Study in Austria: Housing & Living Costs

Looking for an awesome place to live while studying in Austria? We have the answer! The affordable living costs in Austria attract every year not only international students but also Europeans, who aim to explore the charm of this Alpine country. Despite the fact that Austria ranks among the richest countries in the world, the living costs in Austria are not high compared to other European countries. 

The cost of living significantly depends on your lifestyle, whether you choose to study at a private or public university and of course, the city. Always expect to pay more in the capital city, in that case, the beautiful city of Vienna. The cities of Linz, Salzburg and Innsbruck offer a more relaxed and affordable study life. 

The most popular accommodation options for international students in Austria include:

• The OeAD Student Housing: OeAD Student Housing offers accommodation options to around 12.000 students in the cities of Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck, Linz, Salzburg, Leoben and Klagenfurt. It is a great budget friendly option and an official partner of universities and institutions in Austria. In fact, they provide fully furnished accommodation with the possibility to rent a place even during the summer. 
• Living in a shared flat or Wohngemeinschaften (WG): The most popular option after OeAD is to share an apartment, the so-called WG in Austria. Living costs in Austria become even more affordable with this option as you would be expected to pay from 250 to 450 EUR per month. You share the bills, rents and common areas with your roommates while you can have your own room. You can start searching for shared accommodation here. 
• Living in a hall of residence or dormitory: This option is also available for international students. It included multiple types of apartments with shared facilities and communal areas among students. You can find more information regarding this type of accommodation at the Austrian Student Union. Note that if you are a member of the "ÖH-Beitrag" Austrian Student Union, you will need to pay a fee for 20 EUR per semester, which even covers student accident insurance.

Before you make any final decision on your student accommodation, make sure to always sign a contract and check the rules of the contract before signing it. Have a contract that includes additional living costs in Austria like internet, electricity, heat or TV in order to balance your expenses better. 

As for living costs in Austria like food, study materials and accommodation, keep in mind that the cost will rise around 1000 EUR with the accommodation. This is why it is crucial to make a financial plan beforehand, so you can estimate how much money you can spend per month depending on the city. Good news! Austria has a lot of discount supermarkets around where you can find food very cheap. 

In addition, many universities have their own Mensa, the self-service student universities where you can also find food at great student prices. Don’t forget that as a student you have discount deals and prices in transportation, museums, cinemas, theatres and cultural events, as long as you show your student card. 

Average living costs in Austria:

Useful student housing & accommodation websites

Student.com offers over 1 million beds in Austria and other countries around the world. Their website is free to use and offers a dedicated team of expert accommodation consultants and price match comparisons. They also have formal contractual relationships with every landlord on their site for an added layer of security for you!

The content of this Study in Austria guide has been developed by OeAD - Austrian Agency for International Cooperation in Education and Research.

About OeAD

OeAD is Austria’s leading non-profit-making service organization in the field of international cooperation in education and research. The activities of the OeAD embrace general, academic, and vocational education with – historically grown – specific focus on academic mobility.