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SALZBURG

The best places to live in Austria that are not Vienna

Had enough of the Austrian capital? Then these cities and towns might be for you.

Published: 16 April 2021 15:27 CEST
Updated: 9 April 2022 11:23 CEST
The best places to live in Austria that are not Vienna
Salzburg: the birthplace of Mozart. Photo: Photo: Wikicommons

Vienna is one of the most popular cities for international residents in Austria.

But living in the capital isn’t for everyone – especially in these coronavirus times as people crave more space and easy access to nature.

REVEALED: The best districts to live in Vienna

Instead, here are four alternative cities and the type of lifestyle they can offer.

Salzburg

Salzburg is a pretty city with a population of just 156,872. In normal times it attracts 30 million tourists each year.

For music fans, Salzburg is the birthplace of Mozart and home to the famous Rockhouse live music venue. 

For those looking for nature, there are several ski resorts within easy reach of the city centre. Plus nearby lakes to enjoy in the summer.

Long-term resident, Graham Crewe, loves living in Salzburg and says there is a growing English-speaking community in the city. 

He said: “The English-speaking scene has really boomed in the last few years, not only due to social media bringing people together, but also with a number of companies using English as their working language.”

Salzburg has an average monthly salary of €2,204 but a high cost of living with the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom city centre apartment at €885.

When it comes to connectivity, Salzburg Airport has routes to Dubai, Istanbul and Frankfurt. But Vienna is three hours away by car or train.

Key industries in Salzburg are the automotive and metal processing sectors. 

Tourism also plays a major role in the city so it has been impacted by the pandemic. At the start of the year, unemployment in Salzburg was 70 per cent more than in January 2020. 

Graz

Last year, Graz in Styria was listed as one of the best cities in the world by the InterNations Expat City Ranking (even higher than Vienna).

A major reason for the favourable ranking was the cost of living. Rent in Graz is 38 per cent cheaper than in Vienna, with a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre costing on average €594.

Then there is the average monthly net salary (after tax) at €1,941 and the cost of a monthly public transport pass at just over €50. Overall, it’s an affordable place to live.

Graz’s historic city centre from way up high. Photo: Photo: Wikicommons

Graz is also well connected with an airport offering routes to cities like Vienna, Dusseldorf and Brussels. And Vienna Airport is just 2.5 hours away by car.

When it comes to career opportunities, the main industries in Graz are biotechnology, energy and environmental technology, the creative industries and tourism.

The unemployment rate for March 2021 was 26 per cent less than in March 2020. But the long term unemployed figure in Graz has gone up by 46.7 per cent.

The population in Graz is 291,130.

Innsbruck

Innsbruck is the capital of Tyrol and is located in the heart of the Alps. This means a passion for winter sports and a strong focus on environmental issues is a big part of life in the city.

The population of Innsbruck is 311,428 and there is a large international community – making up about 27.5 per cent of the residents.

Many international residents come from the university. But others are drawn to Innsbruck for the outdoor lifestyle and vibrant social scene.

Innsbruck, one of Austria’s most beautiful cities. Photo: Photo: Wikicommons

Innsbruck Airport has connections to places like Amsterdam, London and Menorca. For travel further afield though, Munich International Airport is the nearest major hub – around 2.5 hours away by car.

READ MORE: Which Austrian state has the cheapest rent based on your salary?

Unfortunately, the cost of living in Innsbruck is 15 per cent more expensive than Vienna. The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom city centre apartment is €773 and the average monthly salary is €1,901.

Tourism is the main industry in Innsbruck, which means the sector has been hit by job losses in the past year. The unemployment rate for March was 8.8 per cent – although this was down from 10.5 per cent in January.

Linz

Linz is a cool city with an industrial past. It has the Danube River, a thriving cultural scene and the acclaimed Ars Electronica – a modern, technology-based museum.

An old map of Linz from 1594. It’s pretty much the same now, except that there’s a McDonald’s. Photo: Photo: Wikicommons

It’s the capital of Upper Austria and the country’s second largest economic area. The population is 205,726 people with foreign residents making up around 24 per cent. 

The overall cost of living in Linz is slightly higher than in Vienna, but rent is 17 per cent cheaper with the average monthly rent for a one bedroom city centre apartment at €671.

The average monthly salary is just under €2,000 and a monthly public transport pass is around €45.

Linz has a small airport with routes to cities like Istanbul, Leipzig and Belgrade. Driving to Vienna takes two hours but a fast train can reach the capital in one hour and 15 minutes.

The industrial and service sectors are the main industries in Linz with companies like Borealis, BMW and Siemens based in the city. This means there is a strong job market.

In fact, the unemployment rate in Linz is now 22 per cent less than it was a year ago. Compared to other cities in Austria, Linz has not been as heavily impacted by the pandemic.

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For members

RENTING

Can I get out of a rental contract in Austria?

Have you viewed an apartment in Vienna o elsewhere in Austria and hastily signed a contract? Don't you like the apartment after all? These are your withdrawal rights in Austria.

Published: 23 April 2024 17:24 CEST
Can I get out of a rental contract in Austria?

In Austria, the rental market is highly competitive, with apartments often staying on rental platforms for short periods due to high demand and limited supply. This, coupled with brief apartment visits (sometimes with other prospective tenants) and the pressure to secure a place, can lead to hasty contract signings. 

Understanding your withdrawal rights is essential in such a market.

READ ALSO: Renting in Austria – The key things foreign residents need to know

If you signed a rental contract and then realised you don’t want the place, you might feel stuck in your contract. Austria does have really strict rules on contracts, so that “anyone who signs a rental offer makes a binding declaration that they wish to rent the apartment at a certain rate”, Austria’s Tenants Association says.

The real estate agent will also remind you that you cannot leave your contract, as you signed a contractual agreement (“verbindliches Angebot“, which means a binding offer). But what exactly are your rights then?

It’s all about timing

Basically it’s very tricky and almost impossible to back out after signing a rental contact in Austria.

According to Austria’s Chamber of Labour (AK), Austrian law is on your side – but only in a particular case. 

Under a consumer law that applies to all types of contracts, including rental agreements, you are protected against potential pressure from real estate agents and property owners. If you view an apartment and sign an agreement on the same day, you have the right to withdraw from the contract within the week. Furthermore, if the estate agent fails to inform you of your right to cancel, you can withdraw from the contract within one month.

READ ALSO: Shopping in Austria – What are your consumer rights when purchasing goods?

The Tenants Association is more critical and explains that withdrawal is only possible within the “narrow” limits of the Consumer Protection Act. “If you as a consumer submit your contractual declaration on the same day that you viewed the apartment for the first time, you can withdraw from your contractual declaration in writing within one week.”

If the offer was not signed on the day of the very first viewing, though, there is no right of withdrawal in Austria.

READ ALSO: Tenant or landlord – Who pays which costs in Austria?

If you have the right to do so, the most effective way to withdraw from a rental contract is to do it in writing, preferably by a registered letter, as explained by the Austrian Chamber of Labour (AK). This not only provides a clear record of your intent but also empowers you to navigate the legal aspects of the process with confidence. 

If you signed the offer after the viewing, you don’t have the right to withdraw from the contract you signed. In that case, you could ask for a mutual agreement termination, seeking an amicable termination option with the landlord. Otherwise, you’d be bound by the contract, which in Austria usually means you’d have to stay for one year in the apartment and give three months’ notice before leaving.

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