Cost of Living in Vienna for Students

Vienna, Austria’s capital city, is nicknamed the “City of Music” and has been constantly voted as the most livable city in the world. The city has a 1.8 million population, out of which 190,000 students are studying in universities. Vienna is Austria’s historical, cultural, and education hub, offering innumerable things to do, learn, and explore as a student looking for the opportunity to study abroad.

Is Vienna a student city?

Vienna ranks 12th in QS Best Student Cities Ranking (2024) with the highest indicator of desirability. It is home to two of Austria’s top-ranking universities: the University of Vienna (130th) and the Vienna University of Technology (184th). The city is student-friendly, multicultural, and has an excellent study environment.

Is Vienna expensive to live in?

Vienna ranks 74th on affordability with a low cost of living and tuition fee. On average, the cost of living in Vienna is €1,600 – €3,000 per month, excluding your tuition fees. The price will include rent, food, transportation, and other miscellaneous expenses.

Please bear in mind that the cost of living will depend upon your lifestyle.

For more personalized information, use our cost of living calculator to estimate your desired area’s average cost of living.

Before we list the details of the cost of living in Vienna, let’s summarize its cost.

How much are tuition fees in Vienna?

The public universities in Vienna offer free education for EU and EEA citizens. International students’ fees are lower compared to many European countries; you have to pay 1,500 EUR per year minimum. This will also vary depending on the course, university, and nationality. Please check in with your university for the tuition fees before applying to any university in Vienna.

Is rent expensive in Vienna?

The cost of rent will depend upon the location and the type of rented accommodation. There are three types of student accommodation in Vienna listed below. We have given a brief description of each of them with an average price listing to give you an idea of the options and the choices you can make before selecting one as your student accommodation. 

Student Housing

The student housing in Vienna is an alternative to on-campus accommodation as it offers a private and independent life. You can choose rooms that suit your budget, location, and personal preferences. These housings are from universities and have come fully furnished with modern amenities.

Most of the accommodations are at a distance of under 3 miles. While the ones outside of the city center are up to 20 miles.

Private Apartment

A private student apartment is another off-campus accommodation. It is close to the university campus and offers a holistic way of living among students. The apartments come in wide ranges, fully furnished and equipped with modern amenities.

University Halls

University Halls are on-campus residences that are available for students studying at universities. If you want to stay within the campus or close to one, this is an ideal accommodation for freshers. But there’s no privacy, and it comes with limited options. 

Is it expensive to eat food outside in Vienna?

Vienna is affordable, but you still have to be mindful while spending money on food. Spending money on groceries is much cheaper (€300 /month)than eating meals outside (mid-range restaurant €30 /person, drinks €3 /person). 

What is the cost of electricity in Vienna, Austria?

The cost of electricity bills in Vienna is €170 /month. But student accommodation includes utility bills in the rent, which covers your electricity, heating, cooling, gas, etc.

How to get around Vienna?

Vienna offers cheap, efficient, fast, and best public transportation. There are U-Bahn (subway), Straßenbahn (tram), and S-Bahn (local train). If you purchase a Vienna Travel Pass, you can use it in all public transportation networks.