Austria
Alpine republic with stable politics, high quality of life, and vibrant culture and education scene.
Important Notice: No Individual Advice
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute individual legal, tax, or financial advice. Please consult qualified professionals for personal decisions.
Key Metrics
Cost of Living
Cost Breakdown
Quality of Life
Taxes
Tax information for Austria
Tax resident after 183 days or if main residence is in Austria
2025
June 30 of the following year
No - worldwide income
Income Tax
Progressive tariff 2025 (inflation-adjusted). Effective tax burden reduced by tax credits (Family Bonus Plus up to €2,000/child, commuter allowance, standard deductions).
| From | To | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| €0 | €13,308 | 0% |
| €13,308 | €21,617 | 20% |
| €21,617 | €35,836 | 30% |
| €35,836 | €69,166 | 40% |
| €69,166 | €103,072 | 48% |
| €103,072 | €1,000,000 | 50% |
| €1,000,000 | Unlimited | 55% |
Plus social security: approx. 18% employee share (health, pension, unemployment, accident insurance), capped at max. contribution basis €6,060/month. Corporate tax for companies: 23%.
Marginal Tax Rate by Income
Income Tax Tariff 2025 (EStG)
Pension Tax
Pensions subject to progressive income tax rates. Pensioner tax credit and increased pensioner tax credit available.
Capital Gains Tax
Capital gains tax (KESt) 27.5% on dividends, interest and capital gains
Dividend Tax
Dividends subject to 27.5% KESt withholding
Wealth Tax
No wealth tax. Property tax on real estate
VAT
20%Important Notice
This is not tax advice. Consult an Austria-licensed tax advisor.
This is not tax, legal, or investment advice. Tax laws change frequently and can be complex. The information provided is for general informational purposes only. Please consult a tax advisor licensed in Austria for your specific situation.
Healthcare
Healthcare in Austria
Social insurance universal + private
Mandatory for all residents
Expat Access
Excellent, immediately accessible
Premium care available
€50-150/month supplementary optional
Education & Childcare
Education system in Austria
High-quality public education system with free schools. Mandatory kindergarten year from age 5. Universities with low fees. Vienna as international education hub.
Childcare
Good availability in Vienna with free all-day care for under 6s. Moderate waiting times in other cities (3-6 months).
Primary & Secondary School
International schools
Higher Education
EU/EEA students: no tuition fees. Non-EU/EEA: €726.72 per semester. Many English-taught Master's programs, especially in Vienna.
For Expat Families
Very expat-friendly, especially in Vienna. International schools well represented. Public schools accept international children with language support.
German support courses in public schools. Native language instruction available for many languages. Many bilingual kindergartens.
Vienna offers best international infrastructure. Register for kindergarten 6-12 months ahead. Public system excellent, international schools for IB path.
Pros
- •Free public schools
- •Vienna: free all-day care for young children
- •Low university fees
- •High quality with international focus
Cons
- •International schools very expensive
- •Less international options outside Vienna
Notes
Austria, especially Vienna, offers a first-class education system with high quality of life for families. Kindergarten from age 5 is mandatory.
Language & Communication
Communication in Austria
Austria ranks #3 worldwide for English proficiency (EF EPI: 616). Vienna is one of Europe's most international cities with excellent English communication.
English Proficiency
Austria has excellent English competency (EF EPI: 616/800, rank #3 worldwide). Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck stand out. Almost everyone under 40 speaks fluent English.
Excellent in Vienna (EPI: 620+). Smaller cities like Salzburg, Innsbruck also very good. Rural areas solid, but less widespread.
Government Services
Many Vienna authorities have English-speaking staff. MA35 (Immigration Office) offers English service. Online portals partly bilingual.
Wien.gv.at has English version. oesterreich.gv.at partly in English. Finanzonline only in German.
Daily Life & Communication
Supermarkets (Billa, Spar) often have English-speaking staff in Vienna. Restaurants in tourist areas with English menus. Coffee houses traditional, but waiters usually speak English.
Wiener Linien has English announcements and apps. Ă–BB (railway) fully bilingual. Ticket machines with English option.
Many doctors in Vienna speak English. International clinics (Privatklinik Döbling) with English-speaking service. E-Card system uncomplicated.
All major banks (Erste Bank, Raiffeisen, Bank Austria) with English service. Online banking multilingual. George app in English.
Work Environment
Many international organizations in Vienna (UN, OPEC, OSCE). English is common business language. Startups fully English-speaking.
Vienna as UN city with many NGOs and international firms. Growing tech scene (Bitpanda, Runtastic). Remote jobs often in English.
Expat Community
Vienna has a very large international community (~40% migration background). Over 200 nationalities. Salzburg and Innsbruck also international.
InterNations Vienna, Vienna Expat Center, Facebook groups ('Expats in Vienna'). Welcome desks in all district offices. Ladies' International Association.
Learning the Local Language
Very good offerings: Ă–IF (Austrian Integration Fund), VHS, language schools. Integration courses for visa. Many free/affordable courses.
Medium for Vienna, Higher outside. You can get by well with English in Vienna. For citizenship: German B1 required. Very helpful for integration.
Tips
- đź’ˇVienna is extremely expat-friendly - English is sufficient for almost everything
- đź’ˇMA35 (Immigration Office) offers English-speaking appointments
- đź’ˇAustrian German differs somewhat from Germany (different words)
- đź’ˇCoffee house culture: English menus usually available, but ordering in German is appreciated
Pros
- •Rank #3 worldwide for English proficiency
- •Vienna extremely international and English-friendly
- •Authorities often with English-speaking service
- •Large, active expat community
Cons
- •Outside Vienna less English-speaking
- •Tax office often only in German
- •Austrian bureaucracy can be challenging
Notes
Austria, especially Vienna, is one of the most expat-friendly countries in the world. English is completely sufficient for daily life, but learning German is recommended for integration.
Climate Change & Future Outlook
Climate risks in Austria
Austria shows moderate climate risks with strong impact on Alps. Main risks: Glacier loss (50-75% by 2050), increasing heat days in cities (+25-30 days >30°C), winter precipitation +8%, summer drought -17%. As highly developed country with excellent adaptive capacity (ND-GAIN Rank #8 globally, #180 vulnerability = very low).
Climate Scenarios
Switch between IPCC SSP pathways
SSP2-4.5
Current policy trajectory – ~2.7°C warming by 2100, moderate mitigation.
Values are approximations relative to our SSP2-4.5 baseline. They illustrate directional change, not exact national projections.
Overall Climate Risk
Projected risk index (0 = low risk, 100 = extreme risk)
Risk Categories
City-level climate outlook
Localized projections for the key expat metros in Austria.
Vienna is Austria's heat hot spot: heat days have doubled since 1990 and tropical nights accelerate. Dense historic districts trap heat, making the inner city up to 7°C warmer than the outskirts.
City of Vienna climate monitoring 2023
Inner districts vs suburbs
Flood relief channel keeps river risk moderate, but flash floods in Hernals/Ottakring
- •Cool City & sponge-city program: 1,000+ water features, greened streets, reflective façades
- •District heat action plans with cooling centres, drinking fountains, extended transit hours
- •Top-floor flats without AC run +3°C above street level
- •Inner districts (1-9) register twice as many tropical nights as Donaustadt or Hietzing
Personal climate risk assessment
Tune the analysis to your health profile and comfort level.
Age group
Sensitivity
Risk tolerance
Personalized risk index
Current level: High
Priority risks
Heat Stress
Base 62 → Personal 62
Economic Impact
Base 62 → Personal 62
What to prioritize
- •Prioritise shaded neighborhoods, AC-ready apartments, and early-morning routines.
- •Budget for higher insurance/utilities and diversify income streams against climate shocks.
- •Look for reliable shelter options and emergency communication plans.
Adaptation Measures
- •Austrian Adaptation Strategy: €500M climate fund
- •Danube flood protection: €2.3B investment by 2030
- •Alpine snow management: Artificial snow infrastructure
- •Vienna Cool City: 100+ drinking fountains, urban greening
- •Vienna heat app: Cool places, health warnings
- •Flood insurance: Mandatory in risk areas
- •Tick precaution: TBE vaccination recommended
Climate Resilience
Excellent adaptive capacity! ND-GAIN Rank #8 globally (Readiness #17, Vulnerability #180 = lowest!). Strong governance, high investment readiness, alpine expertise. Weaknesses: Tourism dependency, glacier loss irreversible.
Tips
- đź’ˇVienna is heat-prone - prefer districts with green spaces (13th, 19th, 23rd)
- đź’ˇWinter sports: Invest only in areas >2000m (Hintertux, Stubaital, Arlberg)
- đź’ˇFlood apps: HORA (flood risk), NINA Austria
- đź’ˇGlacier retreat creates new: Alpine hiking trails emerging
Pros
- •Very low vulnerability (ND-GAIN #180 - best in class!)
- •Vienna Cool City: Exemplary urban planning for heat
- •Hydropower benefits short-term from glacier melt
- •Air quality in Alps excellent
Cons
- •Glacier loss 50-75% by 2050 (irreversible!)
- •Winter tourism heavily threatened (<1500m snow scarcity)
- •Vienna: Heat days triple by 2075
- •Tourism GDP -8% risk
Notes
Austria is excellently positioned for climate adaptation (ND-GAIN Top 10!), but the Alpine region is changing fundamentally. Glacier loss is unstoppable. For property buyers: Avoid Vienna in summer (heat island) or plan for AC. Winter sports investments only >2000m worthwhile.
Data sources
Scientific Disclaimer
Climate projections are based on models with inherent uncertainties. Actual outcomes may differ. We present mainstream scientific consensus (IPCC) but acknowledge uncertainty ranges. This is not financial advice. Consult climate scientists and experts for specific decisions.
Safety & Security
Safety & Crime in Austria
Safety Indicators
Comparison with DACH Region
For comparison: Germany (CPI: 78), Austria (CPI: 71), Switzerland (CPI: 82)
Notes
Standard precautions recommended in urban areas.
Visa & Immigration
Immigration Options for Austria
Visa Options
Red-White-Red Card
For skilled workers
Path to Permanent Residency
Permanent residency after 5 years. Citizenship after 10 years.
Important Notice
Visa and immigration regulations change frequently. The information provided is for general informational purposes only. Please consult the official government website or an immigration attorney for current and accurate information.
Climate
Data Sources & Updates
Data Sources
- OECD Tax Database(OECD Terms of Use)
- NOAA Climate Data(Public Domain)
- WHO Global Health Observatory(CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)
- World Bank World Development Indicators(CC BY 4.0)
- Numbeo(User-Generated Data)
- Numbeo Quality of Life Index(CC BY 4.0)