8 | from 704 |
| A cup of coffee | up to 5 | up to 440 |
For comparison: in the Russian capital, a cup of coffee costs around 170 rubles (less than 2 euros).
The cost of meals in Austrian restaurants also depends on their location. Those in the vicinity of attractions have higher numbers on the menu.
From a financial point of view, this approach is quite justified: a tired, but overflowing foreigner, in order to satisfy his hunger, will not particularly save on food. Therefore, you should eat in restaurants remote from the places of pilgrimage of travelers.
Below are the average prices in relatively inexpensive catering establishments, in euros:
- Viennese schnitzel with potato salad - 15 euros;
- grilled beef entrecote - 22;
- beef goulash with parsley and potatoes - 11;
- cabbage stew with potatoes and meat - 11.
The average bill per person in restaurants in Austria is 30 euros.
You should also know that in large cities of the country, literally at every step there are Chinese, Turkish, Arab and other ethnic restaurants, in which a dinner for 2 persons will cost 20 euros.
Now a few words about baby food in Austria. In pharmacies and shops, you can find mashed potatoes, cereals and mixtures of all well-known manufacturers. Below are the average prices for some of these products.
| Product name | Price | Weight, gram | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Euro | Russian ruble | ||
| Hipp baby biscuits | 1.5 | 134 | 150 |
| Muesli | 2 | 176 | 200 |
| Fruit puree Hipp | 1.29 | 113.5 | 190 |
| Hipp vegetable puree | 1.69 | 149 | 250 |
| Hipp infant formula | 9.49 | 834.9 | 160 |
| Porridge Bebivita | 0.85 | 75 | 190 |
| Vegetable puree Bebivita | 0.79 | 69.5 | 190 |
As you can see, the prices are quite reasonable.
Housing costs in Austria
The cost of living in Austria largely depends on whether the dwelling is rented or owned. This issue is also relevant because in order to obtain a long-term visa, a foreigner must have a place of permanent residence.
Consider prices in Vienna. So, renting a 1-room apartment will cost about 500-600 euros per month. The cost of renting apartments up to 50 m2 is calculated taking into account their location in the Austrian capital:
- in the city center for 1m2 you will have to pay up to 42.4 euros;
- in the industrial area Simmering, on the outskirts of Vienna, renting 1m2 costs 13.5 euros.
As for the purchase, for 1m2 in the center of Vienna you will need to pay at least 10,000 euros.
It will also be useful to find out the cost of housing, depending on its type. On average, Viennese prices look like this:
- Secondary market:
- an apartment requiring renovation - from 2,500 to 3,550 euros / 1m2;
- renovated apartment - from 3,500 to 5,500 euros / 1m2;
- Primary market - from 4,500 to 7,500 euros / 1m2.
Let us briefly dwell on the question of what are the prices for utilities in Austria in 2021. They consist of:
- Rent - from 80 to 150 euros / month.
- Heating. Payment ranges from 10 to 40 euros / month.
- Power supply. With economical consumption of electricity, the figure in the monthly payment will not exceed 40 euros.
- Gas supply. The average payment for the consumed gas is 50 euros / month.
Garbage collection, sewerage and water are usually included in the rent. Thus, utility costs in Austria can reach 280 euros / month.
Transport costs
Public transport is well developed in the Republic of Austria. It is represented in all cities, usually by buses and trams. But trolleybuses are less common there today.
In addition, urban transport in the capital includes the metro and commuter trains. Interestingly, there are no turnstiles installed at metro stations.
Public transport tickets cost, EUR:
- for a day - 6;
- for a week - 14;
- for a month - about 50.
You should be aware that tickets for buses, tram and metro in Vienna are the same. The cost of a one-time trip is 2.4 euros.
Rail transport covers the territory of Austria with a wide network of routes. To give you an idea of the cost of train tickets, here are examples of standard fares for the most popular destinations:
- Vienna - Salzburg (296 km). A ticket in the first class costs from 80 euros, in the second - from 47.
- Vienna - Innsbruck (387 km). You will have to pay at least 100 euros for travel in class I, and about 50 euros in class II.
- Vienna - Graz (197 km). The cost of a ticket in the first class is from 30 euros, in the second class - from 16.
Austrian air transport is mainly used for international flights. Domestic flights are serviced by Tyrolean Airways, a subsidiary of Austrian Airlines. These are usually small regional aircraft.
There are 4 flights a day from Salzburg to Vienna, from Klagenfurt - 5, from Innsbruck - 6.Round trip fares start at 89 euros. The minimum cost of a flight from Innsbruck to the Austrian capital is 139 euros.
Taxi services are in great demand in the country. Average prices are as follows:
- boarding - 2.5 euros:
- kilometer of the way - 1.5.
There is a flat rate for a trip to Vienna airport - 36 euros (maximum 4 people).
Detailed acquaintance with the sights of the country is possible only on condition of renting a vehicle. Leading car rental companies - Sixt, Hertz and Megadrive - offer the following daily rates in euros:
- economy class - from 42 to 92;
- compact class cars - 44-109;
- medium-capacity car - 63–138;
- family cars - 77-145;
- elite / sports cars - 102–170;
- minivans - 70-114;
- convertibles - from 125 to 153.
Indicators of how much gasoline costs in Austria vary in the range of 1.2-1.4 per liter of super-95.
Education expenses
In general, the school system in Austria includes two stages:
- Primary - the first 4 grades of elementary school.
- Basic. Austrian high school provides for the passage of 5 or 8 classes. This stage includes educational institutions with a special bias and gymnasiums.
Preschool institutions are not part of the country's education system. Nursery and kindergarten costs are on average 100 euros / month.
Primary education in Austria is compulsory. In state educational institutions of the category, education is free. But the minimum cost of education in private primary schools is 150 euros / month, while the maximum can reach 700 euros.
For the education of a child in a public secondary school, his parents will have to pay about several hundred euros a year. It will be much more expensive to study in an elite private school - from 12 to 18 thousand euros per year.
To get a higher education at the Austrian State Book University, a Russian needs to pay 746.42 euros to the current account for each semester.
In private universities, tuition fees are much higher. For example, at Webster University, tuition fees reach 10,000 euros per semester.
Prices in Austria for clothes, shoes, household appliances
There are a lot of boutiques in Vienna, Linz, Salzburg, but the prices are decent there. At the same time, you can carry out economical shopping in Austria in simpler shops - Gerry Weber or Donauzentrum. The average cost of their products is shown in the table.
| Product type | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Euro | rubles | |
| Women's and men's suits | 120–150 | 10 557—13 196 |
| Children's jackets | from 100 | from 8 798 |
| Adidas Tracksuits | 40 | 3519 |
| Shoes for men and women from D`Ambrosio | 60—70 | 5 278—6 158 |
Many Russians buy household appliances and electronics in Austria to be sure of the originality of production. But in general, prices in Austria for these products practically do not differ from the European ones.
| Appliances | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Euro | rubles | |
| SONY TV KD-49XG8096, LED, 49 inches | 649 | 57097 |
| Refrigerator LIEBHERR CNEL 4213-21 | 699 | 61496 |
| SAMSUNG Galaxy S8 Smartphone | 597 | 52522 |
| Air conditioner DE LONGHI PAC N90 ECO SILENT | 397 | 34927 |
The cost of rest and excursions
Rest in Austria is multifaceted and varied. There are a large number of amusement parks in the country. Information about the most popular ones can be found by examining the table.
| Name and location of the amusement park | Entrance fee | |
|---|---|---|
| Euro | rubles | |
| Winter park Berta's Kinderland, Fiss | half a day - 27 day - 37 | 2375 2991 |
| BOGI amusement park, Vienna | children under 12 years old - 8.9; family ticket - 21.9 | 783 1927 |
| Amusement Park Fantasiana, Salzburg | children - 15.5; adults - 19.5 | 1364 1715 |
Transportation of children born in 2021 or later on the ski lifts at Berta’s Kinderland is free of charge.
Various exciting excursions are organized for the guests of the country. Here are some examples of them:
- From Vienna to Salzburg. Group excursion. The cost of a ticket for 1 person is 109 euros.
- Wachau Valley. Located between the oldest cities in Austria Krems and Melk, this valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A ticket for 1 person costs 75 euros.
- Secrets of the Vienna Woods. Bus and walking group tour. The ticket price is 55 euros per person.
Other expenses
Medicine in the Austrian Republic is not free. Therefore, a non-EU tourist needs to take out health insurance with a minimum coverage of EUR 30,000 to enter the country.
The traveler will also need to make sure that mobile communication is always activated. Below are the tariffs of one of the most popular operators in Russia - Tele2:
- outgoing calls from Austria to all phones in the Russian Federation - 15 rubles / min;
- Internet traffic in the amount of 1 MB - 25 rubles.
Well, what about without souvenirs. From Austria they usually bring:
- fridge magnets - from 4.95 euros;
- assorted mugs - up to 49;
- a set of liqueurs (6 pieces) - 14.95;
- Manner chocolate - 200-250g costs 2.29 euros;
- flat cow bells - from 10;
- Tyrolean hat - from 20;
- figurine of a white horse - 10 euros.
Conclusion
By Russian standards, it is difficult to call Austria an inexpensive country to live in. But for many Europeans, this state is an attractive destination for a safe and comfortable life, as well as for shopping.
A significant part of the family budget is occupied by real estate expenses. The most expensive rental property in Vienna. But in other famous cities of Austria, such as Salzburg or Innsbruck, you will have to pay a little less for a sublease of an apartment of an identical area.
Food products in the country are also not cheap, but food costs can be minimized: you should buy food in chain supermarkets and cook from them at home.
